Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chinese Altay
1
School of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
199034, Russia
3
Natural History Museum, Department of Mineralogy, CERCAMS, London SW7 5BD, U.K.
* Corresponding author, present address: Department of Mineralogy, University of Geneva, Rue des
Maraîchers 13, Geneva 1205, Switzerland; Tel.: +41 22 379 66 34; Fax: +41 22 379 32 10; e-mail:
Massimo.Chiaradia@terre.unige.ch
6.2.2006 1
Abstract
Precambrian basement slivers which were accreted, consolidated and then deformed during Paleozoic
collisional events and subsequent Alpine-Himalayan deformations between the East European craton
in the West, the Siberian craton in the East, and the Alay-Tarim and Karakum microcontinents in the
South. Because the Altaids are the site of abundant plutonism and host some of the largest gold
deposits in the world, especially of the orogenic gold type, their formation process has important
implications on the understanding of Phanerozoic crustal growth and metallogeny. Whereas Sr and Nd
isotope studies carried out on magmatic rocks of the Altaids show a significant juvenile component,
no extensive Pb isotope data are available so far on this region despite the ability of the U-Th-Pb
system to highlight mantle-crust interaction in magmatic and hydrothermal systems. In this study we
present the first extensive lead isotope data (N>100) on magmatic and metasedimentary rocks as well
as ore deposits of the southern part of the Altaids, including the Tien Shan (Tianshan), and southern
Altay (Altai) orogenic belts. Our data cover an approximately SW-NE transect about 2000 km long
and 300 km wide from the Kyzylkum desert of Uzbekistan in the West to the Chinese Altay of
Xinjiang, in the East. Our results show that each terrane investigated within the Tien Shan and
southern Altay is characterized by a distinct Pb isotope signature and that there is an SW-NE Pb
isotope gradient suggesting a progressive transition from a continental crust environment in the West
(the Kyzylkum and Kokshaal Segments of the Southern Tien Shan) to an almost 100% juvenile
(MORB-type mantle-derived) crust environment in the East (Altay). Our data indicate the extensive
presence of old continental crust at the base of the Kokshaal Segment of the Southern Tien Shan,
supporting existing geological evidence of underthrusting of the Precambrian Tarim basement in this
region, and in the Middle and Northern Tien Shan, where Precambrian crust is represented by the
presence of the Precambrian crust in the Kyzylkum Segment of the Southern Tien Shan. The Pb
isotope signatures of the studied ore deposits follow closely those of magmatic and metasedimentary
rocks of the host terranes, thus supporting the validity of lead isotopes to discriminate terranes. On the
other hand, whereas this may suggest that no unique reservoir has been responsible for the huge gold
6.2.2006 2
concentration in this region, it may also be the result of a «loss-of-track» of a hypothetic preferential
reservoir by mixing process with Pb-rich reservoirs within the crust during the mineralizing events.
Key words
6.2.2006 3
Introduction
The giant Altaid orogenic collage, also called the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, or CAOB (Jahn et
al. 2000), consists of Paleozoic subduction-accretion complexes and magmatic arcs, as well as
Precambrian microcontinents, which were accreted, consolidated and deformed during Paleozoic
collisional events and subsequent Alpine-Himalayan deformations, between the East European craton
in the West, the Siberian craton in the East, and the Alay-Tarim and Karakum microcontinents in the
South (e.g., Sengör et al. 1993; Sengör and Natal’in 1996). This “Turkic-type” orogenic collage,
formed by accretion (e.g., Sengör and Natal’in 1996), differs markedly from the Himalayan and
Alpine orogens, formed by frontal collision of two continents. It is also a site of abundant syn- and
post-collisional magmatism, and hosts some of the largest gold deposits in the world, mostly of the
orogenic gold type (Drew et al. 1996; Rui et al. 2002; Yakubchuk et al. 2002; Liu et al. 2003).
Therefore, knowledge of the process of formation of the Altaids has important implications on the
Stable radiogenic isotopes are able to constrain the terrestrial reservoirs that provide the material
making up orogens and mineralization and, therefore, to characterize the crust and metallogenic
evolution of orogenic belts (e.g., Macfarlane et al. 1990; Chiaradia et al. 2004). Strontium and
neodymium isotope studies carried out in the southern part of the Altaid orogenic collage show a
significant juvenile component in terranes comprising the Altay, Junggar and Central Kazakhstan
(Han et al. 1997; Chen et al. 2000a; Heinhorst et al. 2000; Jahn et al. 2000; Hong et al. 2003). Nd
isotopic studies have also shown that Precambrian crust occurs in the Chinese part of the Tien Shan
orogenic belt and in the Tarim microcontinent (Hu et al. 2000). In contrast, lead isotope data are not
available for rocks of the southern Altaids and only some Pb isotope analyses have been carried out on
ore deposits (Li et al. 1998; Wang et al. 2002: see below). Lead isotopes would be a precious addition
to the isotope systematics of the Altaids because, due to the large Pb concentration differences
between mantle (0.03 ppm) and crustal (23.1 ppm) reservoirs (e.g., Zartman and Haines 1988), they
allow the tracing of minimal crustal contamination of mantle-derived magmas and therefore permit to
test the model of juvenile crustal growth based on the Sr and Nd data. Additionally, lead isotopes can
be measured on ore minerals, which are precipitated by hydrothermal fluids after more or less
6.2.2006 4
extensive interaction with country rocks, and as such provide further information on the nature of the
crustal substratum.
In this study we present over 100 new Pb isotope data on magmatic and metasedimentary rocks as
well as ore deposits of the southern part of the Altaids, including the Tien Shan and southern Altay
orogenic belts. Our data cover an approximately SW-NE transect about 2000 km long and 300 km
wide from the Kyzylkum desert of Uzbekistan in the west to the Chinese Altay of Xinjiang in the east.
The aims of this study are (i) to provide the first large-scale lead isotope dataset on crustal materials
(magmatic and metasedimentary rocks, ore deposits) of the southern Altaids, (ii) to check for isotope
variations among different terranes forming the southern part of the Altaid orogenic collage, and (iii)
to infer the metal sources in the gold deposits in order to establish whether a preferential reservoir has
been responsible for the gold enrichment of this region. The regional tectonic and metallogenic
implications of the data here presented are discussed, and comparisons with the previously published
Geological setting
The Altaids
The Altaid orogenic collage includes several orogenic belts (the Mongol-Okhotsk, Altay-Sayan,
Kazakhstan, Tien Shan and Urals) situated east of the East European craton, surrounding the Siberian
craton from west, south and east, and bordered by the Alay-Tarim and Karakum microcontinents in
the south (Sengör et al. 1993). The southern part of the Altaids, which is the object of the present
study, is shown in Figure 1. Much of the Altaid orogenic collage was formed by the accretion of
microcontinents, between the Late Proterozoic and the Early Mesozoic (Mukhin et al. 1989;
Zonenshain et al. 1990; Allen et al. 1992; Sengör et al. 1993; Allen et al. 1995; Sengör and Natal’in
1996). Sengör et al. (1993) viewed various fold and thrust belts of the southern Altaids as formed
along a single subduction zone. In their interpretation all Precambrian fragments, now found in the
Altaids, were detached from the joint Eastern Europe and Siberian cratons in the Late Proterozoic,
6.2.2006 5
opening up the Khanty-Mansi basin, whereas subduction in front of them produced the Kipchak arc
built on Precambrian basement. Giant accretion-subduction complexes formed since the Early
Paleozoic and were accreted against the Kipchak arc together with island arcs, ophiolitic complexes,
and microcontinents. Subsequently they were sliced by large-scale strike-slip faults, and oroclinally
bent due to the clockwise rotation of Siberia relative to Eastern Europe, which caused the progressive
closing-up of the Khanti-Mansi basin in the course of the Caledonian (ca. 420 Ma) and Hercynian (ca.
