Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Ore Geology Reviews

j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / o r e g e o r ev

The age of AgSb deposits of Central Asia and their correlation with other types of ore
systems and magmatism
Galina G. Pavlova , Alexander S. Borisenko
Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Koptyug pr. 3, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Economic AgSb deposits are located within four large ore districts of Central Asia: SE AltaiNW Mongolia, SE
Received 31 March 2008 Pamir (Tajikistan), Talas (Kyrgyzstan) and Verkhoyansk province (Yakutia), where AgSb ores are spatially
Received in revised form 31 October 2008 associated with tin mineralization. The geology, mineral composition and geochemistry of the AgSb deposits,
Accepted 2 November 2008
age of mineralization, distribution and genesis are presented in this paper. Results of new studies show that AgSb
Available online 21 November 2008
ores commonly occur within Sn ore provinces and can be divided into three groups according to their
relationships with tin mineralization. AgSb deposits of the rst group are spatially isolated from SnW ore elds
Keywords:
Central Asia
and from metamorphic haloes of Sn-bearing granitoids (pre-granitic deposits of the Mangazeisky ore cluster in
SnAg districts Yakutia and deposits of the Asgat-Ozernoe ore zone in the SE AltaiNW Mongolia). A 240 3.5 Ma 39Ar/40Ar age
Ore deposit dating of AgSb mineralization was determined for the Asgat deposit (SE AltaiNW Mongolia), which correlates well
AgSb mineralization with the 243 3.7 Ma 39Ar/40Ar age of alkaline mac intrusions (lamprophyre dike). The AgSb ore appears to be
Mineral composition younger than SnW mineralization (352 6.0 Ma) related with granite of the Yustid complex (355.7 8.6 Ma).
Alkali magmatism The second group comprises granite-hosted AgSb deposits of the Bazardara ore cluster (SE Pamir) of Paleogene
Mac and granitoid magmatism age (44 1.5 Ma) located within a tin ore cluster, but separated in time from the Cretaceous Sn mineralization
(98.5 1 Ma, ArAr). AgSb ore veins of the third group are located within tin ore clusters and are nearly coeval
with tin mineralization (post-granitic Ag rich ore of the Mangazeiskoe, Prognoz and Menkechenskoe deposits,
Verkhoyansk province). A close spatial and temporal relationship of AgSb deposits with SbHg mineralization
and alkaline mac magmatism is observed. Helium isotope systematics from the ore-forming uids of AgSb
Akjilga deposit (Pamir) conrm the role of mantle helium in the ore-forming process. Another important
indicator of a mantle source in these AgSb deposits is the Hg content in the ores; Hg being a typical element of
mantle origin. Isotopic (3He/4He, 87Sr/86Sr, Pb, S) and geochronological data demonstrate that AgSb deposits are
polygenetic in sources of ore matter and relate to the mantle-crustal ore-magmatic systems.
2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction and Sb suldes (stibnite, horobetsuite), native antimony, and

The four large silver ore districts known in Central Asia (Fig. 1) are:
southeastern Altainorthwestern Mongolia, Pamir (Tajikistan), Talas
(Kyrgyzstan), and the Verkhoyansk province (Yakutia). Notably they
possess an unusual AgSb mineralization type (Indolev and Nevoisa,
1974; Koleda, 1974, 1990; Borisenko et al., 1992; Kostin et al., 1997;
Gamyanin et al., 1998; Borisenko et al., 1999, 2000; Gamyanin et al.,
2003), which distinguishes them from the more common AuAg, Ni
CoAgBiU, and PbZnAg mineral systems. They differ by the
following features:
(1) an association of specic major (Cu, Ag, Sb, As, Bi, Pb, Zn) and
minor (Hg, Sn, Ni, Co, Au) ore elements;
(2) a predominance of Sb sulfosalts of Cu, Pb and Ag in the
ore, including high-Sb sulfosalts (zinkenite, chalcostibite, etc.)
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: pavlova@uiggm.nsc.ru (G.G. Pavlova).
gudmundite;
(3) vein and stockwork ore bodies represented by quartzsiderite
veins or vein zones with Cu, Pb, Ag, and Bi sulfosalts and
suldes;
(4) their location among carbonaceous terrigenous sediments or,
less commonly, among the intruding granitoids;
(5) localization in tin ore clusters and provinces;
(6) low ore deposition temperatures (b250 C) and high salinity of
ore-forming hydrothermal uids (up to 30 to 40 wt.% NaCl equiv.).
Apart from these four large silver ore districts in Central Asia, this
mineralization type is also known in Europe, America, and Australia,
where it likewise coexists with SnW and Sn-sulde mineralization,
namely, in the Erzgebirge, Germany (Baumann, 1965; Seifert and
Baumann, 1994; Seifert, 1999, 2004; Seifert and Sandmann, 2006;
Seifert, 2007) and Spisko-Gemerske Rudogorie, Slovakia (Varek,
1965; Haber, 1980; Varek, 1985), in Cornwall, U.K. (Beer, 1979), Coeur
d'Alene, Idaho, U.S.A. (Mitcham, 1952; Hobbs and Friklund, 1972), and
in Tasmania, Australia (Pirajno, 1992; Solomon et al., 2000).

0169-1368/$ see front matter 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2008.11.006
 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185 165

Fig. 1. Location of ore districts discussed in this paper: 1 Pamir, 2 Talas, 3 SE AltaiNW Mongolia, 4 Verkhoyansk province.

SilverSb mineralization has been classied in publications either
as silver-polymetallic, or galena-sphalerite, silverlead or silver
sulde. SilverSb deposits were rst distinguished as a unique deposit
type and described by Borisenko et al. (1992). The denition silver
antimony relates to the specic geochemical character of the ore
which distinguishes it from other silver deposits, with Ag and Sb being
the main ore elements. However, we show that it is possible to
distinguish several varieties within the group of AgSb deposits, since
there are differences in ore mineralogy and geochemistry (Table 1).
The known AgSb deposits have been well studied in terms of
geology and mineralogy, but many aspects of their genesis remain
poorly understood, especially the relationships of AgSb deposits with
other mineralization types (e.g. SnW, Sn-sulde, SbHg, etc.) and
with magmatism. Understanding these links may provide clues as to
(i) why AgSb deposits occur in ore districts with Sn mineralization,
(ii) the causes of complex ore compositions (Ag, Sb, Bi, Sn, etc.), and
(iii) the role of granitoid, mac, and alkaline mac magmatism in their
formation. This knowledge will provide a basis for the assessment
of potential genetic models of ore-magmatic systems and associated
AgSb deposits.
For this reason, we studied the spatial and temporal relationships
of AgSb ores with other types of mineralization and granitoid and
mac magmatism in large silver ore districts of Central Asia. ArAr and
UPb isotopic dating of AgSb ores and their host igneous rocks were
performed and the isotope compositions of He, Pb, S, Sr and the major-
and trace-element compositions of the ores have been determined.

Table 1
Varieties of AgSb mineralization.

Mineralization AgSb AgPbSb AgPb AgHgSb SnAg

Ore minerals Tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite Jamesonite, tetrahedrite Galena, sphalerite AgHg-tetrahedrite Sphalerite, galena, freibergite,
chalcostibite, arsenopyrite bournonite, zinkenite freibergite, tetrahedrite chalcostibite, bournonite pyrite, pyrargyrite, argentite
pyrite, pyrrhotite, gudmundite, boulangerite, gudmundite bournonite, semseyite chalcopyrite, galena miargyrite, diaphorite, owyheeite,
native Bi and Sb, bismuthinite native Bi and Sb, bismuthinite jamesonite, arsenopyrite gersdorfte, Hg-sphalerite zelyite, PbBi-sulfosalts, native
stibnite solid solution, stibnite solid solution, pyrite cinnabar Hg-bearing Ag, Sb, Bi, Au, bismuthinite
bournonite, sphalerite, galena pyrrhotite, pyrite silver pyrrhotite, stibnite, arsenopyrite
AgBi-tellurides
Sn minerals in the ore n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. Stannite, caneldite, frankeite,
cassiterite
Vein minerals Siderite, quartz, calcite, Siderite, quartz, calcite, Siderite, calcite, quartz, Siderite, barite, quartz, Quartz, siderite, ankerite
ankerite, uorite ankerite, uorite ankerite, uorite dolomite, calcite, ankerite
Ag content in ore, ppm 200600 200400 400 2002000 4004000
Ag content in 1.22.5 (up to 10) 0.316 536 0.220 (up to 52) 2050
tetrahedrite, wt.%
Hg content in ore (ppm) 11000 0.11 0.11 10002700 1000
Hg content in 5 10 2 0.020.2 b 0.05 12, up to 20 1.32
tetrahedrite, wt.%
Sn content in 0.010.2 0.010.1 0.010.14 ( 0.060.2) 0.060.2
sulfosalts, wt.%
Sn content in ore, ( 0.1) 0.050.54
wt.%
Deposits Asgat, Akjilga, Kumyshtag, Kara-Oyuk, Tyuktyu-Archa Chochimbalskoe, Privet, Khachakchan, Nochnoe, Mangazeiskoe, Prognoz,
Kimpechenskoe, Pogranichnoe Rannee, Chagan-Gol, Djilkydal, Kaltatur Bezymyanny; Bulat, Inary,
Berezkinskoe Burevestnik in Deputatsky
ore cluster

Abbreviations: n.d. not detected.

166 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185

This provided new results and a new background for the discussion of
AgSb deposit genesis.
2. Analytical methods for He, Ar, Pb, and Sr isotope
ratio determination
The ages of AgSb mineralization, the spacetime and genetic
relationships with other types of mineralization and with magmatism
were investigated using step-heating ArAr dating of micas, including
biotite (in lamprophyre), muscovite, sericite (in ore-bearing metaso-
matic rocks), and K-feldspar (in amazonite granite). Investigations
have been performed in the Analytical Center of the Institute of
Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of
Sciences. Monomineral fractions, together with monitor aliquots
(biotite MSA-11 N 129-88), were placed in fused silica vials and sealed
in a vacuum. MSA-11 biotite (VIMS) was certied as an Ar/Ar monitor
against muscovite Bern 4 m and biotite LP-6 international standard
samples (Baksi et al., 1996). The vials were irradiated in the cadmium
core of a water-moderatedwater-cooled reactor at the Research
Institute of Nuclear Physics (Tomsk), at a neutron ux gradient within
0.5% of the sample size. Step heating was carried out in a silica reactor
with an external furnace. The isotopic ratios were corrected for Ca and
K derived Ar isotopic interferences using the constants (39Ar/
37
Ar)Ca = 0.00073 0.000026, (36Ar/37Ar)Ca = 0.00032 0.000021,
and (40Ar/39Ar)K = 0.0641 0.0001 obtained by irradiation of pure
salts. Argon was cleaned with Ti- and ZrAl-SAES getters. The Ar isotope
composition was measured in samples degassed at 300 on a
Micromass Noble gas 5400 mass spectrometer, to uncertainty quoted
in text, tables, and gures at the one-sigma level.
Helium and argon isotopes were determined on a MI-1201 N 22-78
mass spectrometer at the Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory, Geologi-
cal Institute of the Kolsky Science Center, Apatity. Gas was extracted
from samples by fusion and vacuum grinding. Concentrations of 4
and 40Ar were measured to an error of 3 to 5%. See Marty et al. (1998)
and Tolstkhin et al. (1999) for details of the standard procedure.
Lead isotopic ratio measurements were carried out in IGEM RAN,
Moscow, using standard procedures on a MI-1320 instrument with
error of b0.15% (Chernyshov et al., 1983).
Sulfur and strontium isotope compositions were analyzed in the
Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of Russian
Academy of Sciences (Novosibirsk) using standard procedures on
Delta (Finnigan) and MI-1201T instruments, respectively.
3. Geology of ore districts with AgSb mineralization
In many tin-ore provinces of Central Asia the tin mineralization is
closely associated with silver mineralization represented by quartz-
carbonate-sulde vein and stockwork zones (Indolev and Nevoisa, 1974;
Koleda, 1974, 1990; Borisenko et al., 1992; Kostin et al., 1995, 1997;
Gamyanin et al., 1998; Borisenko et al., 1999, 2000; Gamyanin et al.,
2003; Borisenko et al., 2006). The largest districts with mineralization of
this type are SE AltaiNW Mongolia, Verkhoyansk province in Yakutia,
South Pamir in Tadjikistan, and Talas in Kyrgyzstan. In addition, similar
deposits are known in Primoriye, Eastern Zabaikalye, SE China, and
North Vietnam. The SE AltaiNW Mongolia district is one of the best
studied silver-ore districts and is described in some detail below. Table 2
summarizes the principal features of the districts and deposits discussed
in this paper.
3.1. Silver ore district of SE Altai and NW Mongolia
The silver ore district of SE AltaiNW Mongolia is located mainly
within the Delyuno-Yustid terrane in the Delyuno-Yustid back-arc
basin (Fig. 2). The Delyuno-Yustid terrane borders the Early Paleozoic
Altai and late Early Paleozoic Kharkhira terranes along the large Kurai-
Kobdo and Terekta-Tolbonur faults. The terranes comprise fragments
of PrecambrianEarly Paleozoic accretionary prisms and turbidite
basins that formed upon oceanic crust (Berzin and Dobretsov, 1994,
Dobretsov et al., 1995; Shokalsky et al., 2000; Kruk et al., 2001, Buslov
et al., 2003, 2004; Distanov et al., 2006).
The Delyuno-Yustid basin is lled with a 24 km thick sequence of
terrigenous sediments with redbeds and Early and Middle Devonian
volcano-sedimentary rocks at the base, overlain by Middle and Late
Devonian black shale which locally contains beds of copper-bearing
sandstone and hosts most of the epithermal ore occurrences in the
province.
Tectonic blocks bounded by large faults are composed of Precambrian
metamorphosed volcanic-carbonate rocks, Lower Cambrian volcanic
and clastic rocks, OrdovicianEarly Silurian terrigenous carbonates, and
Eifelian (Gradstein et al., 2005) basaltandesitedacite associations.
Magmatic activity in the province occurred in two main stages which
produced: (i) Middle Paleozoic granites of the Yustid complex (Late
DevonianEarly Carboniferous), mac intrusions of the Kara-Oyuk
complex (Late DevonianEarly Carboniferous) and post-granite dolerite
dikes (CarboniferousPermian), and (ii) Early Mesozoic alkaline mac

