On the Metallogeny at the Pacific Volcanic Belts

Abstract

This paper discusses currently interesting aspects of metallogeny at the Pacific volcanic belts (PVBs); these consist of complex volcanogenic–plutonic features related to the evolution of the marginal-sea lithosphere, which exhibits a remarkable mineralization peculiarity. We show that as time has passed, the ideas of a metallogenetic homogeneity of the PVBs received a new substantiation from the standpoint of plate tectonics. We show the metallogenetic value of the Ag/Au ratio in ore deposits at the PVBs. We consider the relationships between porphyritic epithermal and pyritaceous complex mineralizing systems, as well as regenerated and rejuvenated epithermal deposits. The global metallogenetic homogeneity of the Pacific ore belt suggests a wide occurrence of analogues of the American volcanogenic deposits in its Asian half, including the Russian Northeast. The bulk of the Okhotsk–Chukchi Volcanic Belt (OChVB), namely, the Uda–Murgali island arc belt, equally as the Uyandina–Yasachnaya and Oloi belts, are similar in geological structure not only to the Japanese green tuff province, but also to the other Pacific volcanic belts of the island arc type; hence, they are very likely to contain the entire diversity of deposits that belong to the complex pyritaceous ore–formation type.