280 Ma) collisional events. The Paleo-Turkestan ocean existing to the south of the newly formed
Caledonian paleocontinents (e.g. Kazakhstan, Altay) was closed as a result of Hercynian collision with
the Alay-Tarim and Karakum microcontinents and final assemblage of the southern Altaids.
This general interpretation has been shared by later investigations (e. g. Jahn et al. 2000;
Yakubchuk et al. 2002; Xiao et al. 2004; Yakubchuk 2004) although with some variations, in
Mugodzhar-Rudny Altay) instead of the Kipchak arc alone, the enhanced role of ophiolites, and the
Further details on the evolution of the Altaid orogenic collage can be found in the studies
mentioned above. Below we describe the orogenic belts of the Tien Shan and Chinese Altay
The Hercynian Tien Shan orogen formed during the Late Paleozoic (Hercynian) collision between
the Karakum and Alay-Tarim microcontinents and the Paleo-Kazakhstan continent, a Caledonian
component of the Altaid Collage. The Tien Shan is composed of three major structural units or
terranes (Figure 2): (1) the Northern Tien Shan (NTS), which is the deformed margin of the
Caledonian Paleo-Kazakhstan continent; (2) the Middle Tien Shan (MTS), which is a Late Paleozoic
volcano-plutonic arc; and (3) the Southern Tien Shan (STS), which is an intensely deformed fold and
thrust belt formed after the final closure of the Paleo-Turkestan ocean (Zonenshain et al. 1990).
The subdivision into Northern, Middle and Southern Tien Shan used for the Uzbek and Kyrgyz
parts of the Tien Shan does not coincide exactly with that used for the Chinese part of the Tien Shan
6.2.2006 6
(e.g., Chen et al. 1999). The Middle Tien Shan, represented in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan by the
Beltau-Kurama arc, thins out and does not continue further east in the Chinese part of the Tien Shan
(Figure 2). In contrast, the Middle or Central Tien Shan, including the Yili microcontinent, in the
Chinese literature corresponds to the Northern Tien Shan of Kyrgyzstan, while the Northern Tien Shan
in China is bound to the Caledonian Paleo-Kazakhstan itself. In this paper we follow the subdivision
used in the Russian literature for Kyrgyzstan because our sampling was concentrated in this country
and because east of the Talas-Farghona strike-slip fault (Figure 2) there is no principal difference in
basement structures of the Middle and Northern Tien Shan, and the southern terranes of Paleo-
Kazakhstan.
The Northern Tien Shan is a part of the Caledonian Paleo-Kazakhstan plate represented in the
Kyrgyz territory by the Early Paleozoic arc and its Precambrian basement intruded by voluminous
Ordovician granitoids. The main component of the Middle Tien Shan is the Carboniferous Beltau-
Kurama volcano-plutonic belt developed on Precambrian basement. This belt is usually considered
either as an active continental margin of the Paleo-Kazakhstan or as a mature volcanic arc that was
accreted to the Paleo-Kazakhstan margin ca. 320 Ma ago (e.g. Yakubchuk et al. 2002). In Kyrgyzstan,
the Northern and Middle Tien Shan are separated by the Nikolaev Line, a Hercynian strike-slip fault
generally following a Caledonian suture. The Southern Tien Shan includes intensely deformed fore-
arc accretionary complexes together with passive margin sediments of the Karakum-Tarim continent.
The Middle and Southern Tien Shan terranes are separated by the Hercynian Southern Tien Shan
Suture, defined by ophiolites with ages ranging from Lower Ordovician to Early Carboniferous (Biske
and Shilov 1998, Jun et al. 1998, Chen et al. 1999). In Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan and Kyrgyzstan the
southern Tien Shan is tentatively divided into three segments, from west to east: the Kyzylkum
Segment, the Alay Segment and the Kokshaal Segment (Figure 2). The Talas-Farghona dextral strike-
slip fault separates the western terranes of the Tien Shan, namely the Kyzylkum and Alay Segments of
the Southern Tien Shan (STS-W) and the Kurama range of the Middle Tien Shan (MTS-W), from the
eastern terranes (Kokshaal Segment of the Southern Tien Shan or STS-E, Middle Tien Shan east of the
Talas-Farghona fault or MTS-E, and Northern Tien Shan east of the Talas-Farghona fault NTS-E)
(Figure 2).
6.2.2006 7
An eye-catching feature of the present day Tien Shan geology is a number of major east-west
striking trans-crustal shear zones dividing the Tien Shan into a series of tectonic blocks (Figure 2).
These shear zones are oblique or parallel to the Hercynian Southern Tien Shan Suture and control the
The Altay orogenic belt is situated at the junction of the state boundaries between China,
Kazakhstan and Russia in the west, and China, Mongolia and Russia in the east (Figure 2). Windley et
al. (2002) and Xiao et al. (2004) subdivided the Chinese and Mongolian parts of the Altay into 11
tectonostratigraphic units. Most units were developed in subduction-related environments and accreted
from the Cambrian to the Permian to the north (present coordinates), making the whole orogen
progressively younging to the south. The oldest unit is represented by the Early Proterozoic core, that
was rifted off the Siberian Craton during the Late Proterozoic and became the basement of a
continental arc during the Cambrian and Early Ordovician. This unit may be correlated with the Gorny
(Mountain) Altay terrane of the Russian part of Altay. In the Late Ordovician, in the course of the
Caledonian collisional events, this continental island arc was accreted back to the Siberian margin
together with the other fragments of the Siberian Craton comprising the core of the East Sayan
orogenic belt (Figure 1) and several smaller Precambrian blocks. After the Caledonian collision the
Altay and the East Sayan belts represented a single young plate against which Devonian – Early
Carboniferous arcs, formed in the Junggar-Balkhash ocean, were accreted during the Mid- and Late
Paleozoic collisional events. In the Chinese Altay this Caledonian plate is represented by the
Altayshan unit (Xiao et al. 2004). South of the Altayshan unit in the Chinese Altay, there is another
Precambrian microcontinent, the Halong unit, that was, according to Xiao et al. (2004), accreted to the
north in the Late Devonian. South of the Halong unit is situated a Late Silurian – Early Devonian
island arc, the Abagong unit, accreted to the north in the Late Devonian. The Abagong island arc hosts
most of the VHMS and orogenic gold deposits (e.g., Goldfarb et al. 2003), sampled in this study, and
correlates with the Rudny (Ore) Altay terrane situated in the Kazakh and Russian parts of the Altay
orogen. South of the Abagong arc there is the transcrustal strike-slip Irtysh (Erqis) fault, developed
6.2.2006 8
along the Hercinian suture between the Altay, Paleo-Kazakhstan and the remnants of the Junggar-
Balkhash oceanic plate, probably underlying Mesozoic sediments of the Junggar basin (Figure 2). In
the Chinese part of the Altay, immediately north of the Irtysh fault, there is a narrow Precambrian
sliver of unknown origin. According to Xiao et al., (2004), three more units comprising Devonian to
Carboniferous island arcs with ocean floor remnants are situated south of the Irtysh fault. Similar to
the Tien Shan, the terranes of the Altay are separated by major strike-slip faults.
