Paleozoic Tectono‐Metallogeny in the Tianshan‐Altay Region, Central Asia

AbstractThe research on Paleozoic tectonics and endogenic metallogeny in the Tianshan‐Altay region of Central Asia is an important and significant project. The Altay region, as a collision zone of the Early Paleozoic (500–397 Ma), and the Tianshan region, as a collision zone of the early period in the Late Paleozoic (Late Devonian‐Early Carboniferous, 385–323 Ma), are all the result of nearly N‐S trending shortening and collision (according to recent magnetic orientation). In the Late Devonian‐Early Carboniferous period (385–323 Ma), regional NW trending faults displayed features of dextral strike‐slip motion in the Altay and Junggar regions. In the Tianshan region, nearly EW‐trending regional faults are motions of the thrusts. However, in the Late Carboniferous‐Early Permian period (323–260 Ma), influenced by the long‐distance effect induced from the Ural collision zone, those areas suffered weaker eastward compression, the existing NW trending faults converted into sinistral strike‐slip in the Altay and Junggar regions, and the existing nearly E‐W trending faults transferred into dextral strike‐slip faults in the Tianshan region. The Rocks of those regions in the Late Carboniferous‐Early Permian period (323–260 Ma) were moderately ruptured to a certain tension‐shear, and thus formed a number of world famous giant endogenic metal ore deposits in the Tianshan‐Altay region. As to the Central Asian continent, the most powerful collision period may not coincide with the most favorable endogenic metallogenic period. It should be treated to “the orogenic metallogeny hypothesis” with caution in that region.