Contents

1. Introduction......................................................................................................................................1-1
2. Methodology of a Combined Regional Metallogenic and Tectonic Analysis for Northeast Asia...2-1
3. Mineral-Deposit Models for Northeast Asia...3-1
4. Archean through Mesoproterozoic Metallogenesis and Tectonics of Northeast Asia...4-1
5. Neoproterozoic through Silurian Metallogenesis and Tectonics of Northeast Asia...5-1
6. Devonian through Early Carboniferous (Mississippian) Metallogenesis and Tectonics of Northeast Asia...6-1
7. Late Carboniferous through Early Jurassic Metallogenesis and Tectonics of Northeast Asia...7-1
8. Middle Jurassic through Quaternary Metallogenesis and Tectonics of Northeast Asia...8-1
9. Tectonic and Metallogenic Model for Northeast Asia...9-1

Appendix A. Description of the Northeast Asia Project and Associated Product..A-1
Appendix B. Description of Map Units for Northeast Asia Summary Geodynamics Map...B-1
Appendix C. Summary of Major Metallogenic Belts in Northeast Asia (the Russian Far East, Yakutia, Siberia, Transbaikalia, Northern China, Mongolia, South Korea, and Japan) ...C-1

Introduction

Executive Summary

The major purpose of this volume is to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the regional geology, tectonics, and metallogenesis of Northeast Asia for readers who are unfamiliar with the region and for researchers who desire detailed information on the region. The major parts of the volume are (1) an introductory chapter; (2) a chapter on methodology of regional metallogenic and tectonic analysis; (3) a chapter on mineral deposit models for the region; (4) five chapters that describe the regional metallogenesis and tectonics of the region from the Archean through the Present for successive time stages; (5) a chapter on a metallogenic and tectonic model for the region; and (6) three appendixes, including on a description of the project and products, a description of map units for the Northeast Asia geodynamics map, and a summary table of metallogenic belts for the region.

An important goal of the volume is to demonstrate how a high-quality metallogenic and tectonic analysis, including construction of an associated metallogenic-tectonic model, greatly benefits other mineral resource studies by (1) synthesizing of mineral-deposit models, (2) improving prediction of undiscovered mineral deposits as part of quantitative mineral-resource-assessment studies, (3) assisting land-use and mineral-exploration planning, (4) improving knowledge of regional geology; (5) improving interpretations of the origins of host rocks, mineral deposits, and metallogenic belts, and (6) suggesting new research.

Research on the metallogenesis and tectonics of such major regions as Northeast Asia requires a complex methodology including (1) definitions of key terms, (2) compilation of a regional geologic base map that can be interpreted according to modern tectonic concepts and definitions, (3)
compilation of a mineral-deposit database that enables a determination of mineral-deposit models and clarification of the relations of deposits to host rocks and tectonic origins, (4) synthesis of a series of mineral-deposit models that characterize the known mineral deposits and inferred undiscovered deposits in the region, (5) compilation of a series of metallogenic-belt belts constructed on the regional geologic base map, and (6) construction of a unified metallogenic and tectonic model.

The Northeast Asia study area consists of eastern Russia (most of eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East), Mongolia, northern China, South Korea, Japan, and adjacent offshore areas. Major cooperative agencies are the Russian Academy of Sciences; the Academy of Sciences of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia); VNIIOkeangeologia and Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation; the Mongolian Academy of Sciences; the Mongolian University of Science and Technology; the Mongolian National University; Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China; the China Geological Survey; the Korea Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources; the Geological Survey of Japan/AIST; the University of Texas, Arlington; and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

This study builds on and extends the data and interpretations from a previous project on the Major Mineral Deposits, Metallogenesis, and Tectonics of the Russian Far East, Alaska, and the Canadian Cordillera conducted by the USGS, Geological and Geophysical Surveys, and the Geological Survey of Canada. The major products of the Northeast Asia project are described in appendix A.

Figure 1. Regional summary regional geographic map of Northeast Asia, showing locations of major regions, countries, and　capitals. International boundaries of onshore areas are approximate and do not imply 　endorsement by participating countries. Figure 2. Northeast Asia summary geodynamics map (scale, approx 1:34,000,000) showing locations major geologic and tectonic units including cratons, cratonal margins; cratonal terranes and superterranes; tectonic collages; overlap and transform continentalmargin-arcs; island arcs, and sea and ocean units. From (1) a generalized geodynamics map of Northeast Asia (scale, 1:10,000,000)　by Parfenov and others (2004), (2) a more detailed geodynamics map Northeast Asia (scale 1:5,000,000 and (3) tectono-stratigraphic terrane maps of the western part of a Circum-North Pacific (scale, 1: 10,000,000) by Nokleberg and others (1997). Tectonic interpretations are based on the major interpretative reports of collaborative international studies of Northeast Asia (Nokleberg and others, 2004) and the Circum-North Pacific (Nokleberg and others, 2000, 2004), with descriptions of geologic units adapted from reports by Nokleberg and others (2000, 2004) and Parfenov and others (2004). See appendix B for descriptions of map units. Figure 1. Schematic diagram illustrating methodology of combined regional and metallogenic and tectonic analysis of cratons, terranes, accretionary assemblages, post-accretopmaru overlap assemblages, and contained metallogenic belts. A. Map view of orogenic belt. B. Stratigraphic columns for orogenic belt. Adapted from Parfenov and others (1998) Figure 3. Summary geodynamic map of Northeast Asia showing outlines of major metallogenic belts for the Middle Jurassic through Early Cretaceous. Adapted from Obolenskiy and others (2003, 2004) and Parfenov and others (2003, 2004). Regional geology for area east of 144oE longitude (eastern boundary of Northeast Asia project area) as described and interpreted by Nokleberg and others (2000, 2005). Figure 14. Miocene (10 Ma) time stage of tectonic and metallogenic model. See text for explanation of tectonic events and origins of major metallogenic belts and figure 3 for explanation of symbols and patterns. Figure 15. Present (0 Ma) time stage of tectonic and metallogenic model. See text for explanation of tectonic events and origins of major metallogenic belts and figure 3 for explanation of symbols and patterns. USGSによる『Metallogenesis and Tectonics of Northeast Asia』から