Division of Metallogenic Units and Its Significance of Lead-Zinc Deposits in Xinjiang, China to Central Asia

The Xinjiang (China) to Central Asia region is located north of the Karakum-Tarim Craton and belongs to the Paleo-Asian Ocean tectonic domain, one of the world's three major tectonic domains. Distinguished by its unique geographical setting, this region is rich in mineral resources such as lead, zinc, copper, gold, rare earth, and lithium, and has become an important area for China's international mining cooperation in recent years. Guided by the "multi-island arc-basin system" tectonic model, this paper systematically summarizes the trmporal-spatial distribution, metallogenic setting and deposit types of lead-zinc deposits in the Xinjiang (China) to Central Asia region on the basis of tectonic unit division and carries out the division of

three-level metallogenic units. A total of 2 metallogenic provinces are distinguished: Altai(-Xing’an Mongolia) and Kazakhstan-Tianshan; 4 metallogenic belts are Altai, Taerbahatai-West Junggar, Moint-Balkhash-Middle Tianshan and TurgayTalas; and 6 metallogenic subbelts are South Altai, Saryzhal-Zharma, Karasor-Moint-Yili, Bayan Uul- Zheirtau-Middle Tianshan, Karatau and Bukantau-Kyrgyz Mountain. Building on previous research, this paper further analyzes the metallogenic characteristics and typical deposits of each subbelt and discusses regional lead-zinc mineralization in combination with the tectonic evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean, aiming to provide a useful references for the comparative study and exploration of lead-zinc deposits in Xinjiang and adjacent overseas areas.