Relative position of the Tien Shan and Altay and timing of Hercynian collisional events
Estimations of the age of the Tarim - Paleo-Kazkhstan collision vary from Late Devonian to Late
Carboniferous - Early Permian (Windley et al. 1990; Allen et al. 1992; Biske and Shilov 1998; Chen
et al. 1999; Carrol et al. 2001; Zhou et al. 2001). Thick early Permian molasses mark the final closure
of the Paleo-Turkestan ocean and uplift. Several authors highlight the “soft” or oblique and
apparently scissors-like (from east to west) character of the collision between Tarim and Paleo-
Kazkhstan (e.g., Chen et al. 1999). The closure of a separate Junggar-Balkhash branch of the Paleo-
Turkestan ocean also occured by the Early Permian and resulted in docking of the Junggar terranes to
Altay and Paleo-Kazakhstan (Feng et al. 1989) and final amalgamation of the southern Altaids. The
collision was followed by the formation of the major strike-slip faults formed already in the Early
Permian (Laurent-Charvet et al. 2003). These faults controlled the emplacement of the granitoid
After the collision there was a tectonically quiet period until the Mesozoic extension accompanied
by granitoid magmatism and elevated heat flow. On the territory under study Mesozoic
metamorphism and granitoid intrusions are known in the Kyzylkum Segment of the Southern Tien
Shan (STS-W) and in the Chinese Altay (Kostitsin 1996; Hong et al. 2003).
Metallogenic evolution of the Tien Shan and Altay, and sampling strategy
The location of the ore deposits sampled in this study is given in Figure 2 and their description is
given in Table 1. Many of the ore deposits, especially those formed in the post-collisional stage, are
6.2.2006 9
associated with granitoid intrusions. Whole rock samples of the host intrusions as well as of the host
metasedimentary rocks were also sampled and their description is given in Table 2.
The major ore deposits of the Tien Shan and Altay were formed in the Middle and Late Paleozoic,
whereas the Early Paleozoic deposits are few. During the Devonian and Carboniferous, the time span
that preceded the Hercynian collision, the metallogenic evolution of the Tien Shan differed markedly
from that of the Chinese Altay. In the Altay, most of the economically significant deposits were
formed in this period and comprise Devonian and Carboniferous VHMS and similar deposit types
associated with intra-oceanic island arcs and remnants of the oceanic crust (Rui et al. 2002). This type
is represented by the Ashele, Keketale, and Mengku VHMS deposits sampled in the Chinese Altay.
In the Tien Shan, VHMS deposits of Devonian and Carboniferous age are few and insignificant.
The majority of the ore deposits, emplaced during this stage in the North and Middle Tien Shan
terranes, formed in the active continental margin environment (Jenchuraeva 1997 and 2001). The
predominant deposit types include intrusion-related Cu-Bi-Au, REE, Au deposits, associated with
Devonian granites of the southern and eastern Paleo-Kazakhstan margins, and epithermal volcanic-
hosted Au-Ag-Te and porphyry Cu-Mo, Au and base metal deposits, associated with Carboniferous
and Early Permian subduction-related calk-alkaline magmatic rocks of the continental Beltau-Kurama
arc. Deposits of this type are represented by the Axi deposit in the Chinese Northern Tien Shan (NTS-
E), Aktyuz in the Kyrgyz Northern Tien Shan (NTS-E) and by the Kalmakyr, Kochbulak and
Ustarasay deposits in the Uzbek part of the Beltau-Kurama arc (MTS-W). This stage is also
represented by the Uchkulach stratabound base metal deposit situated in the eastern part of the Middle
Tien Shan in the south Kyzylkum desert of Uzbekistan (MTS-W). In order to characterize the
Northern Tien Shan crust we also sampled the Boordu and Taldybulak Levoberezhny deposits in
Kyrgyzstan (NTS-E) with poorly constrained ages. The Boordu deposit is presumably related to a
Devonian granite (Shatov, personal communication, 2005) while the Taldybulak Levoberezhny
The post-collisional metallogenic evolution of the Tien Shan and Chinese Altay was defined by the
thermal event that affected the whole region across terrane boundaries and produced both voluminous
post-collisional granitoid intrusions and ore deposits predominantly of the orogenic gold type (e.g.
6.2.2006 10
Savchuk et al. 1991; Konopelko et al. 2003a; Mao et al. 2004). Emplacement of post-collisional
granites and orogenic gold deposits was controlled by the regional scale strike-slip faults formed after
final amalgamation of the southern Altaid orogenic collage in the Early Permian (Laurent-Charvet et
al. 2003). The post-collisional deposits of the Altay are characterized by the orogenic and intrusion-
related gold deposits of Saidu and Manka in the Chinese and Kazakh Altay, respectively, and by the
Kalatonge Cu-Ni deposit in the Chinese Altay hosted by a Permian gabbroic intrusion. The post-
collisional deposits of the Tien Shan are represented by a number of orogenic and intrusion-related
gold deposits including the Muruntau, Amantaitau, Daugiztau, Sarytau, Zarmitan (hosted by the
Koshrabad granite), Guzhumsay, Mardjanbulak and Sarmich deposits in the Kyzylkum Segment of the
Southern Tien Shan (STS-W) and by the Kumtor and Makmal gold deposits in the Middle Tien Shan
east of the Talas-Farghona fault (MTS-E). In order to characterize the crust of the Kokshaal Segment
of the Southern Tien Shan (STS-E) we sampled 6 post-collisional intrusions in this area (Table 2)
The Mesozoic extension and related magmatism is represented in this work by the pyrite-rich
Sulfide minerals
We have measured lead isotope compositions of 59 sulfide samples from 25 mineral deposits
(Tables 1 and 3; Figure 2). In order to obtain the common lead signature galena was analyzed
whenever possible (N=22). Otherwise, pyrite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite, and scheelite were analyzed
(N=37). In the latter case, U and Pb concentrations were measured by isotope dilution on TIMS (see
below) for most samples (N=24). In fact, because all investigated sulfides are from Paleozoic ore
deposits (except Shangkelan, which is Mesozoic), a correction for time-integrated decay of U might be
required to obtain the common lead signature of the sulfide mineral (e.g., Tosdal et al. 1999) if the
latter has high µ (238U/204Pb) values. Nevertheless, the great majority of the sulfide samples analyzed
(N=17 of 23) have very low µ values, and therefore time-integrated corrections are insignificant and
6.2.2006 11
within analytical uncertainty of the uncorrected analyses (Table 3). In contrast, samples xj18 (Ashele),
xj9b and xj10 (Shangkelan), and 401205 (Sarytau) display corrected values that are less radiogenic
(even negative 206Pb/204Pb values) than the values of sulfides of the same deposit requiring
insignificant correction (Table 3). This most likely suggests that Pb loss has occurred in these samples.