Table 2
Main features of the ore districts and deposits.

District Ore cluster Representative deposit Metals Main ore minerals Age (Ma)
SE AltaiNW Mongolia Aktash, Chagan-Uzun, Kuraiskoe Hg, Sb Cn, St 231.5 1
Djilkydal, Otsalar Cu, Ag, Sb, Hg Ag,Hg-Tet 234.4 1.3
Yustid Asgat, Ozernoe, Yantau Ag, Sb, Cu, Bi, Pb, Zn Tet, Chst, Bnt, Cpy 240 3.5
Munguntaiga, Mogenburen Co, Ni, As, Bi + Ag, Sb, Cu Ars, Asp, Lo, Tet 250240
Yustid Sn, W Cst, Asp 352 6
Tolbonur Tolbonur, Sharabureg Ag, Sb, Cu, Pb, Zn Tet, Bnt, Cpy
Ag, Sb, Cu, Pb, Zn Tet, Bnt, Cpy
Sagsai Ni,Co + Ag,Sb + Hg Asp,Lo,Tet, Cn
Chiyash-Nur Hg, Sb Cn, St
Pamir Kaltatur Kaltatur Sb, Hg, Ag Ag,Hg-Tet
Bazardara Akjilga Ag, Sb, Cu, Pb, Zn Tet 44 1.5
Trezubets Sn, W Cst, Wlf, Asp, Stn 98.5 1
Verkhoyansk Khachakchan Khachakchan, Nochnoe Ag, Sb, Hg, Cu Ag,Hg-Tet,Gl, Hg-silver, Cn
Mangazeisky Kimpechenskoe Ag, Sb, Cu, Pb, Zn Tet N97
Mangazeiskoe Pb, Zn, Ag, Sb, Cu Gl, Sph, Tet N97b97
Deputatsky Bulat, Inary, Burevestnik Pb, Zn, Ag, Sb, Cu Gl, Sph, Tet b106
Deputatsky Sn,W Cst, Wlf, Stn, Gl, Sph 120(?)
Talas Kumyshtag Kumyshtag Ag, Sb, Cu, Pb, Zn Tet, Jam Post-Permian
Uchimchek Fe, As Asp, Lo
Kurgan Kurgan Sn + Ag, Sb, Cu, Pb, Zn Cst, Sph, Stn, Tet,Gl Post-Permian

Abbreviations used: Tet tetrahedrite, Chst chalcostibite, Cpy chalcopyrite, Asp arsenopyrite, Gl galena, Sph sphalerite, Lo lllingite, Ag,Hg-Tet Ag and Hg-containing
tetrahedrite, Cn cinnabar, St stibnite, Jam jamesonite, Cst cassiterite, Stn stannite, Wlf wolframite, Ars NiCo arsenides, Hgsilver Hg-bearing silver.
 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185
Fig. 2. Distribution of AgSb, CuAgHgSb and SbHg deposits in the SE AltaiNW Mongolia ore district. Ore clusters: 1 Yustid, 2 Tolbonur.
rocks (lamprophyre) of the Chuysky dike complex (Early Triassic),
dolerite of the Kurai complex (Early Triassic), and younger intrusions of
rare-metal-bearing granite, porphyritic granite, and ongonite (Middle
TriassicEarly Jurassic) (Table 3) (Obolenskaya, 1971, 1983; Shokalsky
et al., 2000; Borisenko et al., 2004).
Igneous rocks of different ages host endogenous mineralization
of different types, including Middle Paleozoic (Late DevonianEarly
Carboniferous) o-sulfoarsenide and SnW, and Early Mesozoic
NiCoAs, AgSb, SbHg (Triassic), and MoW (Middle Triassic
Early Jurassic) deposits. There are two ore clusters of silverantimony
mineralization within the district: the Yustid cluster in the north
of the Delyuno-Yustid basin; and the Tolbonur cluster located 150 km
to the south. The Yustid ore cluster is the largest and best studied
(Pavlova, 1987a,b; Borisenko et al., 1992, 1999; Pavlova et al., 2004
2006; Obolenskiy et al., 2007; Pavlova et al., 2008; Pavlova and
Borovikov, 2008).
3.1.1. Yustid ore cluster
The Yustid ore cluster is bound in the north and in the east by the
arc-shaped Kurai-Kobdo fault that changes the strike in this region
from submeridional to sublatitudinal (Fig. 3). The fault is the main ore-
controlling structure with subsidiary smaller faults being ore-bearing.
AgSb mineralization in the ore cluster is localized in four ore zones:
Asgat-Ozernoe, Munguntaiga, Mogenburen, and Yantau (Fig. 3).
167
The largest zone is Asgat-Ozernoe near the Yustid granite. The
Yustid SnW occurrence occurs at the contact between the granite and
the host Devonian terrigenous rock as greisen veins with quartz-
uorite-tourmaline and disseminated arsenopyrite, cassiterite, wol-
framite, scheelite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, native bismuth and
bismuthinite.
The Asgat-Ozernoe zone extends for over 25 km within an oblique-
slip detachment fault along a contact between sandstone-shale
sediments of the Boguta and Barburgazy Formations (Middle and
Late Devonian). The eastern ank of the zone, with the largest Asgat
deposit, is situated in Mongolia. The western ank, in the Russian
southeastern Altai, hosts several ore elds (Fig. 4), from NE to SW
including the Pogranichnoe, Kara-Oyuk, Ozernoe deposits and the
Chagan-Gol occurrence. All deposits are in similar geological settings
within Middle and Late Devonian hornfelsed shales with dissemi-
nated suldes (pyrite, pyrrhotite, marcasite). Mineralization consists
of quartzsiderite veins and stockworks with Ag-bearing tetra-
hedrite in the disseminated form or in nests and stringers. Less
abundant minerals are Sb-sulfosalts (chalcostibite, bournonite, jame-
sonite, zinckenite, semseyite), pyrite, arsenopyrite, lllingite, ankerite,
calcite (barite, uorite), galena, sphalerite, bismuthinite, native
bismuth and antimony, and gudmundite. Stibnite, horobetsuite and
emplectite are rare minerals. Crustiform veins are composed of quartz
and siderite with disseminated pyrite and arsenopyrite, occasionally
168 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185

Table 3
Age of magmatic rocks of the SE AltaiNW Mongolia ore district.
Magmatic complex, massif Rock Age, Ma Method References
Tsagangol granite massif Granite 440 KAr Gavrilova (1975)
Tolbonur granite massif Granite, leucogranite 397 5 UPb Demin et al. (1991, 2001)
386 16 RbSr
Kara-Oyuk rhyolitedolerite complex Dolerite Late DevonianEarly Carboniferous Geol. data Goverdovskiy (1987)
Torgaliksky gabbro-syenite complex Gabbro Late DevonianEarly Carboniferous Geol. data Krivenko (1965)
Kharkhirinsky massif Leucogranite 365 5 UPb Demin et al. (1991, 2001)
345 10 RbSr
Yustid massif and complex Biotite granite 355.7 8.6 UPb Goverdovskiy and Rudnev (2000)
Terektinsky gabbro-dolerite complex Gabbro 280233 (Permian-riassic) KAr Mikhaleva (1989) geological data
Achitnur SnW deposit Amazonite granite 265.9 3.5 ArAr Original data
Chuysky complex of micaceous lamprohyries Minette, kersantite 245.7 0.7 ArAr Vrublevskiy et al. (2004); original data
244 0.8 ArAr
243 3.7 ArAr q
236.8 0.6 ArAr q
234.6 3.1 ArAr q
Tarkhata granosyenite-monzodiorite complex Syenodiorite 240 UPb Kruk et al. (2001)
Kungurdzhara massif Granite, leucogranite 240 1 ArAr Vladimirov et al. (1997)
235 9 RbSr q
Tsagangolsky massif Leucogranite 242.3 2.7 ArAr original data
Aturkol massif Granite 237 4.4 UPb Gusev (2003)
Kalguta graniteleucogranite massif Leucogranite 228 5.4 RbSr Dovgal et al. (1997)
218 UPb Vladimirov et al. (1997)
Chigertaisky granite massif Leucogranite 225 10 UPb Demin et al. (1995, 2001)
Sagsay granite massif Leucogranite 225 10 UPb Demin et al. (1995, 2001)
Kalgutinsky graniteleucogranite complex Granite porphyry 218 1 ArAr Original data
Ulanulsky massif Granite porphyry 214.9 0.7 ArAr Original data
Kungurdzhara massif Spodumene aplite 213 21 RbSr Vladimirov et al. (1997)
East-Kalguta dike complex Ongonite, kalgutite 202.4204 ArAr Shokalsky et al. (2000)
Alakha rare-metal granite complex Spodumene granite-porphyry 201 15 RbSr Vladimirov et al. (1997)

with lllingite and sulfoarsenides along selvages, and ne grained The ores formed in three successive stages: (1) siderite (quartz,
siderite, tetrahedrite, and other Sb sulfosalts and suldes in the central siderite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, gudmundite, lllingite, gersdorfte);
part. (2) sulfosalt (tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, chalcostibite, zinckenite,

