The progress in geological study of Middle Tianshan Mountains within Kyrgyzstan

Recent studies of Middle Tianshan Mountains are reviewed in this paper, with particular interest placed on magmatism and related mineralization. The Tianshan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan are composed of three major structural units, i.e., the northern, middle and southern Tianshan Mountains, which are separated by the Nikolaev Line and Atbashi-Inylchek fault. The suture zones on both sides of the Middle Tianshan Mountains were formed as a result of progressive subduction and subsequent closure of the Terskey Ocean in Early Paleozoic and the Paleo-Turkestan Ocean in Late Paleozoic. Various Precambrian continental domains joined to form the basement of the Middle Tianshan Mountains. The Paleozoic was generally a passive stage in the history of the Middle Tianshan Mountains. The Late Carboniferous magmatism had distinct metallogenic affinities with subduction-related rocks, and the post-collisional intrusions and orogenic Au deposits in the Early Permian were formed coevally and controlled by tectonics.