Sample 410701 (Zarmitan) has a corrected 206Pb/204Pb value that is more radiogenic than that of the
common lead of a K-feldspar from the host Koshrabad intrusion possibly suggesting that U loss has
occurred in this pyrite sample. The common versus radiogenic lead fractions of sulfide samples for
which U and Pb concentrations were not measured will be discussed in the following sections. The
two scheelite samples analyzed are considered to approximate the common lead signature (Chiaradia
2003).
A few tens of milligrams of pure fractions of sulfide minerals were weighed and a mixed 202Pb/236U
spike was added. The samples were dissolved overnight in sealed Teflon beakers at 180°C with 2 ml
of 7M HCl and 1 ml of 15M HNO3 to achieve homogenization of sample and spike. A tiny amount of
galena was dissolved in 15M HNO3 and a fraction of its lead was directly loaded onto Re filaments
with deionized H2O. Sulfide (except galena) lead and uranium were purified by chromatography with
AG-MP1 resin in hydrobromic medium and with AG1-X8 resin in nitric acid medium respectively.
We have measured lead isotope compositions of 47 rock, K-feldspar and sulfide samples from 25
whole rocks including granitoids (N=21) and low-grade metasedimentary schists (N=3) (Tables 2 and
4). In petrogenetic and metallogenic studies, it is essential to determine the common lead signatures of
magmatic rocks in order to establish whether they contributed lead to the ore deposit. Common lead of
intrusions can be obtained from K-feldspars, by time-integrated correction for U (and Th) decay of
raw isotopic ratios and, to some extent, from analyses of residual rock fractions (Chiaradia and
Fontboté 2003). We have applied all these methods in this study (Table 2). Additionally, it is also
important to evaluate the isotopic compositions of hydrothermal fluids that have leached the host
6.2.2006 12
When corrected for time-integrated decay of U, rock powders were added a mixed 202Pb/236U spike
and digested in a mixture of concentrated HNO3 and HF during a few days. Otherwise, rock powders
and K-feldspars were subjected to a strong acid leaching (i.e., ≥36 hours at 180°C in screw-sealed 20
ml Teflon beakers using a mixture of 3.5 ml of 7M HCl and 1.5 ml of 14M HNO3: Chiaradia and
Fontboté 2003). The residual fractions were rinsed twice with deionized water and digested for ≥48
hours at 180°C in sealed Teflon beakers using a mixture of concentrated HNO3 and HF. Lead of
leachate and residue rock fractions as well as whole rocks and residues of K-feldspars was purified by
discarded.
Both time-integrated decay correction of whole rock and analyses of leachate-residue pairs have
been carried out for samples 320000 (Aktyuz granite), 320100 and 320101 (Makmal granite). Time-
integrated decay corrections of these samples fail to yield the common lead because of probable U-
(Tosdal et al. 1999). In contrast, residual fractions of both Makmal fresh granite samples (320100 and
320101) are significantly less radiogenic not only than the corresponding leachate as expected in these
rocks (Chiaradia and Fontboté 2003) but also than the corrected values of the whole rock and, being
identical to Pb isotope compositions of common lead of pyrite from the associated mineralization (see
below), are likely to represent the common lead. The residue fraction of the altered Aktyuz granite
sample (320000) is less radiogenic than the corrected values of the whole rock but is significantly
more radiogenic than the leachate fraction. This feature is typical of hydrothermally altered magmatic
rocks (Marschik et al. 2003) and the residue fraction obviously does not represent the common lead in
this case. The residual fraction of rock sample 320300 (Boordu granite) is slightly less radiogenic than
a K-feldspar from the same rock and thus should also represent the common lead. Residual fractions
of Sarytau granite samples (401200 and 401201), which are less radiogenic than corresponding
leachates, might approximate the common lead signature, but, in the absence of common lead
compositions of associated K-feldspar/sulfide, we cannot exclude that they contain some radiogenic
lead.
6.2.2006 13
Mass spectrometry
Fractions of the purified sulfide, rock, and K-feldspar lead as well as of the dissolved galena were
loaded onto rhenium filaments using the silica gel technique. Lead isotope compositions were
controlled filament temperature of 1210°C at the Centre for Geochemical Mass Spectrometry
(University of Leeds, U.K.). Lead isotope compositions were corrected for fractionation by a +0.08%
amu correction factor based on 60 analyses of the SRM981 international standard using the SRM981
values of Todt et al. (1996). The external reproducibilities (2σ) of the SRM981 standard are 0.08% for
206
Pb/204Pb, 0.13% for 207Pb/204Pb and 0.17% for 208Pb/204Pb. Procedural blanks ranged between 64 and
120 pg Pb.
Results
Plutonic rocks
The common Pb isotope signatures (i.e., residues and K-feldspars) of the intrusive rocks of
different Tien Shan segments plot in separate fields within conventional isotope diagrams (Figure 3),
independently of their age and geodynamic setting. The common lead isotope compositions of the
Middle and Northern Tien Shan intrusions east of the Talas-Farghona fault (MTS-E, NTS-E) plot in a
homogeneous and narrow field slightly below the orogen curve of Zartman and Doe (1981) in the
uranogenic plot and slightly above it in the thorogenic plot (Figure 3), with the MTS-E granite of
Makmal characterized by slightly lower 207Pb/204Pb values than the NTS-E granites (Table 4). In
contrast, the signatures of the intrusions of the Kyzylkum Segment of the Southern Tien Shan (STS-
W) straddle the upper crust curve of Zartman and Doe (1981) in both conventional isotope plots and
have higher 206Pb/204Pb values than those of the MTS-E and NTS-E granites (Figure 3). Finally,
intrusions of the Kokshaal Segment of the Southern Tien Shan (STS-E) define a steep trend between
the orogen and the upper crust evolution curves in the uranogenic diagram and are characterized by
similar 206Pb/204Pb values as the MTS-E and NTS-E granites (Figure 3). In the thorogenic diagram they
plot at significantly higher 208Pb/204Pb values than intrusions of the Kyzylkum Segment (STS-W) and
6.2.2006 14
of the Middle and Northern Tien Shan (MTS-E, NTS-E; Figure 3). The K-feldspar of the Shangkelan
intrusion (Altay) has a low 207Pb/204Pb value similar to the least radiogenic compositions of the MTS-E
and NTS-E intrusions (e.g., Makmal granite) but has a slightly higher 206Pb/204Pb value (Figure 3).