Fig. 3. Silver-ore zones in the Yustid ore cluster (after Borisenko et al., 2007). Ore zones: 1 Asgat-Ozernoe, 2 Munguntaiga, 3 Mogenburen, 4 Yantau.
 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185
Fig. 4. Simplied geological map of the Asgat-Ozernoe ore zone (after Borisenko et al., 2007).
jamesonite, bournonite); (3) sulde (galena, sphalerite, freibergite,
chalcopyrite, bismuthinite, native bismuth and antimony). They have
high Bi-contents and include Bi-bearing chalcostibite, zinckenite, and
stibnite; Bi and Sb show broad isomorphism in the bismuthinite
stibnite, native antimonynative bismuth, and chalcostibiteemplectite
series. The Yustid ores do not contain silver sulfosalts and suldes, and
argentite is found only as a supergene mineral.
The vertical interval of mineralization reaches ~950 m. At the deep
horizons (below-ore level) quartzsiderite veins are especially
abundant in early high-temperature mineral parageneses with higher
contents of pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, lllingite, gudmundite, and
native antimony. At the middle horizons (ore level) tetrahedrite and
chalcostibite and early chalcopyrite are dominant, at the upper
horizons, tetrahedrite and latest chalcopyrite are dominant. Note
that Ag contents of tetrahedrite (ca. 1.32.5%) remain almost
unchanged with depth.
Mineralization in the Asgat-Ozernoe zone shows a distinct lateral
zonation with later low-temperature mineral associations towards
the southwest. The mineralogy of ores changes in the district
from northeast to southwest, from tetrahedrite (Asgat deposit) to
169
tetrahedritechalcostibite (Pogranichnoe), zinckenite (Kara-Oyuk),
bournonitetetrahedrite (Ozernoe), and galena-freibergite (Chagan-
Gol site) types. The veins become notably thinner (from 112 m to 1
5 cm) likewise southwestwards, i.e., mineralization intensity tends to
decrease in this direction. Major ore elements are Ag, Cu, Sb in the
northeastern part of the zone, Ag, Cu, Sb, and Pb in the center, and Cu
and Zn in the southwest. Note that Hg in the ores ranges from 1 to
1000 ppm in the Asgat deposit and to 1 and 0.1 ppm in the SW ank
of the zone (Chagan-Gol site). Mercury impurities are found in
tetrahedrite and bournonite. The maximum ore formation tempera-
tures decrease in the same direction from 200 to b100 whereas the
salinity of ore uids found in uid inclusions decreases only slightly
from 36 to 23 wt.% in the Asgat deposit to 30 and 21 wt.% NaCl equiv. in
the Ozernoe deposit. The vertical thermal gradient during the siderite
stage was estimated as 9 /100 m.
The most important problem of metallogeny of this district is the
age of the AgSb mineralization and its spatial and temporal links
with other ore types and with magmatism. Silverantimony miner-
alization is the youngest and is superimposed on Middle Paleozoic
granites of the Yustid complex and related zones of pyrrhotite
170 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185
chalcopyritecobaltite (CoAs) or chalcopyritepyritepyrrhotite
(CuFe) mineralization in thermally metamorphosed shales. The sub-
latitudinal steeply-dipping veins with AgSb mineralization cut
younger (~250 Ma) submeridional at sideritearsenide veins with
lllingite, skutterudite, saforite, native bismuth and arsenic in the
Askhatin-Gol deposit (Fig. 3), which in turn cut zones of skarns and
skarnied rocks with pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, cobaltite, and scheelite
(Tyulkin, 1980; Borisenko et al., 1984). The same spacetime relation-
ships between NiCoAs and AgSb deposits are also found in other
ore occurrences within the district (e.g., Mogenburen).
Mesozoic ores in the cluster are controlled by the Kurai-Kobdo
fault along which AgSb ores (Asgat, Ozernoe deposits) grade
northeastwards into complex CuAgSbHg ores with siderite, barite,
Hg-tetrahedrite (Djilkydal and other occurrences) and on into SbHg
mineralization (Aktash deposit) (Fig. 2). The paragenetic sequence of
ore formation events in the Yustid ore cluster is as follows, from oldest
to youngest: CoAs, SnW NiCoAs AgSb, CuAgHgSb, SbHg,
which is consistent with ArAr and UPb ages of igneous rocks
and ores.
ArAr dating shows that Early Mesozoic AgSb mineralization
formed in the Yustid cluster at 240 3.5 Ma (Table 4) (Pavlova et al.,
2008). This age determination was made on sericite from a siderite
vein in hydrothermally-altered mica lamprophyre of the Chuysky
complex (Turgen site of the Asgat deposit). The sericite sample
consisted of ne-grained muscovite (M-1) with minor carbonate and
quartz.
Complex CuAgSbHg mineralization is also of Triassic age
(234.4 1.3 Ma ArAr sericite age), and SbHg mineralization is
younger (231.5 1 Ma ArAr sericite age) (Borisenko et al., 2003). The
gradual change from AgSb to complex CuAgSbHg mineralization
and on to SbHg (stibnite, cinnabar) mineralization along the Kurai-
Kobdo and Terekta-Tolbonur faults records a zonation trend along the
main regional ore-controlling structures (Table 4).
The ArAr age of unaltered lamprophyres that host the siderite
vein is 243 3.7 Ma. Formation of the Chuysky mica lamprophyre
generally spanned an interval of 246236 Ma, with two prominent
pulses of alkaline mac magmatism at 246243 and 236234 Ma
(Tables 3 and 4), according to our results and to published data
(Borisenko et al., 2003; Goverdovskiy, 2004; Vrublevskiy et al., 2004;
Naumov, 2007). Therefore, AgSb and the associated CuAgHgSb
and SbHg ores do have genetic links with alkaline mac rocks of the
Chuysky complex as was previously suggested by Obolenskaya (1971,
1983), Obolenskiy (1985) and Borisenko et al. (1984, 1992).
The age of older Middle Paleozoic mineralization was also
determined by the ArAr method on muscovite from SnW greisen
ores of the Yustid occurrence as 352 6 Ma. A similar age of 349
3.9 Ma was obtained for pyrrhotitecobaltite (CoAs) mineralization
in the Karakul deposit. These results conrm the temporal link of these
mineralization types with the 355.7 8.6 Ma old Yustid granitoid
intrusions (Goverdovskiy and Rudnev, 2000) and indicate that AgSb
Table 4
Age of magmatic rocks and ores from deposits of the SE Altai and NW Mongolia (ArAr).
Deposit
Hg Tyutyo deposit, North-Chuya Range
CuAgHgSb Kok-Uzek deposit, South-Chuya Range
Kersantite, Chuysky complex, South-Chuya Range
Kersantite, Asgat deposit, Turgen site (Mongolia)
AgSb Asgat deposit, Turgen site (Mongolia)
Kersantite, Asgat deposit, Turgen site (Mongolia)
NiCo arsenide deposit, South-Chuya Range
NiCo arsenide deposit, Tuva
SnW Achitnur deposit (Mongolia)
SnW Yustid occurrence, Chikhachev Range (SE Altai)
Granite of Yustid complex, Chikhachev Range (SE Altai)
Age determinations were performed in the Analytical Center of the Institute of Geology and Mineralogy SB RAS (A.V. Travin).
References: 1 Borisenko et al. (2003); 2 Mitropolskiy and Kulik (1975); 3 Goverdovskiy and Rudnev (2000).
mineralization was separate in time from SnW and Co-sulfoarsenide
mineralization. It must be noted that there is also a younger SnW
mineralization in the district; amazonite granite dikes containing
cassiterite have a 265.9 3.5 Ma ArAr age (Borisenko et al., 2007).
The youngest ages are for MoW greisen mineralization in the
Ulanul (Mongolia) and Kalguty (Russian Altai) deposits (Vladimirov
et al., 1997; Borisenko et al., 2003, 2004; Annikova et al., 2006), which
formed between 220 and 200 Ma ago.
NiCoarsenide and CuCoAs mineralization types (earliest in
the ore succession) commonly follow submeridional faults, as well as
post-granite dolerite dikes; later AgSb mineralization is associated
with sublatitudinal faults and zones of shearing and shattering,
usually injected with dikes of the Chuysky alkali basites. SbHg
mineralization is found along large faults.
3.1.2. Tolbonur ore cluster
The Tolbonur ore cluster is bracketed between the main ore-
controlling KuraiKobdo fault in the east and the TerektaTolbonur
fault system in the west (Fig. 2). Ores occur along an EW-striking
system of subsidiary ore-bearing faults and shear fractures. The ore
cluster comprises the Tolbonur, Sharabureg deposits and several
occurrences of siderite veins with copper suldes and tetrahedrite.
Most occurrences follow the Tolbonur fault zone. The Tolbonur
deposit is located in the western side of the Yustid basin where
about thirty EW-striking siderite and siderite-sulfosalt veins were
discovered along vertical joints and zones of shattering. Veins may
reach thicknesses of 1 to 5 m and the vein zones are up to 1015 m
thick and 23 km long. Some zones are exposed by erosion up to a
height of 900 m. Tetrahedrite is the major ore mineral, with less
common minerals include bournonite, galena, arsenopyrite, lllingite,
pyrite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite. The Tolbonur ores have greater
percentages of quartz and barite than the Yustid occurrences, low Bi
(0.05%) and some Hg (510 2%). Ore veins and vein zones in the
Tolbonur eld are hosted by Yustid granitic rocks and post-granite
dolerite dikes distributed in a NW-trending belt. AgSb mineralization
within the eld shows lateral zonation. Carbonate veins with
arsenopyrite, lllingite, and minor tetrahedrite are present along the
Tolbonur fault; the veins away from the fault are of a siderite
tetrahedrite composition with bournonite, galena, and other suldes
in disseminated form. Towards the northwest the vein zones consist
mainly of barren siderite veins with pyrite and chalcopyrite. Vertical
zonation is manifested by the greater abundances of arsenopyrite and
lllingite in the deepest horizons, tetrahedrite and galena in the
middle, and barite, tetrahedrite, and chalcopyrite in the upper levels.
The ore veins formed in two distinct stages which produced earlier
sideritearsenide veins with arsenopyrite, lllingite, gersdorfte,
followed by AgSb mineralization (siderite + Ag tetrahedrite).
SilverSb mineralization in the Tolbonur ore cluster is associated
with CuAgHgSb and SbHg ores. The lateral zonation in the NW
direction and along the TerektaTolbonur fault, similar to that in the
Mineral Age, Ma
Sericite from cinnabar ore 231.5 1.0(1)
Sericite from hydrothermally altered kersantite in vein selvages 234.4 1.3(1)
Biotite 236.8 0.6
Biotite 234.6 3.1
Sericite from hydrothermally altered kersantite in siderite ore vein 240 3.5
Biotite 243 3.7
Nasturan, UPb method 258250(2)
Nasturan, UPb method 252242(2)
K-Fsp from amazonite granite dike with cassiterite 265.9 3.5
Muscovite from SnW quartz veins in greisen 352 6.0
zircon, UPb method 355.7 8.6(3)
 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185 171

Table 5
Mineral composition of the ores in AgSb, Cu AgSbHg and SbHg deposits within the KuraiKobdo and TerektaTolbonur metallogenic belts.

