Discovery of the Tangbula porphyry molybdenum-copper deposit in the eastern segment of the Gangdise metallogenic belt and its significance

The Tangbula porphyry molybdenum-copper deposit, situated in the volcano-magma arc in the eastern segment of the Gangdise, formed in a post-India-Eurasia collision tectonic environment. Mineralization was related to granite porphyry and quartz porphyry and affected by multi-stage tectonic activities. This deposit, occurring at the site of junction of structures of multiple trends, is one of the most potential porphyry molybdenum-copper deposits found in eastern Gangdise recently. This paper systematically introduces the geological setting characteristics of the deposit. Due to the discovery of this deposit, the Gangdise porphyry copper belt extends eastward for up to 100 km and the copper belt further approaches a world-class giant porphyry copper belt. Furthermore, the discovery has great significance for Tibetan economic striding development.