Leachates, which do not have genetic significance (Chiaradia and Fontboté 2003), plot at more
Metasedimentary rocks
Lead isotope analyses have been carried out on the schists of the Vendian Jetym Group in the
Kumtor region (Middle Tien Shan east of the Talas-Farghana fault, MTS-E) and of the Cambrian
Besopan Group in the Kyzylkum Segment of the Southern Tien Shan (STS-W). The schists
investigated are the hosts of the orogenic gold deposits of Kumtor and Muruntau (Table 1)
respectively, therefore their lead isotope compositions may provide information on the metal
contribution of these rocks to the mineralization. In both cases leachate and residue fractions of the
schists define shallow slope trends in the uranogenic plot (Figure 3). The schists of the Vendian Jetym
Group (MTS-E), including a sample of syngenetic disseminated pyrite, overlap the field of the MTS-E
and NTS-E intrusions and plot on its prolongation along and beyond the orogen curve of Zartman and
Doe (1981) in the uranogenic diagram (Figure 3). In contrast, the Cambrian Besopan schists (STS-W)
plot at significantly higher 207Pb/204Pb values, even higher than those of the Kyzylkum Segment (STS-
W) intrusions (Figure 3). The least radiogenic compositions of the Besopan schists, in contrast with
that of the common lead-bearing syngenetic pyrite of the Jetym schists, are unlikely to represent the
common lead (see also Chiaradia and Fontboté 2003) and it is probable that the Besopan schists may
contain lead with less radiogenic values than those here reported.
Ore minerals
Like rocks, also ore deposits of the different terranes plot in separate isotope fields (Figure 4). The
differences are best seen in the uranogenic plot (Figure 4a) where ore deposits of the terranes
investigated (the Kyzylkum Segment of the Southern Tien Shan or STS-W, Middle Tien Shan west of
the Talas-Farghona fault or MTS-W, Middle and Northern Tien-Shan east of the Talas-Farghona fault
6.2.2006 15
or MTS-E and NTS-E, Chinese Altay) plot within distinct intervals of 207Pb/204Pb values. The STS-W
Guzhumsay, Sarmich, Zarmitan) have the highest 207Pb/204Pb compositions, defining a broad flat trend
in the uranogenic diagram that straddles the upper crust evolution curve and extends to significantly
higher 207Pb/204Pb values. They display a large variability of 206Pb/204Pb values as well, in part due to
the Pb-poor nature of some of these ores, which were not corrected for U-decay and therefore
Ores of the Middle Tien Shan west of the Talas-Farghona fault (MTS-W), which consists of
porphyry-Cu and epithermal deposits formed in the Beltau-Kurama continental arc of Devonian-
Carboniferous age (Kalmakyr, Kochbulak, Ustarasay) and the stratabound Zn-Pb mineralization of
Uchkulach, situated in the Middle Tien Shan immediately north of the Southern Tien Shan suture,
define a tight cluster between the orogen and upper crust evolution curves (Figure 4).
Also ores (Makmal, Kumtor) of the Middle Tien Shan east of the Talas-Farghona fault (MTS-E)
define a tight cluster plotting just below the orogen curve (Figure 4a). In contrast, mineral deposits of
the Northern Tien Shan east of the Talas-Farghona fault (NTS-E) have variable isotope signatures.
Whereas the rare metal deposit of Aktyuz has the same isotopic compositions as the mineral deposits
of the MTS-E, Boordu and Taldybulak Levoberezhny (NTS-E) have significantly higher 207Pb/204Pb
values than the associated magmatic rocks (NTS-E) and fall rather in the field of the STS-W intrusions
(Figure 4a). Two samples of the Axi epithermal deposit in the Chinese Northern Tien-Shan (NTS-E),
situated in the microcontinental block of Yili, have homogeneous isotopic compositions falling above
the orogen curve at 206Pb/204Pb and 207Pb/204Pb values intermediate between those of Aktyuz and
Boordu. In the thorogenic plot, the deposits of the Middle and Northern Tien Shan east of the Talas-
Farghona fault (MTS-E, NTS-E) plot generally at slightly more thorogenic values than deposits of the
Middle Tien Shan west of the Talas-Farghona fault (MTS-W), Kyzylkum Segment (STS-W) and
Ore deposits of the Chinese Altay are characterized by the lowest 207Pb/204Pb values, ranging
between the mantle and orogen curves of Zartman and Doe (1981), and by a narrow range of
206
Pb/204Pb values (Figure 4).
6.2.2006 16
Comparison with previous data
Li et al. (1998) and Wang et al. (2002) had analyzed samples from some of the deposits of the
Chinese Altay that we have investigated in the present study. Figure 5 reports their data in comparison
with ours. Li et al. (1998) report data for the VHMS Ashele deposit, which scatter largely beyond the
tight cluster of our three data, especially concerning the 207Pb/204Pb values, and encompass a variety of
potential reservoirs ranging from upper crustal to mantle. Since VHMS deposits are usually
characterized by very homogeneous Pb isotope signatures (e.g., Gulson 1986) and it is very unlikely to
find such a large range of isotopic composition in any kind of deposit, the data of Li et al. (1998) may
be affected by instrumental fractionation. The same kind of reasoning can be applied to the data of
Wang et al. (2002) for the Kalatonge deposit which display a range from depleted mantle to upper
crustal signatures. Also the single Saidu analysis differs from our tight cluster of five analyses for this
deposit because it is significantly less radiogenic. Only the Keketale data overlap our data although
some of them extend towards higher 207Pb/204Pb values (Figure 5). We conclude, therefore, that
previous data of the ore deposits that we have investigated appear to be strongly affected by
instrumental fractionation.