Metallogenic belts AgSb (Asgat, Ozernoe, Pogranichnoe)
KuraiKobdo Ag-tetrahedrite chalcostibite chalcopyrite zinkenite,
bournonite freibergite, pyrite arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite
sphalerite, galena, stibnite bismuthinite, native
bismuth gersdorfte
Siderite, quartz, calcite,
ankerite, sericite, chlorite
TerektaTolbonur (Tolbonur, Sharabureg)
Ag-tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite bournonite, pyrite,
sphalerite, galena arsenopyrite, loellingite
Siderite, quartz, calcite, sericite, ankerite, chlorite
CuAgSbHg (Djilkydal, Otsalar)
HgAg-tetrahedrite chalcostibite chalcopyrite
pyrite bravoite galena sphalerite cinnabar
Siderite, quartz, barite, calcite, sericite, dickite
(Sagsai)
HgAg-tetrahedrite pyrite, bravoite, chalcopyrite,
Au, suldes and arsenides of Ni and Co, cinnabar
Quartz, barite, siderite, ankerite, sericite, kaolinite
SbHg (Aktash, Chagan-Uzun, Kuraiskoe)
Cinnabar, stibnite, pyrite chalcostibite,
chalcopyrite, Hg-fahlores, Hg-sphalerite,
realgar, auripigment, metacinnabar,
gersdorfte
Quartz, calcite, dolomite,
kaolinite, dickite, hydromica
(Chyash-Nur)
Cinnabar, pyrite stibnite chalcopyrite
metacinnabar, marcasite
Quartz, calcite, sericite, kaolinite

Yustid cluster, is from Tolbonur, Sharabureg (AgSb) to Sagsai
(CuAgHgSb) and to Chiyash-Nur (Hg) deposits (Table 5). The
Sagsai ores contain three successive mineral assemblages of
dolomite + nickeline + rammelsbergite + gersdorfte siderite + Hg,
Ag-bearing tetrahedrite + chalcopyrite calcite + cinnabar, metacin-
nabarite, which correspond to three mineralization types (NiCoAs,
CuAgSbHg and Hg) spatially coinciding within the ore eld. AgSb
ores is hosted by Yustid granitoids and post-granite dolerite dikes.
3.2. Pamir silver-ore district
schists, gneisses, marble, and amphibolite intruded by granitoids of
different ages. Rocks of the terrane are thrust in a series of sheets over
unmetamorphosed carbonaceous terrigenous and terrigenous carbo-
nate (Carboniferous, Permian and Triassic) and carbonate and terrige-
nous sediments (Jurassic) of the Southeastern Pamir. Igneous rocks in
the terrane belong to complexes of Early Mesozoic (Middle and Late
Triassic), Late Mesozoic (Early Cretaceous), and Cenozoic (Paleogene
Neogene) ages (Table 6). The mineralization in the province is mainly
of the tin, silver, and polymetallic types; less important are boron
and gold deposits and Miocene REE-bearing carbonatite.

The Pamir silver ore district (Fig. 5) is a large, and a very old silver
producer, where silver has been mined since the 7th Century AD. It is
located in the Central Asian segment of the AlpineHimalayan orogen,
within the Central, Rushan-Pshart, Southwestern, and Southeastern
terranes of the Pamir (Tyutin and Bezugliy, 1990; Vladimirov et al.,
2000). The district includes several large AgSb ore clusters, namely,
Bazardara, Mardjanay, Tokuzbulak, Buguchijilga, and Kaltatur. Ore
clusters with their specic lithology, magmatism, geological history,
and metallogeny are distinguished by their mineralogy and chemistry.
The richest are the Ag clusters in the Southwestern (Tokuzbulak) and
Southeastern (Bazardara, Mardjanay, and Buguchijilga) terranes (Fig. 5).
The Southwestern terrane is composed of Proterozoic migmatitic
3.2.1. Bazardara ore cluster
The Bazardara ore cluster is the largest and most well studied in
the Pamir. It is associated with the multistage Bazardara intrusion
composed mainly of biotite granite, monzogabbro and monzodiorite
(Fig. 6). The granitoids intrude thick (up to 4.5 km) terrigenous and
terrigenous-carbonate sediments of Carboniferous, Permian and
Triassic age that contain organic matter and suldes. The terrigenous
sediments are metamorphosed to hornfels facies and the carbonates
are altered to skarn. Also present are quartz-tourmaline metasomatic
rocks. The halo of contact metamorphism is from 750 to 1700 m wide.
Mineralization in the cluster formed in several stages which
produced two complexes of (i) SnW greisen and skarn with

Fig. 5. Distribution of AgSb, Sb and Hg deposits in the South Pamir region. Ore clusters: Kaltatur, Tokuzbulak, Mardjanay; Bazardara, Buguchijilga.
172 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185

Table 6
MesozoicCenozoic magmatism of the southern Pamir (after Vladimirov et al., 2000).

Magmatic rock association Rock composition Age, Ma Method

Tethyan ophiolites Sedimentary rocks, metabasalts Triassic Geol data
Diabases, serpentinites Triassic Geol data
Gunt Series (metamorphic complex) HTLP metamorphites, migmatites, gneiss granites 215200 UPb
Koitezek Series Monzodiorites, adamellites, granites 205190 UPb
Bashgumbez granites Adamellites, granites, leucogranites 180 19 UPb
Alichur volcano-plutonic series Monzogabbro, monzodiorite 110107 RbSr
Trachybasalts, shoshonites, and rhyolites of the Kyzylrabat belt 110 3 RbSr
Bazardara granites Adamellites, granites, leucogranites, aplites 99.7 1.8 RbSr
Bazardara massif Ongonite 100.5 1.8 ArAra
Pamir-Shugnan granites Yashchil'kul granites, leucogranites, aplites, pegmatites 1816 KAr
Shugnan granites, leucogranites, aplites, pegmatites 16.1 1.1 UPb
Namangud granites, leucogranites, aplites, pegmatites 18 1 RbSr
Dunkeldyk complex Trachyte 10.811.5 ArArb
a
Authors new data.
b
Hacker et al. (2005).

cassiterite and (ii) later AgSb and uorite mineralizations. In the pyrite, lllingite, scheelite, stannite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, sphaler-
largest Trezubets SnW deposit ore veins are composed mainly of ite, bismuthinite, galena, and magnetite. Other vein minerals besides
quartz, cassiterite, wolframite, and arsenopyrite and lesser amounts of quartz are micas (muscovite and zinnwaldite), topaz, microcline,

Fig. 6. Distribution of AgSb mineralization in the Bazardara ore cluster.

 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185
uorite, and rare tourmaline, chlorite, and garnet. In addition to SnW
greisen mineralization, the earlier ore system comprises skarn Sn-
bearing sulde occurrences.
AgSb mineralization is localized in subsidiary ore-bearing faults
from the major ore-controlling Akjilga fault (Fig. 6). The largest are the
Akjilga and Upper Akjilga deposits where mining of silver took place
in the 7th through to the 10th Century AD and remnants of an old
Silver City have survived till now. Deposits and numerous
occurrences of silver are hosted by carbonaceous and sulde-bearing
terrigenous-carbonate rocks and the intruding Bazardara granite and
monzonite. AgSb mineralization consists of steeply dipping quartz
siderite veins with uorite, Ag-bearing tetrahedrite (from 0.2 to
15.5 wt.%), sulfosalts (chalcostibite, bournonite, semseyite, cosalite),
including silver and Ag-bearing sulfosalts (pyrargyrite, miargyrite,
aramayoite, matildite, diaphorite, zelyite, gustavite, andorite, benja-
minite, etc.), and suldes (chalcopyrite, bismuthinite, horobetsuite,
stibnite, galena, sphalerite, stannite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, etc.). Rare
minerals include a large group of AgPbBiSbS sulfosalts. The ores
contain about 40 hypogene minerals, of which more than half are Sb
sulfosalts and suldes (Pavlova et al., 1990; Borisenko et al., 1992,
2000).
Granite-hosted AgSb veins contain high percentages of uorite,
native bismuth and Bi-bearing minerals. Suldes and sulfosalts show
broad substitution of Sb for Bi and vice versa. Sb-sulfosalts contain Bi
in the following amounts: up to 5.5 wt.% in tetrahedrite, 110 wt.% in
chalcostibite, 7% in bournonite, and 13% in semseyite. Bi-bearing
minerals are rather high in Sb: up to 28 wt.% in bismuthinite (from 30
to 38 wt.% in horobetsuite), and 7% in cosalite. Sb and Bi isomorphism
occurs in the bismuthinitestibnite, chalcostibiteemplectite, bis-
muthiniteaikinite, and miargyritearamayoitematildite series.
Three stages of ore formation have been recognized: from siderite
tetrahedrite, quartztetrahedrite and to the nal quartz (barite) sulde
stage with galena, sphalerite, stannite, freibergite, and dickite
( Ag-sulfosalts). Rare stannite is also found among early minerals
in aggregates with sphalerite and tetrahedrite.
The vertical interval of mineralization is of about 1500 m between
elevations of 3600 and 5000 m above sea level. Silver-rich siderite
tetrahedrite veins of ore level (from 4300 to 4800 m) pass into siderite
veins with pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and bismuthinite at the
below-ore level (from 3600 to 4300 m). Homogenization tempera-
tures of uid inclusions in quartz, simultaneously deposited with
siderite, decrease from 280 to 210 C at the Pridorozhniy site, at an
elevation of 3800 m, to 190160 C in areas of higher elevations (from
4500 to 4800 m, Akjilga deposit). The vertical temperature gradient is
815 C/100 m. According to laser Raman microspectrometry data,
concentrations of ore elements in uid inclusions in quartz (Fe, Cu, Ag,
Zn, Mn, etc.) decrease from below-ore to the ore level. Ore veins at the
elevations of N4800 m, especially in the rocks of intrusion top, are
abundant in barite, uorite, hematite, and sugary-textured quartz,
which is evidence of redox changes and increasing of oxygen partial
pressure.
The common sequence of events in the Bazardara ore cluster, as is
reliably evidenced by geological and isotope data, is as follows: mon-
zogabbro, monzodiorite, granite (from 114 to 107 Ma, RbSr age) rare-
metal granite (99.7 1.8 Ma, RbSr biotite age) topazprotolithionite
and ongonite dikes (100.5 1.8 Ma, ArAr, zinnwaldite) + SnW greisen
mineralization (98.5 1 Ma, ArAr, muscovite) AgSb mineralization
(44 1.5 Ma, ArAr, sericite) CuBaHg uorite mineralization.
3.2.2. Mardjanay ore cluster
The Mardjanay ore cluster lying west of the Bazardara cluster
encompasses a group of AgSb, AgPb occurrences with barite and
stibnite. The mineralization is sited along steeply dipping fracture
zones as quartzsiderite and quartzsideritebarite veins with suldes
and Cu, Pb, Ag sulfosalts hosted by Late Cretaceous Ba- and Sr-rich
granite, monzodiorite, and monzonite, Jurassic limestone, and older
173
metamorphic rocks. The mineralized zone extend for a total depth of
600 m. Tetrahedrite and galena are common ore minerals. Chalcopyrite,
bournonite, stibnite, bismuthinite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, and stannite are
present in lesser amounts. The sequence of mineral deposition was as
follows (from older to younger): siderite+tetrahedritequartz+galena+
freibergite + Ag-sulfosalts + barite quartz + dickite + stibnite. The
galena-freibergite stage includes abundant barite, arsenopyrite, tetra-
hedrite, Ag sulfosalts (pyrargyrite, miargyrite, Sb-matildite, aramayoite,
diaphorite) and Hg-bearing native silver (up to 20 wt.% Hg). Quartz-
dickite-stibnite veins are the latest. AgSb mineralization of the
Mardjanay ore cluster is spatial associated with Ba- and Sr- rich
monzonites.
3.2.3. Kaltatur ore cluster
In the Kaltatur ore cluster AgSb mineralization has a peculiar
composition. The ore cluster is located along the Vanch-Akbaital fault
zone, which separates the terranes of the Central and Northern Pamir
(Fig. 5) and includes a group of siderite-sulde vein occurrences
within JurassicCretaceous red sandstone and conglomerate. Quartz
siderite veins contain siderite, tetrahedrite, and chalcopyrite with
lower percentages of pyrite, arsenopyrite, bismuthinite, uorite, and
barite. Veins within the fault zone are of quartzsideritebarite com-
position with Hg-bearing tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, cinnabar,
and silver minerals (Kaltatur and Ailutek occurrences). Mineralization
in the Kaltatur cluster, like that in the province of southeastern Altai
northwestern Mongolia, shows lateral zonation as AgSb mineraliza-
tion passes into silvermercuryantimony ores (CuAgHgSb) and
then SbHg ores in proximity of the Vanch-Akbaital fault. The ore
cluster is distinguished by the presence of Hg-bearing minerals,
consistent with the known relationship of mercury mineralization
with large deep faults (Obolenskiy, 1985; Ozerova, 1986), such as the
Vanch-Akbaital fault.
3.3. Verkhoyansk silver province
The largest in central Asia, the Verkhoyansk silver province is
associated with the Verkhoyansk fold belt located between the
Siberian craton and the Kolyma-Omolonsky superterrane (Fig. 7).
The belt is along the eastern cratonic margin and comprises up to 3 km
thick carbonaceous terrigenous rocks of Carboniferous, Permian
and Triassic age. Granitoids of the Main batholith belt have UPb
and ArAr ages from 159 to 140 Ma in the southern ank of the belt
(Layer et al., 2001; Prokopiev et al., 2006; Anikin et al., 2006;
Prokopiev et al., 2007) and from 138 to 120 Ma in the northern ank
(Layer et al., 2001) and become progressively younger westwards.
Two stages of metamorphism and deformation are established in the
Verkhoyansk province: submeridional faults along the eastern craton
margin were formed at about 151 1 Ma; the age of the transverse
faults is of about 119 0.5 Ma, based on ArAr data (Prokopiev et al.,
2007). Granites become younger westwards in the transverse faults
from 123 to 97 Ma (Fig. 8) (Trunilina et al., 2000).
Mac and alkaline mac magmatism in the Verkhoyansk fold belt
is represented mainly by diabase, diabase porphyry, dolerite,
kersantite, minette, and camptonite dikes (Indolev and Nevoisa,
1974; Parfenov and Kuzmin, 2001; Amuzinskiy, 2005). The dikes are
found in both Western and Southern Verkhoyansk districts. These
dikes have not been dated yet by advanced geochronological methods,
but the available KAr and RbSr age determinations and geological
evidence reliably indicate three stages of mac and alkaline mac
magmatism in the area, namely JurassicEarly Cretaceous (from 157
to 138 Ma, KAr); Early Cretaceous (from 114 to 116 Ma, KAr and Rb
Sr ages); and Late Cretaceous (from 94 to 88 Ma, KAr) (Indolev, 1979;
Parfenov and Kuzmin, 2001; Amuzinskiy, 2005).
These stages are consistent with those inferred for the adjacent
areas of Central Chukotka, where high-alkaline mac rocks have 144
and 107 Ma RbSr ages (Efremov et al., 2006), Sette-Daban with
174 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185

