Post-Late Paleozoic Collisional Framework of Southern Great Altai

We outline the post-Late Paleozoic （latest Permian to Cenozoic） collisional framework of the southern Great Altai （Central Asia） produced by the convergence between the Tuva-Mongolia and Junggar continental terranes （microplates）. The collisional structures in the region classified on the basis of their geometry and deformation style, dynamic metamorphism, and compositions of tectonites are of three main types： （1） mosaic terranes made up of large weakly deformed Paleozoic blocks separated by younger shear zones; （2） contractional deformation systems involving structures formed in post-Late Paleozoic time, parallel faults oriented along collisional deformation systems, and relict lenses of Paleozoic orogenic complexes; and （3） isolated zones of dynamic metamorphism composed mostly of collisional tectonites different in composition and alteration grade.

Mineralization of the Lianhuashan Sn-polymetallic deposits associated with dynamic metamorphism:Constraints from cassiterite geochemistry and U-Pb geochronology

The Lianhuashan metallogenic belt in Eastern Guangdong Province(South China)is the most important Sn polymetallic district in the region,hosting many medium-sized deposits such as the Tashan,Xianshuili,and Jiangxikeng.However,the metallogenic mechanism of these deposits remains hotly debated.In this paper,two types of cassiterites(Cst1 and Cst2)have been identified in the Xianshuili and Jiangxikeng Sn deposits,which are hosted in the biotite-mylonite and garnetcordierite-muscovite blastomylonite,respectively.The euhedral Cst1(0.50–1.8 mm)coexists with biotite,feldspar,and quartz.It is platy and zoned with a mosaic structure.The subhedral to anhedral Cst2(0.02–0.35 mm)coexists with metamorphic minerals such as garnet and cordierite,and it is characterized by well-developed porosity and has no zonation.In-situ U-Pb dating of the Cst1 and Cst2 yielded ages of 149.5±1.0 Ma(MSWD=1.6,n=45)and 125.1±2.3 Ma(MSWD=4.5,n=43),respectively.Cst1 is most likely to be related to the intermediate-felsic magmatism that formed Gaojiping Group,whereas Cst2 has relatively high Ta,Nb,Fe,and W contents with obvious rare earth tetragroup effect,and may have formed by the late Early Cretaceous dynamic metamorphism.Results presented here,when combined with regional geology and geochemistry,led us to suggest that the Mesozoic intermediate-felsic volcanic rocks in the LMB are significantly enriched in Sn and F,with high Sn-polymetallic mineralization potential which likely have contributed to the volcanic-related Cst1.In the late Early Cretaceous period,due to the NW-dipping subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate,the intermediate-felsic volcanic rocks underwent dynamic metamorphism that led to Sn mobilization,migration,and precipitation in the regional ductile shear zones,and eventually generating Sn mineralization.We propose that areas beneath Xianshuili and Jiangxikeng have great potential for discovery of new Sn resources.Our findings likely offer practical importance to regional geological ore prospecting.