Additional data are also available for ore deposits of the Chinese Altay that we did not investigate
(Figure 6). Also in this case, however, the data display a broad range of 207Pb/204Pb values within the
same deposit (e.g., Koktal, Beilekuduke) and the regional scale compositional field is much broader
than the narrow field defined by our data on the Chinese Altay deposits (Figure 6). This probably
suggests again analytical inaccuracy due to instrumental fractionation. Therefore, these data will be
Discussion
Magmatic rocks, metasediments and orogenic Au-deposits of the Kyzylkum Segment of the
Southern Tien Shan (STS-W) are characterized altogether by 207Pb-enriched, upper crustal signatures
6.2.2006 17
(Figure 4a). This suggests that lead of both magmatic rocks and ore deposits of the Kyzylkum
Segment is derived from an upper continental crust characterized by elevated µ values (µ ~ 10.3
following the model of Stacey and Kramers 1975). Ore deposit signatures overlap only in part those of
the associated Kyzylkum Segment intrusive rocks, suggesting that lead in these deposits is not entirely
of magmatic origin (Figure 4). Lead isotope signatures of the Guzhumsay and Sarmich deposits, for
instance, define steep trends between the magmatic rocks of the STS-W terrane and the Besopan
schists (Figure 4) suggesting that lead may be a mixture between these two reservoirs (also taking into
account the probable extension of the Besopan schist field towards lower 206Pb/204Pb values: see
above). Isotopic compositions of the Muruntau, Daugyztau and Amantaitau deposits plot at
consistently higher 207Pb/204Pb values than the intrusive rocks suggesting again that an extra-magmatic
source (e.g., basement rocks characterized by high µ values, ~10.3, like the analyzed Besopan schists)
has contributed most of the lead in these deposits. The variable common Pb signatures within these
deposits also suggest that they derive from a non-homogenized mixture of at least two sources.
Therefore, lead isotope data for the Kyzylkum Segment rocks and ore deposits (STS-W) indicate that
the Late Paleozoic post-collisional magmatism has largely recycled upper continental crust materials
and that ore fluids which were associated with this magmatism have leached lead (and by inference
other metals) from basement rocks characterized by high µ values (e.g., Besopan schists and similar
lithologies).
In contrast, the signatures of deposits of the Middle Tien Shan west of the Talas-Farghona fault
(MTS-W) reflect derivation of lead from a homogeneous reservoir, which could be represented by the
continental arc magmas with which these deposits are associated. The signatures of these deposits,
plotting just above the orogen curve of Zartman and Doe (1981), are typical of the continental arc
environment where magmas derive from the mantle and subsequently interact with and become
contaminated by 207Pb-richer continental crust rocks. This interpretation is also consistent with
87
Sr/86Sri data on magmatic rocks of the Beltau-Kurama arc that, ranging between 0.7061 and 0.7075
(Solomovich 1997), indicate mixed mantle and crustal sources typical of a continental arc setting.
Lead isotope compositions of the ore deposits of the Northern Tien Shan east of the Talas-
Farghona fault (NTS-E) are highly variable (Figure 4) indicating derivation from heterogeneous
6.2.2006 18
sources. The rare metal deposit of Aktyuz (NTS-E) has the least radiogenic signature among the NTS-
E deposits, and is characterized by less radiogenic 206Pb/204Pb values than the associated magmatic
rocks (Figure 4 and Tables 3 and 4). However, common lead signatures of the Aktyuz intrusion could
not be obtained (see above) and, therefore, we cannot exclude that the Aktyuz intrusion is the metal
source for the Aktyuz ores. The Aktyuz ores are also characterized by thorogenic Pb-enriched
signatures, which suggest the involvement of a lower crust-type reservoir. The elevated 207Pb/204Pb
values of Boordu and Taldybulak Levoberezhny (Figure 4a), which are situated less than 100 km west
of Aktyuz, can only be explained by lead leached from basement rocks characterized by high µ values,
similar to those of the Kyzylkum Segment region. Hydrothermal leaching of radiogenic lithologies is
supported by the isotopic heterogeneity of the two Boordu galenas analyzed (Figure 4). The lack of
thorogenic lead enrichment indicates that the imprint of the lower crust-type reservoir, which can be
recognized in the Aktyuz ores, is absent in the Boordu and Taldybulak Levoberezhny deposits. The
lead isotope composition of the Axi epithermal deposit, in the Yili crustal block, is intermediate
between those of the Akytuz and Boordu deposits and might imply the contribution from mixed
crustal and mantle sources (see also below). Overall, the variable isotopic signatures of the ore
deposits of the NTS-E suggest the interaction of magmas and hydrothermal fluids with a
heterogeneous continental crust characterized by both lower and upper crust-type lithologies.
The Makmal and Kumtor deposits (MTS-E) have homogeneous and virtually identical signatures
that overlap the least radiogenic part of the fields of both the associated intrusions (MTS-E, NTS-E)
and of the Jetym schists (MTS-E). A magmatic derivation of lead for the Makmal skarn deposit is
supported by the coincidence of isotopic signatures between Makmal ores and magmatic rocks,
whereas the coincidence of isotopic compositions of the ore pyrite and syngenetic pyrite of the host
Jetym schists at Kumtor might indicate leaching of these rocks by hydrothermal fluids, although the
syngenetic pyrite is characterized by 208Pb-richer compositions than the ore pyrite (Figure 4b). It is
worth mentioning that the 207Pb-poorer signatures of the Vendian Jetym schists (MTS-E) compared to
the Cambrian Besopan schists (STS-W) point to different primary sources of the sediments hosts to
the orogenic-Au deposits in the MTS-E and STS-W terranes (Figure 4a). The ore deposits of the MTS-
E, similar to the Aktyuz deposit (NTS-E), have slightly thorogenic Pb-enriched signatures (Figure 4b),
6.2.2006 19
which might indicate a contribution from old metamorphosed (lower crust-type) basement rocks (see
below).
The Chinese Altay ore deposits have, independently from their origin and age, consistently low
207
Pb/204Pb values (with no thorogenic lead enrichment) suggesting a dominant mantle contribution
(Figure 4a). The ore deposits with the lowest 207Pb/204Pb values (Cu-Ni magmatic deposit of Kalatonge
and Cu-VHMS deposit of Ashele) are associated with mafic or bimodal rocks of various tectonic
settings (post-collisional extension, Kalatonge; near-continent rift or oceanic island arc, Ashele) and
plot across the mantle evolution curve suggesting a mantle origin for their lead. The Zn-Pb VHMS
deposit of Keketale is characterized by higher 207Pb/204Pb values that seem to suggest some crustal
contamination, in agreement with the intracontinental-rift setting of this deposit (e.g., Goldfarb et al.