Fig. 7. Simplied geological map of the Verkhoyansk province and distribution of alkaline mac dike swarms (from Natapov, 1975; Parfenov and Kuzmin, 2001).

alkaline mac rocks of 116114 Ma, KAr and RbSr ages (Shnai et al.,
1991), basaltic and alkali-basaltic volcanism of the Uyandino-Yasacha
arc, as well as data on Kolyma-Omolonsky terrane and Aldan
(Parfenov and Kuzmin, 2001).
Granites and mac rocks in the Verkhoyansk province host gold,
tin, silver, and antimonymercury ores. Largest Ag deposits and
occurrences are localized in SnAg ore clusters. Ag and Sn miner-
alizations are in inverse relationship: ore clusters with large silver
deposits (Mangazeiskoe, Prognoz) are poor in tin and, vice versa, only
minor silver occurrences are found in clusters with economic tin
mineralization. The province includes two districts (Western and
Southern Verkhoyansk) and several clusters (Deputatsky, Khachak-
chan, etc.). Below, we describe the Mangazeisky, Deputatsky and
Khachakchan ore clusters, and Menkechenskoe deposit.
3.3.1. Mangazeisky ore cluster (Western Verkhoyansk district)
The Western Verkhoyansk ore district is located in the western
sector (foreland zone) of the Verkhoyansk fold belt, at a sharp bend
along the trend of the Verkhoyansk fold belt (Fig. 7). In the district
there are Cretaceous granitoid intrusions and accompanying dikes
of granite porphyry and granodiorite porphyry (from 97 to 82 Ma,
ArAr). Mac and alkaline mac magmatism is represented by
lamprophyre dikes of two stages: Late JurassicEarly Cretaceous and
Late Cretaceous (Fig. 7) (Natapov, 1975). The district includes about 70
 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185 175

Fig. 8. Schematic geological map of longitudinal and transverse granitic belts in the VerkhoyanskKolyma region (from Trunilina et al., 2000).

deposits and occurrences that form a belt more than 100 km long.
Lateral zonation is observed along the submeridional faults of the rst
stage from sideritetetrahedrite veins in the northern ank of the
KimpechenskoeMangazeiskoe ore zone to the siderite veins with
galena and honey-brown sphalerite in southern ank (from north to
south): Kimpechenskoe, Khadaryniya, Imtadzhinskoe, Chochimbals-
koe, Rannee, Kelterskoe, and Mangazeiskoe deposits, hosted by
Carboniferous and Permian coal-bearing terrigenous sediments
(Fig. 7). These ore veins predated granite intrusions with ArAr age
of 97 Ma (Layer et al., 2001). AgSb ores are crosscut and offset by
Cretaceous granite porphyry dikes and Sn ore veins at the Imtadz-
hinskoe and Rannee deposits (Indolev and Nevoisa, 1974).
All cited deposits, except for Mangazeiskoe, have a relatively
simple mineralogy, which consists of galena, sphalerite, tetrahedrite,
chalcopyrite, bournonite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, rare bou-
langerite, and stibnite. Varieties of mineral composition from

Table 7
Varieties of AgSb ores of the Verkhoyansk province.

Mineralization AgSb AgPb AgSbHg SnAg

Vein minerals Siderite, quartz, ankerite, calcite Siderite, quartz Siderite, quartz, ankerite, calcite Siderite, quartz, calcite
Major minerals Tetrahedrite Galena, honey-brown sphalerite, Galena Galena, freibergite, red sphalerite
freibergite
Minor and rare minerals Galena, brown sphalerite, Bournonite, tetrahedrite, Sphalerite, freibergite, jamesonite, Pyrargyrite, argentite, miargyrite, zelyite,
chalcopyrite, bournonite, pyrite, boulangerite, chalcopyrite, boulangerite, argentite, native Ag, PbBi-sulfosalts, pyrite, native Ag, Sb, Au,
arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite pyrargyrite, diaphorite, pyrite, bismuthinite, Bi, arsenopyrite, stibnite,
arsenopyrite, stephanite, polybasite, pyrrhotite, AgBi-tellurides
gersdorfte, lenaite, Hg-bearing silver
Sn minerals in ore n.d. n.d. n.d. Stannite, caneldite, franckeite, cassiterite
Ag in ores, ppm 400600 4001000 6003200 4004000
Ag in fahlore, wt.% 13.5, up to 10 3.811 1851 1930 up to 51
Sn in ore, wt.% 0.0070.02 0.1 0.10.54 up to 1
Sn in minerals, wt.% 0.02 0.02 0.060.2 0.010.6, up to 2.67
Hg in ore, wt.% 0.27 0.1
Hg in fahlore, wt.% 0.03 0.02 1.32 0.010.2
Deposits Kimpechenskoe, Khadaryniya Imtadzhinskoe, Chochimbalskoe, Khachakchan, Nochnoe Mangazeiskoe; Prognoz; Menkechenskoe;
Levo-Echiyskoe, Kelterskoe Vertikalnoe, Rannee, Privet Bulat, Inary, and Burevestnik in the
Deputatsky ore cluster

Abbreviations: n.d. not detected; not analysed.

176 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185
tetrahedrite (AgSb) to the galena-sphalerite (AgPb) ores are
depend on the proportions of main ore elements in the ore-forming
uids and PTX-parameters of the ore-forming uids (Pavlova et al.,
2004, 2006; Pavlova and Borovikov, 2008). The vertical extent of
mineralized zones is about 450 m (between 830 and 1260 m, a.s.l.).
AgSb ores are crosscut and offset by Cretaceous granite porphyry
dikes and Sn ore veins at the Imtadzhinskoe and Rannee deposits
(Indolev and Nevoisa, 1974). Siderite veins of the rst stage with
galena and honey-brown sphalerite and low Ag-containing tetrahe-
drite (b5 wt.%) are crosscut by siderite veins with quartz, Mn-siderite,
arsenopyrite, galena, freibergite, red sphalerite, Ag and Pb sulfosalts in
transverse faults at the Bezymyanny site of the Mangazeiskoe
deposits. The large Mangazeiskoe deposit with Ag mineralization of
different age and mineral composition is situated at the intersection of
submeridional and transverse faults. Overprinting of the second stage
ore upon the mineralization of the rst stage resulted in the formation
of a large deposit with a complex structure and composition.
The largest in the ore cluster is the Mangazeiskoe breccia pipe
deposit, which contains abundant Ag, Pb, and Sn sulfosalts, Ag-bearing
stannite (to 1.5%), native silver, bismuth, and antimony, bismuthinite,
gustavite, AgAuBi tellurides, and other minerals (Table 7), besides
galena, tetrahedrite, freibergite, and sphalerite (Indolev and Nevoisa,
1974; Kostin et al., 1995, 1997; Kostin, 2001).
The SnAg mineralization, which is temporally associated with
the emplacement of granites, is of a later stage, or is a separate event
from the older AgSb and AgPb ores. This name allows to separate
rich SnAg ore from the earlier AgSb and AgPb ores. The deposits
shows vertical zonation with higher percentages of arsenopyrite and
pyrrhotite under-ore levels and dominant Ag sulfosalts, galena, and
freibergite dominate at ore and over-ore levels. Contents of Ag in
tetrahedrite decrease and Sb increase with depth. Lamprophyre
dikes are cut by Cretaceous granodiorite porphyry and siderite veins
of the rst stage with Pb and Zn suldes and tetrahedrite at the
Imtadzhinskoe deposit, and thus predate the early mineralization.
Fig. 9. Schematic geology of the Deputatsky ore cluster (compiled from Fleorov, 1976).
Major- and trace-element compositions of the ores formed during
the second stage, record inherited geochemical signature of material
derived from the host rocks and ores. Specically, the younger ore
veins contain abundant replacement structures (unlike the veins of
the rst stage) and are restricted to the periphery of the breccia pipe;
AgAu- and Bi-tellurides and high Ag contents in tetrahedrite are
found only near the pipe. Kostin et al. (1997) sampled a mineral
containing 73.5% Ag, 7% Sb, and 16% S.
The Prognoz deposit discovered southeast of the Mangazeisky ore
cluster in the eastern part of Verkhoyansk fold belt (hiterland zone)
has a moderate economic potential. It is associated with a NE cross
fault and is represented by mineralized zones of brittle fracturing in
Upper and Middle Triassic sandstone and siltstone with steeply
dipping suldes and sulfosalts bearing quartzsiderite veins. Gamya-
nin et al. (1998) in their study of spacetime relationships among
mineral associations distinguished two stages: (i) siderite veins with
galena, sphalerite, low-Ag tetrahedrite (b5 wt.% Ag), chalcopyrite, and
bismuthinite, and (ii) Ag-bearing galena, pink sphalerite, freibergite
(20 wt.% Ag), diaphorite, pyrargyrite, native silver, miargyrite, and
other Ag and Pb sulfosalts; ores of this stage also bear Sn minerals,
such as stannite, caneldite, and cassiterite. No native gold has been
found. The ores become depleted in sulfosalts with depth (below
350 m) and contain only galena, sphalerite and tetrahedrite, but
greater percentages of pyrite, arsenopyrite, and pyrrhotite.
Geophysical surveys image a buried subsurface pluton beneath the
Prognoz deposit. The ore eld is cut by diorite porphyrite and
kersantite dikes that run in the NE direction along a cross fault.
3.3.2. Khachakchan ore cluster
The Khachakchan ore cluster is in the central part of the Tompo ore
zone, conned to the large sublatitudinal Tompo fault. The Tompo ore
zone extends for about 150 km and includes 10 occurrences of Sn, W
and Ag. The host terrigenous sediments (from Upper Permian to
Middle Jurassic) consist of sandstone, siltstone, graywacke, and
 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185 177

