Metallogenic Systems on the Paleocontinental Margin of the North China Craton

Abstract  The North China Craton (NCC) is one of the largest blocks composing the continent. Different types of continental margins well developed around the NCC, along with lots of metallogenic systems of different metals and different times. Based on the study on the structural evolution of the NCC, the authors made a new division of tectonic units of the NCC. Through an analysis of the data of 1:25000 geochemical survey on stream sediments, regional geochemical features of main ore‐forming elements including Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, W, Ni, Co and Mo of the NCC are discussed in the paper. Then different metallogenic systems and their forming processes and geodynamics are discussed in detail. At last, temporal and spatial distribution regularities are summarized and ten favorable ore‐control factors on the paleocontinental margins are put forward, including (1) abundance of ore sources; (2) rendezvous of ore‐forming fluids; (3) high thermo‐dynamic anomaly; (4) remarkable Earth crust‐mantle interaction; (5) cluster of macroscopic structures and their long activities; (6) diversity of ore‐forming environments; (7) long geohistory; (8) multiforms of critical transitional ore‐forming mechanisms; (9) multi‐staged and superimposed ore‐formation; and (10) suitable preservation condition.