2003). The four samples from the orogenic-Au deposit of Saidu, the Shangkelan pyrite-rich granite,
and the Au-W deposit of Manka plot within a narrow field, slightly below that of the Keketale ores,
determine whether this crustal contribution reflects a mantle enriched by subducted pelagic sediments
or results from the contamination of mantle-derived magmas by small crustal blocks. It is interesting
that orogenic-Au deposits of the Tien Shan east of the Talas-Farghona fault (Kumtor) and Chinese
Altay (Saidu) are characterized not only by different lead isotope signatures but also by different lead
isotope systematics with respect to those of the Kyzylkum Segment. The latter in fact, besides having
higher 207Pb/204Pb values, are characterized by highly variable signatures within each deposit, which
suggests a lack of homogenization of the ore fluids besides a Pb-poor system (Figure 4). In contrast,
the orogenic-Au deposits of Kumtor (MTS-E) and Saidu (Altay) display homogeneous signatures
(Figure 4) that imply either a better fluid homogenization or hydrothermal leaching of rocks
The Pb isotope signatures of the magmatic rocks of the Kokshaal Segment of the Southern Tien
Shan (STS-E), presumably thrusted over the northern margin of the Tarim microcontinent, are
characterized by a steep trend in the uranogenic plot, which suggests mixing between upper crust and
a less radiogenic Pb-source (Figures 3 and 4). Their thorogenic lead enrichment (Figure 4) with
6.2.2006 20
respect to their equivalents in the Kyzylkum Segment (STS-W) and most of the Tien Shan east of the
Talas-Farghona fault (MTS-E, NTS-E) suggests a significant contribution from old metamorphosed
Spatial and temporal variations of lead isotope compositions in the Southern Altay crust
Lead isotope compositions of magmatic and metasedimentary rocks as well as those of ore deposits
discriminate regional-scale terranes within orogenic belts of the southern Altaids. Despite different
origins and ages, ore deposits and magmas have terrane-dependent Pb isotope signatures (Figure 4)
suggesting that basement lithologies had a dominant control on the isotopic compositions of both
magmatism and hydrothermal activity at the regional scale. This supports the usefulness of lead
isotopes to characterize the crustal substratum (see also Macfarlane et al. 1990; Chiaradia et al. 2004).
One interesting feature of our data is a systematic longitudinal, from SW to NE, variation of Pb
isotope compositions of ore deposits and magmatic rocks that can be better viewed through the
variations of the «uranogenic» and «thorogenic components» (Figure 7). These components measure
the shift of each sample with respect to the orogen curve of Zartman and Doe (1981) in the uranogenic
and thorogenic plots and as such provide a visualization of the contributions from the mantle, upper
crust, and lower crust reservoirs that is not biased by growth of radiogenic lead due to age differences.
Upper crust contributions are well discriminated from lower crust and mantle contributions by the
uranogenic Pb component, whereas the lower crust can be discriminated from the mantle by the
Figure 7a shows a systematic decrease of the uranogenic Pb component from SW to NE, which
suggests an eastward increasing mantle or lower crust lead contribution. The magmatic rocks and ores
of the Kyzylkum Segment (STS-W), which have a consistently high uranogenic Pb component, have
in contrast a variable thorogenic Pb component (Figure 7b). In fact, all magmatic rocks and mineral
deposits of the Kyzylkum Segment (STS-W), except Muruntau, Amantaitau and Daugyztau, are
characterized by a consistently low thorogenic component, suggesting that the high uranogenic Pb is
due to upper crust-type lead. The orogenic gold deposits of Muruntau, Daugyztau and Amantaitau,
which derive most if not all of their lead from hydrothermal leaching of high-µ (238U/204Pb) host rocks
6.2.2006 21
(see above), are characterized by a significantly higher thorogenic Pb (Figure 7b), suggesting that ore
solutions have leached crustal rocks characterized also by high ω (232Th/204Pb) values.
The thorogenic Pb component shows that the lower uranogenic Pb component in the Middle and
Northern Tien Shan (MTS-W, MTS-E, NTS-E) and in the Kokshaal Segment of the Southern Tien
Shan (STS-E) is due to Pb contribution from lower crust-type rocks (Figure 7b). It also shows that
magmatic rocks and ores of the Boordu-Taldybulak Levoberezhny district (NTS-E) display a low
thorogenic component compared to all other magmatic rocks and ores of the Middle and Northern
Tien Shan east of the Talas-Farghona fault (MTS-E, NTS-E) (Figure 7b). The low thorogenic
component of the magmatic rocks in the Boordu region reflects mantle lead input as supported by their
low uranogenic Pb component (Figure 7a), whereas the low thorogenic component of the Boordu and
Taldybulak Levoberezhny ore minerals reflects mobilization of upper crustal lead characterized by
high µ values as supported by their high uranogenic Pb component (Figures 7a and b).
Finally, as anticipated earlier, the low uranogenic Pb in the Chinese Altay can only be related to a
significant mantle lead input as shown by their consistently low thorogenic Pb component (Figures 7a
and b). It is worthwhile to emphasize that the mantle lead isotopic compositions in the Altay magmatic
rocks and ores have MORB-type values and lack the 206Pb/204Pb enrichment typical of the HIMU
component (Zindler and Hart 1986) (Figure 4). This seems to exclude the contribution of a plume and
indicates that a MORB-type mantle was the source of magmas and metals in the Altay Mountains
In summary, our data indicate a heterogeneous crust in the Southern Altay with a dominantly
juvenile crust north-east of 80°E and a dominantly continental crust, including both upper and lower
crust-type rocks, south-west of 80°E in the investigated transect. The impact of lower crust-type rocks
on the isotopic compositions of magmas and ores is widespread in the Middle and Northern Tien Shan
(MTS-W, MTS-E, NTS-E) and in the Kokshaal Segment of the Southern Tien Shan (STS-E) whereas
it is only local in the Kyzylkum Segment of the Southern Tien Shan (STS-W). Proterozoic to Archean
rocks are known to occur in the Middle and Northern Tien Shan as well as in the Kokshaal Segment of
the Southern Tien Shan, thrusted over the Tarim basement (e.g., Jenchuraeva 2001; Kiselev and
Maksumova 2001), thus explaining the thorogenic Pb-rich signatures of rocks and ores in these
6.2.2006 22
terranes. In the Boordu-Taldybulak Levoberezhny district, magmas display a slight upper crust
contribution compared to all other investigated areas within the Middle and Northern Tien Shan, but
In contrast, in the Kyzylkum Segment of the Southern Tien Shan there is no evidence for high-
grade Paleo-Proterozoic and Archaean basement which explains the dominant upper crustal signature
(without a lower crust-type component) in most of the ores and all the magmatic rocks of the Southern
Tien Shan west of the Talas-Farghona fault (STS-W). This upper-crustal signature probably indicates
that the basement in this region is mainly composed of low-grade metamorphosed Neo-Proterozoic
and Lower Paleozoic rocks similar to the schists of the Besopan Group (Brookfield 2000). The only
exception is represented by the cluster of orogenic gold deposits of Muruntau, Amantaitau and
Daugiztau whose thorogenic Pb component suggests leaching of old metamorphosed rocks, perhaps
Figure 8 shows the variations through time of the uranogenic and thorogenic components of ore
minerals and rocks (including metamorphic lithologies) of the Southern Altaids. It is evident that
isotopic compositions have not changed substantially through time within the terranes. For instance,
isotopic compositions of the Altay ore deposits and magmatic rocks have remained substantially
unchanged between 400 and 170 Ma, indicating a dominant mantle lead derivation. The same
reasoning applies, to different extents, also to ore deposits and rocks of the STS-W, MTS-W, and
MTS-E. The complete overlap of lead isotope signatures of MTS-E intrusions and schists (Figure 4)
suggests that magmatism in the MTS-E has recycled older crustal material. This highlights the strong
lithological control exerced by basement rocks on the isotopic compositions of mineral deposits and
magmatic rocks at the terrane scale. However, isotopic signatures of the STS-W magmatic rocks and
ores at the time of the Hercynian collision (ca 270 Ma) are characterized by a larger spread of values
(Figure 8) that probably results from mixing of different reservoirs through enhanced magmatic and
hydrothermal processes at the time of the collision. In a similar way can probably be explained the
increase with time of the lower crust component in ore deposits and magmatic rocks of the NTS-E
(excluding the peculiar signatures of the Boordu and Taldybulak Leverobezhny ores) (Figure 8b).