mudstone. Igneous rocks are represented by small bodies of Lower granite pluton, give way to Sn-sulde mineralization in the western
Cretaceous granites, dikes of Upper JurassicLower Cretaceous diorite and eastern anks, whereas silver ores are restricted to the far
porphyries, lamprophyres and Upper Cretaceous dolerites. Miner- periphery of the ore cluster. Quartz-tourmaline veins with cassiterite
alization consists of granite-hosted SnW greisen, boron and Sn- in greisens in the central part of cluster change in space and time to
bearing skarn deposits, Sn-sulde deposits with pyrrhotite, black quartz-cassiterite veins with wolframite and minor suldes (pyr-
sphalerite (marmatite), cassiterite, galena, chalcopyrite, stannite, rhotite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, native bismuth,
tetrahedrite and younger quartz-carbonate veins with suldes and bismuthinite), and to Sn sulde veins with quartz, pyrrhotite, pyrite,
Ag-sulfosalts. sphalerite, cubanite, chalcopyrite, lesser amounts of cassiterite and
Silver mineralization in the largest Khachakchan and Nochnoe Ag-bearing stannite and ksterite.
deposits is associated with transverse faults. A specic feature of the Silver mineralization is present as quartz-carbonate veins with
Khachakchan ore cluster is the high Hg contents, as impurities in Mn-siderite, calcite, sphalerite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, tetrahedrite,
minerals or amalgams, high Ag content in suldes and sulfosalts, and freibergite, bournonite, Ag sulfosalts, native bismuth, rare stannite
the presence of native silver. The mineralized zones form steeply and franckeite (Table 7). Crystallization temperatures decrease to the
dipping quartzsiderite veins with galena, boulangerite, jamesonite, periphery direction from 500 down to 250 to 100 C (Borisenko et al.,
Hg-bearing tetrahedrite (1.52% Hg), freibergite (up to 52% Ag), 1997).
sphalerite, pyrargyrite, diaphorite, and other Ag-sulfosalts, argentite Tin-sulde mineralization develops upon a diabase porphyry dike,
with native silver, Hg-bearing silver (to 32%), lenaite (AgFeS2), whereas lamprophyre dikes contain clasts of suldized rocks with
chalcopyrite, gersdorfte, pyrite, and arsenopyrite (Table 7) (Amu- pyrite and arsenopyrite and are, in turn, cut by quartzsiderite
zinskiy et al., 1999). The early stage produced siderite veins with stringers with galena and sphalerite. The sequence of events in the
coarse-crystalline galena containing nests of cinnabar, boulangerite, Deputatsky ore cluster, as indicated by geological evidence, is as
jamesonite, native silver, and Hg-bearing silver. Of later generation are follows: granite quartz or rhyolite porphyry SnW ore diabase
thin quartz-calcite stringers with Ag sulfosalts, native Ag and Hg- porphyry Sn-sulde ore lamprophyre SnAg ore veins. Mac
bearing silver. and alkaline mac magmatism, widely occurred within the Depu-
tatsky ore cluster (Fig. 10), is represented by diabase porphyry and
3.3.3. Menkechenskoe deposit (Southern Verkhoyansk district)
In the Southern Verkhoyansk ore district Triassic terrigenous sedi-
ments are intruded by 119123 Ma granites (ArAr and UPb
methods) and 9299 Ma (ArAr) granitoids (Layer et al., 2001;
Prokopiev et al., 2007). Pre-granitic dikes of biotite-pyroxene
lamprophyre (N120 Ma) and post-granitic diabase porphyries and
amphibole-pyroxene lamprophyre dikes are also known in the district
(Indolev and Nevoisa, 1974).
At the Menkechenskoe deposit (the largest in the Southern
Verkhoyansk district) siderite veins of the rst stage with galena,
sphalerite, and low-Ag tetrahedrite are crosscut by diorite porphyry
dikes and tin-bearing veins, which are cut, in turn, by ankerite veins
with pyrrhotite, sphalerite (marmatite), chalcopyrite, and galena. The
earlier siderite veins of the rst stage with galena, honey-yellow
sphalerite, and tetrahedrite are crosscut by the second stage veins with
quartz, Mn-siderite, arsenopyrite, galena, freibergite, sphalerite, and Ag
sulfosalts. Silver mineralization of the second stage is superimposed on
the second stage lamprophyre dikes, which cut SnW and Sn-sulde ore,
and in turn are cut by quartz porphyry dikes. A common sequence
of events may have been as follows: lamprophyre AgPb ore siderite
veins granite (Dybinsky massif) granite-porphyry SnW
ore diorite porphyrite Sn-sulde ore diabase porphyrite,
lamprophyre SnAg mineralization quartz-porphyry.

3.3.4. Deputatsky ore cluster

The Deputatsky ore cluster is in the northern part of the Verhoyansk
fold belt. The area is characterized by Upper Jurassic ysch, with
sandstone and shales, occasionally with layers of calcareous sandstone,
conglomerate lenses and black shales. The sedimentary rocks were
thermally metamorphosed during the intrusion of a buried pluton.
Biotite granites intersected by boreholes at depths from 250 to 375 m
below the surface, have ages from 122 to 116 Ma (RbSr) and from 130
to 120 Ma (ArAr) (Parfenov and Kuzmin, 2001). In addition to granite,
there are also post-granite pre-ore granite- and rhyolite porphyry
dikes (from 108 to 95 Ma KAr age) and dikes of diabase porphyry
and lamprophyre. Country rocks around granite are thermally
metamorphosed to biotite hornfels. The pluton cupolas host greisens
composed of muscovite, quartz, topaz, tourmaline and accessory
cassiterite.
A primary zonation of mineralization distribution is noted in the
Deputatsky ore district, where three zones are distinguished (Fig. 9). Fig. 10. Distribution of the mac and alkaline mac dikes in the ore eld of the
Sn and SnW ores in the central part of the ore cluster near the hidden Deputatsky ore cluster (from Trunilina et al., 2000).
178 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185
dolerite, as well as lamprophyres which have biotite-pyroxene-olivine
composition. Lamprophyre dikes contain xenoliths of metamorphic
rocks (garnet-graphite and biotite-graphite schists) and biotite
granite. Lamprophyre dikes of the Deputatsky cluster belong to the
Diakhtardakh volcano-plutonic complex that also includes subvolca-
nic intrusions and trachyandesite-basalt lavas besides alkaline mac
rocks. Alkaline mac intrusions accompany and predate silver ores in
all clusters of the Verkhoyansk province, and are localized in the same
faults.
Unlike the other silver provinces we have discussed, the areas of
silver ore clusters in the Verkhoyansk province experienced at
least two stages of granitoid magmatism (Early and Late Cretaceous)
and episodes of alkaline mac magmatism, which produced dike
complexes of three age intervals. The distinctive features of the
Verkhoyansk silver province with the largest AgSb deposits are their
multi-stage evolutionary trends.
3.4. Talas silver ore district
The Talas ore district located in the Talas Range (Kyrghyz Tien
Shan) includes numerous Ag-bearing Sn-sulde, AgSb, AgPb, and
SnAg ore deposits) and was a silver producer in ancient times
(Koleda, 1974). The province occurs within an SE-trending elongate
Proterozoic block in the eastern part of the Karatau-Talas zone of the
Fig. 11. Schematic geology of the Talas ore district. Ore clusters: Babakhan, Kumyshtag, Kurgan.
Northern Tien Shan orogen. Local geology (Fig. 11) includes Meso-
proterozoic and Neoproterozoic or less commonly Early Paleozoic
terrigenous-carbonate sediments. Granitoid and alkaline mac mag-
matism of different ages are also present (Konyuk, 1956; Dodonova,
1967, 1972; Koleda, 1983, 1990). Neoproterozoic terrigenous rocks
have high contents of Ag, Pb, Cu, and Zn. Variegated carbonate-
terrigenous sediments are Cu- and Ag-rich; the gray varieties contain
about 0.4 ppm Ag in sandstones and shales, and up to 2.2 ppm in
siltstones (Kabaev, 1989), and ten times greater concentrations in
sulde-rich layers. Carbonaceous terrigenous-carbonate rocks have
high Pb and Zn contents which correlate with the organic carbon and
dolomite components. Tin occurrences are present around large
multistage granite plutons intruding Proterozoic rocks in the eastern
part of the district (Fig. 11).
Neoproterozoic Babakhan plagiogranites occur in the western part
of the district, and Early Paleozoic Kumyshtag leucogranite and
alaskite granite intrusions are present 50 km to the east (Fig. 11),
surrounded by intensely hornfelsed and skarnied rocks, forming
broad contact metamorphic haloes. The Kumyshtag granites host
greisens with rare-metal mineralization, and the southern contact of
the intrusion is the area of the Kumyshtag ore cluster. Alkaline rocks of
the Permian Kurgan complex in the southeast of the province occur as
small alkaline syenite stocks and necks, bostonite and dolerite dikes,
and mac extrusive rocks (trachybasalts and trachyte). With a KAr
 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185 179

uorite ores linked with alkali-basalt magmatism (Koleda, 1974,

1983, 1990). The latter ore system is located mainly southeast of
the Kumyshtag pluton. Ore veins are restricted to the Babakhan
KumyshtagKurgan fault zone, bearing most of the AgSb- and As-
mineralization in the cluster. The host rocks are hornfelsed and
skarnied terrigenous-carbonate sediments. Mineralization has a
concentric pattern with an As (arsenopyrite) central zone (Uchimchek
deposit) and AgSb at the periphery of the cluster.
The Uchimchek deposit consists of veins, dissemination and zones
of hydrothermal alteration in limestone or in hydrothermally altered
hornfels. Arsenopyrite is the most common ore mineral found in
association with lllingite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. Pyrrhotite, galena,
sphalerite, wolframite, sheelite, cassiterite, stannite, magnetite, and
bismuthinite occur in lesser amounts. The overprinted AgSb miner-
alization consists of Cu, Pb, Ag sulfosalts and suldes (tetrahedrite,
jamesonite, boulangerite, wittichenite, bournonite, stibnite, etc.). Vein
minerals include Mn-siderite (b8090 wt.%), quartz, ankerite, calcite,
uorite, tourmaline, sericite, and later ferrous carbonates. Besides As,
the ores are also high in Se, Te, Bi and Sn.
SilverSb siderite veins occur either within the earlier As miner-
alization or outside it (Fig. 11). Silver, Sb, Bi are the main components,
whereas Pb, Zn, and Cu are found in lesser abundances; the contents of
Sn and Hg are locally elevated. SilverSb mineralization is especially

Table 8
Pb isotope composition of rocks and ores from the Pamir ore district.
206/204 207/204 208/204
Sample Ore deposit Sample Pb Pb Pb
AgSb ore of the Bazardara ore cluster
A-5 Akjilga Galena 18.809 15.723 39.183
Pr5 q Galena 18.758 15.645 33.040
1/37 q Galena 18.797 15.720 39.186
Fig. 12. Sulfur isotope composition of minerals from AgSb and SnW deposits of the 1/76 Levoberezhnoe Galena 18.807 15.733 39.196
Yustid (SE AltaiNW Mongolia) and Bazardara (Pamir) ore clusters. 2/100A Perevalnoe Galena 18784 15.712 39.106

