Geological characteristics, oreforming processes and prospecting potential of Cu-Au deposits in the Circum-Pacific metallogenic domain

The Circum-Pacific metallogenic domain is one of the most important metallogenic domains in the world, and has always been the most attractive region for exploration development and metallogenic theory research. In this domain, many large-superlarge porphyry, skarn, epithermal, orogenic and carlin type deposits are distributed densely in special tectonic settings. In addition, the resources potential in the domain is also very great. The metallogenic epochs of these deposits are mainly Mesozoic and Cenozoic, with most of them formed in Phanerozoic orogenic belt and controlled by subduction and collision of Pacific Ocean plates. These deposits show obvious mineralization preferentiality and specificity. In this paper, the authors have described the metallogenic setting of Circum-Pacific metallogenic domain, and selected typical copper and gold deposits to summarize their geological characteristics and oreforming processes. Meanwhile, the geological setting, temporal-spatial distribution regularities of various types of deposits and prospecting potentials of the metallogenic belts in this domain have also been discussed.