Metallogenic regularity of caesium deposits in China

This paper is the result of mineral exploration engineering.

Objective In the national dynamic evaluation project of potential mineral resources, the features, type and spatiotemporal distribution of caesium resource in China are studied, and the metallogenic regularities of caesium deposits in China are summarized.

Methods This paper introduces the resource characteristics of caesium deposits in China. Caesium deposit types are divided, and the mineralization age and spatial distribution of cesium ore are counted.

Results Caesium deposits in China are divided into seven types, namely the granite type, granite pegmatite type, magmatic hydrothermal type, salt lake type, brine type, geyserite type, granite weathering crust type. The spatiotemporal distribution feature of each type of caesium deposits is preliminarily summarized. Based on the statistics, the metallogenic period of caesium deposits in China is divided into Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic. 10 caesium metallogenic belts are divided. 31 caesium–related metallogenic series are determined and the metallogenic pedigree of caesium deposits in China is established.

Conclusions China's caesium deposits are mainly Mesozoic and Cenozoic granite pegmatite type, granite type and salt lake type cesium deposits in north Altay and North China continental block, salt lake type in Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, granite pegmatite, granite caesium deposit and magmatic hydrothermal caesium deposit in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The exploration in Xinjiang, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and Qianjiang basin should be strengthened.