AgSb ore with barite of the Mardjanai ore cluster (SE Pamir)
age of 281 Ma, they correlate with Late Paleozoic alkaline mac rocks 1/116 Elisu Galena 18.780 15.701 39.089
in the northwestern part of the Talas Range (Andreeva et al., 1984). 2248 Mardjanai Galena 18.776 15.700 39.070
Silver ores form three ore clusters (Babakhan, Kumyshtag, and 2254 q Galena 18.771 15.709 39.145
Kurgan) along the BabakhanKumyshtagKurgan fault zone, with 3798 q Galena 18.807 15.784 39.365
2T q Galena 18.793 15.747 39.260
the most intensive AgSb mineralization in the Kumyshtag cluster
6T q Galena 18.818 15.723 39.206
(Fig. 11). Ore clusters and alkaline mac intrusions are situated along 6T q Galena 18.790 15.713 39.156
the same fault zone. All AgSb and SnAg ore veins are superimposed 8T q Galena 18.770 15.718 39.176
on lamprophyres, syenites and extrusive mac rocks. Silver ores are 1899 q Galena 18.813 15.768 39.351
known in different amounts and with different mineral associations in 3031-1 q Galena 18.851 15.806 39.440
8282 q Galena 18.845 15.729 39.262
the three ore clusters of the Talas district: with PbZn ore in the
Babakhan ore cluster, arsenic (arsenopyrite) mineralization in the Sn-sulde ore of the Mardjanai ore cluster
Kumyshtag cluster, and Sn-sulde ores in the Kurgan cluster. 5 Mardjanai Galena 18.732 15.732 39.143
5 q Galena 18.714 15.717 39.053
01165 q Galena 18.723 15.734 39.190
3.4.1. Babakhan ore cluster
In the Babakhan ore cluster, AgSb and PbZn mineralization is SnW mineralization and granites of the Bazardara ore cluster
localized in a belt, 12 km-long and about 3 km-wide, striking roughly TZ-1 Trezubets Arsenopyrite 18.685 15.635 39.033
EW, near the southern and southeastern contacts of the intrusion. TZ-4 q Galena 18.761 15.739 39.195
The ores are hosted in Neoproterozoic sandstones, shales, gravel- TZ-2 q K-Fs 18.673 15.682 38.954
H/184 Sn-sulde ore, Kobrigen Galena 18.711 15.735 39.163
stones, and limestones, commonly as 0.1 to 1.5 m-thick crosscutting 3/180 Bazardara massif, K-Fs 18.625 15.600 38.715
lenses and veins of Mn siderite, calcite, barite, and quartz with topaz granite
18:854 15:689
disseminations or stringers of tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, galena, and 4321 q biotite granite K-Fs 39.082
18:633 15:678
pyrite. Silver, Pb, Sb, Bi and As contents in ores are commonly high. The 4926/1 q ongonite Rock 20.726 15.741 38.931
host rocks are hydrothermally altered into quartz-sericite and quartz-
hydromica metasomatites. Rocks
Kyzylrabat extrusive rock K-Fs 18.779 15.747 38.977
(trachyte) 18.759 15.670 39.022
3.4.2. Kumyshtag ore cluster C-1 Permian-Triassic Rock 18:846 15:689 39.022
The Kumyshtag ore cluster occurs in the central part of the Talas carbonaceous 18:656 15:680
silver province in the Kumyshtag catchment (Silver Mountain) and is shale with suldes
18:822 15:698
related to the Kumyshtag pluton. In spatial association with the pluton Monzonite Rock 39.123
18:669 15:712
there are two ore systems of (i) granite-hosted rare-metal, greisen, Note: The fraction within the table data shows the measured Pb isotope composition
skarn, and pegmatite mineralization, polymetallic and copper-bearing (at 0 Ma) as the numerator and the same value converted for radiogenic Pb component
quartz veins and (ii) younger As (arsenopyrite), AgSb, AgPb and accumulation during 100 Ma as the denominator.
180 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185

Fig. 13. Lead isotope ratios from rocks and ores of the Bazardara and Mardjanay ore
clusters (Pamir). Fields of Pb isotope compositions: I SnW mineralization, II AgSb
ores (Bazardara), III AgSb ores (Mardjanay). M evolution line of Pb from
monzonite (from 0 to100 Ma); S evolution line of host Permian-Triassic shales; G
evolution line of the Bazardara granite.

rich in the Kumyshtag deposit, which partially overlaps with the

Fig. 14. Pb isotope composition of rocks and AgSb ores from the Yustid and Tolbonur
Uchimchek deposit. The Kumyshtag AgSb ores are composed of the ore clusters (SE Altai and NW Mongolia). For details see Table 8.
same mineral assemblages as in the center of the ore cluster, but
minerals are present in slightly different percentages. For example,
siderite veins contain less arsenopyrite, lllingite, lead sulfosalts tion (Brodin, 1959; Koleda, 1983). A mineralized NW zone contains
(jamesonite), but more galena, Cu-bearing sulfosalts (tetrahedrite, Sn-sulde mineralization in its western part and mainly SnAg
bournonite), and chalcopyrite, and locally notable amounts of barite, occurrences in the east in carbonate-hosted metasomatites.
uorite and other minerals. Quartzsiderite veins with dominant Tin-sulde and SnAg ores of the Kurgan ore cluster are composed
tetrahedrite and jamesonite overprint lamprophyre dikes. of mineral assemblages from ve stages: (1) quartz-arsenopyrite
with cassiterite, (2) quartz-pyrrhotite-sphalerite with stannite and
3.4.3. Kurgan ore cluster franckeite, (3) carbonates (pyrite, siderite, quartz, marcasite, wurt-
The Kurgan ore cluster is located 40 km southeast of the zite), (4) galena and sulfosalts (PbCuAg sulfoantimonides, native Bi,
Kumyshtag cluster. Mostly SnAg and sulde-cassiterite mineraliza- Ag, and Sb), and (5) barren carbonate veins (Brodin, 1959; Koleda,
tion in the cluster is associated with a trachyte neck, bostonite dikes, 1983). A lateral zonation is noticeable, with earlier parageneses more
breccia pipe, and the Kurgan syenite stocks in a 15 km zone along a representative in Sn-sulde deposit and later assemblages prevailing
buried fault (Brodin, 1959; Dodonova, 1967, 1972; Lugov, 1986). The in SnAg occurrences.
largest is the Kurgan deposit with Sn-sulde and SnAg mineraliza- The vertical zonation is similar in the Kurgan and Kumyshtag ore
clusters with pyrrhotite and Sn increasing with depth, whereas
galena, siderite, and sulfosalts become more abundant toward the
Table 9 surface. Noteworthy are widespread high concentrations of cinnabar
Pb isotope composition of rocks and ores of AgSb deposits of the Yustid ore district.
206
No Deposit, sample Mineral Pb/204Pb 207
Pb/204Pb 208
Pb/204Pb
1 sgat, -23 Galena 18.259 15.542 38.008
2 sg-1 Zinkenite 18.568 15.601 38.520
3 Pogranichnoe Plagionite 18.102 15.529 37.910
4 Kara-Oyuk Zinkenite 18.139 15.550 37.990
5 Ozernoe, 4057 Bournonite 18.139 15.529 37.985
6 Ozernoe, 4042 Galena 17.275 15.553 37.103
7 Chagan-Gol, 233 Bournonite 18.118 15.507 37.908
8 233 Galena 18.134 15.552 38.083
9 Pravoberezhnoe Galena 18.554 15.577 38.491
10 Tolbonur Galena 18.521 15.571 38.464
11 Yantau Galena 18.389 15.574 38.290
12 Sharabureg Galena 18.592 15.581 38.570
13 Djilkydal Galena 17.933 15.520 37.751
14 Dolerite Rock 18:012 15:495 37.834
17:844 15:490
15 Kamptonite A-6 Rock 18:205 15:513 38.223
17:991 15:500
16 Lamprophyre S-Ch Rock 18:107 15:501 37.875
18:078 15:500
17 Lamprophyre A-8 Rock 18:256 15:513 37.995
18:146 15:510
18 Devonian shale Rock 18:898 15:578 38.460
18:099 15:540
19 Yustid granite K-feldspar 18:248 15:573 38.470
18:144 15:570
Note: The fraction within the table data uses the measured Pb isotope composition Fig. 15. Pb isotope composition of galena from AgSb, SnAg and SnW deposits of
(at 0 Ma) as the numerator and the same value converted for radiogenic Pb component Verkhoyansk province (by Kostin et al., 1997). Ore clusters: 1 Mangazeisky, 2
accumulation during 240 Ma as the denominator. Deputatsky, 3 Khachakchan, 4 South Verkhoyansk province.
 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185 181

20 Ma (an average of 40 Ma). Therefore, Pb may have been inherited

Fig. 16. Strontium isotope ratios from uorites and barites of the Bazardara ore cluster.
The line contours the evolutionary trend in Sr composition of AgSb ores from
monzonite through out extrusive rocks of the Kyzylrabat belt to the Bazardara granite.
forming heavy concentrate haloes on the periphery of the ore cluster.
In places the ores contain up to 0.1% Hg.
4. Isotope systematics
In order to gain a better insight into the links of AgSb
mineralization with magmatism and with other mineralization
types, we explored the isotopic compositions of Pb, S, and Sr in ores
and host rocks and He from hydrothermal uids.
The sulfur isotope composition of the AgSb ores demonstrates the
presence of additional sulfur sources for AgSb ores besides suldes of
SnW deposits, because AgSb ores have a wider range of values then
SnW deposits (Fig. 12).
According to our data, 207Pb/204Pb ratios in galena from AgSb ores
of the Mardjanay and Bazardara clusters (Pamir) plot on narrow trends
different from that of Pb in galena from SnW and Sn-sulde
occurrences of the same district (Table 8, Fig. 13), which is evidence of
no direct genetic links between the Ag and Sn ores. Another implication
of the Pb isotope composition is that Ag ores had no single homogeneous
lead source, alternatively the Pb may have derived from rocks of
different ages and compositions. Lead isotope ratios in ores of the
Bazardara cluster are rather similar to those in the host granites and in
Permian-Triassic black shales, with their ages corrected for radiogenic
argon. The Pb isotope trend of AgSb deposits crosses the Pb evolution
lines in granite, monzonite, and shales, which span ages between 60 and
from the host rocks in the Eocene (45 Ma). The Bazardara granites have
high Ag contents from 0.03 to 0.06 ppm, especially high in ongonite
(from 0.03 to 0.24 ppm). Silver is high also in PermianTriassic
hornfelsed black shales (0.64 ppm) and still higher (2 ppm) in hornfels
carrying sulde (pyritepyrrhotite) mineralization. Thus, silver may be
inherited from the host rocks. This idea is supported by high abundances
of Sn and presence of uorite in the Bazardara silver ores localized
among Sn- and F-rich rare-metal granites and hornfelsed black shales
(Vladimirov et al., 2000). High contents of Ba and Sr in monzonites of the
Alichur complex explain high barite percentages and up to 4 wt.% Sr in
the Mardjanay ores.
The lead isotope composition in ores is similar to that of feldspar in
trachytes of the Kyzylrabat belt, which (Teshiktash Group) have a proven
Eocene age (Dronov and Bronnikova, 1988). SilverSb ores from the
Yustid ore cluster (SE Altai and NW Mongolia) show patterns similar to
those in the Pamir (Table 9, Fig. 14). Broadly-scattered 206Pb/204Pb
isotope ratios in AgSb ores likewise indicate the absence of a single
homogeneous source of lead. Lead ratios are close to those for black
shales from the Yustid basin and partly for kersantite (lamprophyre), as
well as to the Yustid granite, SnW and CuCoW ores and altered rocks
on the contact of the Yustid massif (Borisenko et al., 1991). This means
that the lead may have come from rocks of different ages and
compositions, such as granite, host shales and mac rocks. Similar trends
appear in data from the Western Verkhoyansk district (Kostin et al.,1997;
Kostin, 2001), and the Freiberg ore cluster (Pilot et al., 1970; Legler et al.,
1984), and some other areas. Lead isotope composition of galena from
AgSb and SnAg ores of the Verkhoyansk province plot on a narrow
trends, different from that in lead of galena from Sn deposits, which
points to no direct genetic link between the Sn and Ag ores (Fig. 15).
The 87Sr/86Sr ratios (Fig. 16) during formation of silver mineraliza-
tion (about 45 Ma), as measured in host rocks and ores from AgSb
deposits in the Pamir province, are 0.7098 in monzonite, 0.731 to 0.743
in granite of the main phase of the Bazardara complex, from 0.710 to
0.7184 in uorite and barite of ore veins (Vladimirov et al., 2000;
Borisenko et al., 2000), and from 0.7076 to 0.7115 in trachyte and
rhyolite (Eocene Teshiktash Group) of the Kyzylrabat belt. The trend of
87
Sr/86Sr isotope ratios of monzonite, granite and extrusive rocks of the
Kyzylrabat belt indicates that Sr was inherited from the host igneous
rocks. Therefore, strontium was possibly generated by uids derived
from an alkaline mac source and had a primary isotope composition
corresponding to that of the melt (at 45 Ma). The migrating magma-
derived uids may have captured some amount of Sr from the country
rocks, including 87Sr-rich rare-metal granites of the Bazardara complex,
which caused an increase of 87Sr/86Sr ratios (Fig. 16).
The 87Sr/86Sr ratios in barite and uorite from AgSb ores of the SE
Altai and NW Mongolia district likewise show a range from 0.7053 to
0.7200. They approach both the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of kersantite (0.7054)
and of uorite from CuCoW ores and greisens associated with the
Yustid granites (from 0.7160 to 0.7200) (Borisenko et al., 1991).

