Type, Genesis and Exploration Direction of Glutenite-hosted Ore Deposits in the Southwestern Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang

The southwestern Tianshan mountains is a famous distribution area of glutenite-hosted ore deposits in China, and has been deeply concerned by geologists because of some prospecting breakthroughs in Wulagen, Sareke, Jiashi and Dishui mineral districts in recent years. As the genesis of these deposits remains as a question, this paper summarized the geological characteristics and the mineralization setting in detail, and divided these ore deposits into three types, i.e. Wulagen-type, Sareke-type and Jiashi-type. Their genesis was respectively hot brine leaching, hot brine leaching-superimposed reformation and syngenetic sedimentation. The prospecting emphasis in southwestern Tianshan Mountains should be put on two aspects. First, some exploration blank area should be given more effort, such as Kuzigongsu, Tuoyun, Tuopa and Keziletao intermountain basins, and the margin and deep of Kashi hollow and Sareke basin. Second, minerals assessment and prospecting should be enhanced in the north of Keping basin and the western margin of Kuche-Baicheng basin.