Are there patterns of interconnected structural discontinuities in deeper parts of the lithosphere?

Abstract

My studies of structural controls of metallic ore deposits, conducted in different geological environments on five continents, have revealed that the largest metal concentrations of endogenic origin are usually related to mantle-rooted structural discontinuities (Kutina 1969, 1974, 1976, 1988, 1991, 1995, 1996a). This is in general agreement with observations of several Russian, Australian and Chinese geologists. A question arises whether or not a mutually interconnected pattern of structural discontinuities exists in deeper parts of the lithosphere. Two examples from my earlier studies are used to initiate discussion of the above question. The first example comes from the Precambrian of the Canadian Shield, the second one from the broad region of the western United States, bound on the west by a convergent plate margin.