Selenga Ore District in Western Transbaikalia: Structural–Minerogenic Zoning, Genetic Types of Ore Deposits, and Geodynamic Settings of Ore Localization

Abstract

Integrated structural geological, minerogenic, and metallogenic studies with allowance for previous topical surveying, geological mapping and prospecting, and mineral exploration data has revealed that Upper Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic tectonomagmatic structures are widespread in the Selenga ore district. They are associated with the evolution of the transregional Upper Paleozoic Selenga–Vitim rift-related volcanoplutonic belt and the formation of the Early Mesozoic West Transbaikalian region of intraplate magmatism. Late Paleozoic–Mesozoic igneous activity accounts for the bulk of mineable mineral resources in the Selenga ore district concentrated inside and outside the ore clusters (Kunalei, Kizhinga, Cheremshana–Oshurkovo, Tashir, etc.). It is demonstrated that the main mineable metals in the district are molybdenum and beryllium, which determine the minerogenic specificity of the ore district. New compositional characteristics of the Upper Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic intraplate magmatic complexes and the associated mineral deposits (Mo, Be, Ti, quartz, fluorite, and apatite ores), as well as other promising gold, uranium, and REE–Ba–Sr ore occurrences were obtained. The geodynamic settings of their formation and the ages of the main ore-forming processes have been established; the viability of the mining industry in the Selenga ore district and the feasibility of involving its ore potential in the district’s economic modernization program have been assessed.