6.2.2006 23
Conclusions
The new Pb isotope data of crustal rocks and ore deposits of terranes of Tien Shan and Chinese
Altay, here presented, allow us to complement existing Nd and Sr data on crustal rocks of the
Southern Altaids. Our results indicate that Pb isotope compositions of ore deposits and crustal rocks of
the Tien Shan and Chinese Altay are terrane-dependent supporting the fact that the Altaid orogen is a
collage of different blocks. The terranes investigated are characterized by a systematic decrease of the
contribution of the lower crust in the Middle and Northern Tien Shan (MTS-W, MTS-E, NTS-E) and
in the Kokshaal Segment of the Southern Tien Shan (STS-E), and of a MORB-type mantle in the
Chinese Altay. This is in agreement with geodynamic reconstructions that interpret the Altay as the
result of accretion of subduction complexes, island arcs and remnants of oceanic floor and with the
occurrence of Proterozoic and Archaean slivers in the Middle-Northern Tien Shan and in the Kokshaal
Segment thrusted over the Precambrian Tarim basement. Our lead isotope data do not indicate a
Isotopic compositions of rocks and ore deposits hosted by the Neo-Proterozoic and Lower
Paleozoic low-grade metasedimentary schists vary from west to east with a decrease in 207Pb/204Pb
The major orogenic, epithermal and intrusion-related gold deposits, situated in various terranes of
the studied transect, are characterized by different Pb isotopic compositions. As such, lead isotopes
seem to exclude the occurrence of a preferential terrestrial reservoir supplying the huge amounts of
gold in the deposits of the Southern Altaids or, alternatively, if such a preferential reservoir exists, its
occurrence has been masked in the lead isotope systematics by mixing processes with Pb-richer
reservoirs during the mineralizing events. The diversity in lead isotope compositions is not only
evident for genetically different types of deposits but also for the same type, for instance orogenic-Au
deposits. Indeed, following the general SW–NE isotopic gradient mentioned above, orogenic gold
deposits of the Kyzylkum Segment of the Southern Tien Shan (STS-W) are characterized by crustal
Pb isotope signatures typical of rocks with high-µ(±ω) values, whereas those of the Middle and
6.2.2006 24
Northern Tien Shan (MTS-W, MTS-E, NTS-E) are characterized by a significant input of lower crust-
type lead and those of the Chinese Altay display a dominant mantle contribution. Within the
Kyzylkum Segment (STS-W) orogenic gold deposits are characterized both by thorogenic Pb-rich
Zarmitan, Sarytau) isotopic compositions supporting the contention that lead isotope compositions of
these ore deposits are determined to a large extent by the heterogeneous compositions of basement
rocks. The latter, in turn, are probably the result of the local occurrence of old slivers of Pre-Cambrian
basement, imparting, for instance, the typical thorogenic Pb-rich signatures to the westernmost cluster
Acknowledgments
DK appreciates the support from NHM London during three CERCAMS expert fellowships that
lead to this paper. Prof. N.A. Akhmedov, Chairman of the State Committee on Geology and Mineral
Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan, kindly approved the cooperation with St Petersburg
University and NHM CERCAMS London for their collaborative research with the Institute of Mineral
Resources, IMR Tashkent. The director of IMR, Prof. Bahtyar Isakhodzhaev, is thanked for his
continuous support in our scientific cooperation. Alexander Piatkov and Liza Ganieva of IMR helped
to organize three successful field campaigns in 2002-2004. Eduard Bertman, IMR Tashkent, provided
samples from the Guzhumsay, Marjanbulak and Sarmich deposits. Boris Belyatsky contributed
samples and assisted with mineral separation. Toorat Usubaliev provided additional samples from the
Kumtor mine. Prof. Rosalia Jenchuraeva and Prof. Mao Jingwen and their teams helped to catalyze
this study with organizing perfect field excursion to the Kyrgyz Tien Shan in August 2001 and,
respectively, the Chinese Altay and Tien Shan in August 2003. The paper is a contribution to the
6.2.2006 25
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Figure captions
Figure 1 Geotectonic map of Central Asia (modified from Yakubchuk et al. 2003).
The rectangle represents the investigated area within the southern Altaids
(Figure 2).
Figure 2 Principal terranes and tectonic lineaments of the Tien Shan and Chinese
Altay and sampling sites. The numbers and letters identifying respectively
the mineral deposit and rock sampling sites correspond to those reported in
Tien Shan, MTS – Middle Tien Shan, STS – Southern Tien Shan, IR – Irtysh
represents the state border between China, Mongolia and Former Soviet
6.2.2006 34
207
Figure 3 Pb/204Pb vs. 206Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb vs. 206Pb/204Pb diagrams of whole
investigated in this study. The upper crust (UC), orogen (OR) and mantle
(M) evolution curves are from Zartman and Doe (1981). Arrows connect
207
Figure 4 Pb/204Pb vs. 206Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb vs. 206Pb/204Pb diagrams of ore
blank areas represent the compositional fields of whole rocks from Figure 3.
The upper crust (UC), orogen (OR) and mantle (M) evolution curves are
from Zartman and Doe (1981). Arrows connect raw and time-integrated
Figure 5 Lead isotope compositions of ore minerals of the Chinese Altay investigated
in this study compared with ore minerals from the same deposits of previous
studies (Li et al. 1998; Wang et al. 2002). The two values of the Ashele and
23 samples respectively. The upper crust (UC), orogen (OR) and mantle (M)
Figure 6 Lead isotope compositions of ore minerals from ore deposits of the Chinese
Altay not investigated in this study (Li et al. 1998; Wang et al. 2002)
compared with the compositional field of ore minerals of the Chinese Altay
from this study. The two values of the Saerbulak deposit represent the end-
(OR) and mantle (M) evolution curves are from Zartman and Doe (1981).
6.2.2006 35
Figure 7 Uranogenic Pb (a) and thorogenic Pb (b) components versus longitude
diagram for the mineral deposits and magmatic rocks analyzed. The
curve of Zartman and Doe (1981) calculated at the 206Pb/204Pb value of the
sample.
Figure 8 Uranogenic Pb (a) and thorogenic Pb (b) components versus age diagram for
6.2.2006 36