Geological characteristics of the nickel metallogenic belts in China and the prospecting orientation

Abstract: China has rich nickel resources and is also a country of much nickel resources consumption. The nickel deposits are composed of magmatic type, marine sedimentary type and weathering crust type in China. The formation epochs were from the Neoproterozoic to Cenozoic, with the Neoproterozoic and late Paleozoic being two peaks. The spatial distribution of nickel deposits is relatively concentrated: they are mainly distributed in Northwest, Southwest and Northeast China, frequently exhibiting clustered distribution. The continental margin breakup belt, the post-collision orogenic belt and the mantle plume are three important tectonic settings of the nickel deposits in China. In this paper, the authors divided the nickel deposits in China into 30 Grade-III nickel metallogenic belts on the basis of the Grade-III metallogenic belts, described briefly the spatial distribution characteristics, metallogenic regularity, metallogenic conditions and ore-forming features of the nickel deposits, summarized the main geological characteristics of six nickel metallogenic belts, which include East Tianshan, Gansu-Xinjiang Beishan, Longshoushan, central Jilin-Yanbian, Kang-Dian and southern margin of the Yangtze, and discussed the prospecting orientation for the nickel resources. It is held that the depth of the intrusion should be regarded as the favorable exploration target for the Ni sulfide deposit.