Gold-copper metallogenic characteristics and prospecting potentiality in the Central Tianshan region, Uzbekistan

This paper is the result of mineral exploration engineering.

Objective The Middle Tianshan metallogenic belt is a crucial supplier of copper, gold, and other key minerals in eastern Uzbekistan. Analyzing the metallogenic characteristics of typical mineral deposits and the regional minerogenetic regularities is of great practical significance for prospecting and investment of Chinese mining enterprises.

Methods This paper systematically collects and sorts out the distribution of key minerals such as copper, gold, uranium and lithium, as well as analyses of the characteristic metallogeny of typical deposits and the regional geochemical anomaly properties related to copper, gold, rare earth, and dispersed elements.

Results The copper deposit is of the porphyry type and is characterized by having symbiotic gold, associated platinum group and rare earth elements. Its metallogenic epoch is during the Late Carboniferous period. The main type of gold deposits is epithermal type, followed by porphyry. The epithermal type gold deposits occurred during the early Permian, while porphyry type gold deposits are mostly concentrated in the late Carboniferous. Some key minerals, such as lithium (volcanic sedimentary type), uranium (volcanic type), and iron (skarn type) are locally produced.

Conclusions The results of 1:1 million geochemical investigation indicate the continues presence of significant geochemical anomalies caused by gold, copper and silver mineralization, as well as evident geochemical anomalies of rare earth and dispersed elements on the periphery of the Angren and Almalyk ore concentration regions. Based on the analysis of regional metallogenic conditions, geochemical characteristics of known ore concentration areas and distribution characteristics of regional geochemical anomalies, it is considered that there is significant potential for prospecting traditional superiority resources like gold, copper and silver around the ore concentration areas in the Middle Tianshan Mountains. This region also holds a favorable potential for mineral resource exploration of rare earth and dispersed elements. Additionally, the areas with significant anomalies represent potential prospecting areas for Chinese mining enterprises to invest.