Table 10
He and Ar isotope composition in the ore-forming uids of AgSb, SbHg, and CuAgHgSb deposits.

No Deposit Mineral 4
He, ncm3/g 10 8 3
He/4He10 6 40
Ar, ncm3/g 10 8 40
Ar/36Ar Mantle He (%)
Bazardara ore cluster
Akjilga (AgSb)
1 Below-ore level Quartz 1.4 0.1 22.9 0.92 102 4.10 341 1.06 100
2 q Quartz 4.5 0.8 13.1 0.43 200 6.00 300 0.66 100
3 Above-ore level Fluorite 1.9 0.08 0.071 0.02 n.. n..

Yustid ore cluster

4 Asgat (AgSb) Quartz 0.9 0.07 3.4 0.65 432 12.99 462.3 3.61 28
5 q Quartz 4.3 0.08 4.7 0.18 193 5.79 319 0.70 39
6 Pogranichnoe (AgSb) Quartz 0.8 0.07 2.6 0.85 634 19.02 362.3 1.12 21
7 Djilkydal (CuAgHgSb) Quartz 1.5 0.10 1.6 0.60 51 2.04 335 1.04 13.3
8 Aktash (SbHg) Calcite 9 0.70 0.28 0.03 n.a. n.. b2.3

Notes: Samples have been analyzed in the Geological Institute, Kolsky Science Center RAN, Apatity (I.L. Kamenskiy and D.D. Novikov).
182 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185

2004; Seifert and Sandmann, 2006; Seifert, 2007), allow the following
inferences:
1. Silverantimony ores represent a distinct type of hydrothermal
mineralization with specic features of mineralogy, chemistry, and
genesis that distinguishes it from the other Ag ores.

Fig. 17. Ar and He isotope composition of the ore-forming uids of AgSb, SbHg, and
CuAgHgSb deposits. Numbers of points see Table 9. A line of atmospheric
values.

Thus, Pb, Sr and S isotope composition data of AgSb deposits

convincingly conrm the possibility of the remobilization of at least
part of the ore matter from the host rocks, although this does not
exclude the introduction of some amounts of ore elements by
hydrothermal uids from the magmatic sources including mantle-
derive alkaline mac melts.
Helium isotopic composition was studied in uid inclusions in
quartz from Asgat, Pogranichnoe (SE Altai and NW Mongolia) and
Akjilga (Pamir) deposits. A portion of mantle helium varies from 30
40% at the Asgat deposit up to 100% at the below-ore level of the
Akjilga deposit (Table 10, Fig. 17). Furthermore, the high contents of
mantle He (up to 54%) are established in the ore-forming uids of
large Au and SnAg Dukat deposit, in the NE Russia (Petrov et al.,
2007). Some content of the mantle He is determined for siderite
barite veins, with Hg-bearing tetrahedrite from uAgHgSb Djilk-
ydal deposit. Crustal values for SbHg Aktash deposit may be
explained by a high inux of meteoric water in the ore uid of the
Aktash deposit. This agrees with decreasing of 18OH2O values from
deep levels to the surface (Borshevskiy et al., 1986), Hg introduction
into the earth crust through deep faults and following extraction of
the ore matter from the host rocks by the hydrothermal uids.
An additional input of mantle source is shown by:
(i) temporal and spatial connection of AgSb mineralization with
the dike complexes of alkaline mac rocks, as established in
many ore districts (Indolev and Nevoisa, 1974; Koleda, 1990;
Borisenko et al., 1992; Seifert, 1999, 2004, 2007; Pavlova et al.,
2008);
(ii) high proportion of mantle He, extracted from the uid
inclusions in the quartz from AgSb ores;
(iii) Hg content in the ores and frequently in the minerals (Hg-
bearing sphalerite, Hg-bearing silver). Mercury is the typical
element of mantle origin, which proves by extensive data on Hg
geochemistry and global regularities of distribution of mercury
deposits (Obolenskiy, 1985; Ozerova, 1986).
All the above data attest to the fact that AgSb deposits are poly-
genetic in terms of sources of ore matter and relate to an association of
the ore deposits with mantle-crustal ore-magmatic systems.

5. Summary and conclusions

The reported data on geology, magmatism, and metallogeny of four

large AgSb ore districts in Central Asia, together with published
evidence from other silver ore districts worldwide (Mitcham, 1952; Fig. 18. A sequence of the ore-forming and magmatic events in the SnAg ore districts of
Varek, 1965; Hobbs and Friklund, 1972; Haber, 1980; Seifert, 1999, Central Asia.
 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185
2. Silverantimony ores commonly occurring within tin ore provinces
have different relationships with tin mineralization:
(i) silverantimony deposits are spatially separated from tin-
ore elds and from contact metamorphism haloes of tin-
bearing granitoid intrusions. The ores contain b500 to
800 ppm Ag, b0.n % Sn; Ag in tetrahedrite is b5 wt.% (SE
Altai and NW Mongolia, pre-granitic deposits of the
Verkhoyansk ore province, Spisko-Gemerske Rudogorie
in Slovakia, Kaltatur ore cluster in the Pamir);
(ii) silverantimony deposits are temporally separated from Sn
mineralization, but located within tin ore clusters and
elds. The ores contain up to 3000 ppm Ag (up to 20 wt.%
in tetrahedrite), to 1% Sn, stannite, and Sn sulfosalts
(Bazardara and Buguchijilga ore clusters in the Pamir);
(iii) silverantimony deposits are located within tin ore
clusters and are nearly coeval with tin mineralization.
The ores contain up to 4000 ppm Ag (20 to 50 wt.% in
tetrahedrite), to several percent Sn, stannite, and Sn
sulfosalts (post-granite deposits of the Verkhoyansk ore
province).
3. The age of AgSb mineralization correlates with the time of alkaline
mac magmatism, represented by lamprophyre dikes of kersantite,
minette, camptonite, monchiquite, volcano-plutonic series of
trachybasalt, trachyte, shoshonite and rhyolite, and subvolcanic
intrusions of syenite and syenite-porphyry;
4. AgSb mineralization is related in time and in space with SbHg
ores through transitional CuAgSbHg mineralization (SE Altai
and NW Mongolia, Pamir, Slovakia, etc.). Complex Ag- and Hg-
bearing ores are restricted to areas, where Ag-bearing structures
coexist with Hg-bearing deep faults (as in the Yustid and Tolbonur
ore clusters in the Altai, Kaltatur cluster in the Pamir, and
Khachakchan ore cluster in the Verkhoyansk province).
5. Helium isotope composition data from the hydrothermal uids of
AgSb deposits conrm the participation of mantle helium in the
ore-forming process. Another important indicator of the participa-
tion of mantle source in AgSb deposits is the Hg content in the
ores, because Hg is the typical element of mantle origin. Isotopic
and geochronological data demonstrate that AgSb deposits are
polygenic in sources of ore matter and relate to the mantle-crustal
ore-magmatic systems.
6. The sequence of magmatic and metallogenic events (alkaline mac
and granitoid magmatism, SnW and AgSb mineralization) is
similar in the four silver provinces of central Asia (Fig. 18) and in
some SnAg districts of Europe (Seifert, 1999, 2004; Seifert and
Sandmann, 2006; Seifert, 2007).
Therefore, AgSb mineralization is a product of mantlecrust Sn
Ag ore-magmatic systems that have a long and complex history.
Acknowledgements
The authors are very grateful to the editors of Ore Geology Reviews
for their efforts to improve this paper. The research is supported by
RFBR grants No. 06-05-64789, 07-05-00812, 09-05-00418 and by
grant RNP.2.1.1.720 from the Russian Ministry of Education and
Science.
References
Amuzinskiy, V.A., 2005. Metallogenic epochs and gold productivity of ore complexes
of the Verkhoyansk folded system. Yakutsk University Press, Yakutsk. 247 pp.
(in Russian).
Amuzinskiy, V.A., Andrianov, N.G., Zhdanov, Yu.Ya., 1999. Mineralogy of silver ore of the
Allara-Sakhsky eld. In: Amuzinskiy, V.A., Kostin, A.V. (Eds.), Silver mineralization
of the Yakutia. Publishing House of the Yakutsk Science Center of Russian Academy
of Sciences, Yakutsk, pp. 4356 (in Russian).
Andreeva, E.D., Kononova, V.A., Sveshnikova, E.V., Yashina, R.M., 1984. Magmatic rocks.
Alkaline rocks. Nauka Press, Moscow. 415 pp. (in Russian).
183
Anikin, V.V., Miller, A., Wooden, J., Alshevski, A.V., Goryachev, N.A., 2006. UPb SHRIMP-
dating of zircon from batholiths and ore-bearing dikes of Yano-Kolymsky collisional
belt: rst results and geological consequences. Proceedings of III Russian
conference on isotope geochronology. Moscow, vol. 1, pp. 2629 (in Russian).
Annikova, I.Yu., Vladimirov, A.G., Vystavnoy, S.A., Zhuravlev, D.Z., Kruk, N.N., Lepekhina,
E.N., Matukov, D.I., Moroz, E.N., Paleeskiy, S.V., Ponomarchuk, V.A., Rudnev, S.N.,
Sergeev, S.A., 2006. UPb, 39Ar/40Ar data and SmNd, PbPb isotopic study of
Kalguta MoW ore-magmatic system (Southern Altai, Russia). Petrologiya 14 (1),
90108 (in Russian).
Baksi, A.K., Archibald, D.A., Farrar, E., 1996. Intercalibration of 40Ar/39Ar dating
standards. Chemical Geology 129, 307324.
Baumann, L., 1965. On the zonal distribution of mineralization in the ore veins of the
Freiberg ore district. Proceedings of conference Problems of Postmagmatic ore
deposition, Prague, vol. 2, pp. 5666.
Beer, K., 1979. Paragenesis in the Variscan metallogenetic province of Cornwall and
Devon. Probleme der Paragenese. Freiberger Forschungschefte H.C. 345, 1528.
Berzin, N.A., Dobretsov, N.L., 1994. Geodynamic evolution of Southern Siberia in Late
PrecambrianEarly Paleozoic time. Proceedings of 29th International Geological
Congress, part B., VSP Publishing, Utrecht-Tokyo, pp. 5370.
Borisenko, A.S., Lebedev, V.I., Tyulkin, V.G., 1984. Conditions of forming of hydrothermal
cobalt deposits. Nauka Press, Novosibirsk. 172 pp. (in Russian).
Borisenko, A.S., Skuridin, V.A., Obolenskiy, A.A., Troitskiy, V.A., Chernyshev, I.V.,
Ponomarchuk, V.A., Goverdovskiy, V.A., 1991. Problems of relationship of endogen-
ous mineralization with magmatism in the SE Altai and MW Mongolia ore district.
In: Distanov, E.G. (Ed.), Isotope Investigations of Ore Forming Processes. Nauka
Press, Novosibirsk, pp. 151170 (in Russian).
Borisenko, A.S., Pavlova, G.G., Obolenskiy, A.A., 1992. Silverantimony ore formation.
Nauka Press, Novosibirsk. 190 pp. (in Russian).
Borisenko, A.S., Kholmogorov, A.I., Borovikov, A.A., Shebanin, A.P., Babich, V.V., 1997.
Composition and metal-bearing capacity of ore-forming solutions of Deputatsky
tin ore deposits (Yakutia). Geologiya i Geozika (Russian Geology and Geophysics)
38 (11), 18301871.
Borisenko, A.S., Pavlova, G.G., Borovikov, A.A., Obolenskiy, A.A., 1999. AgSb deposits of
the Yustid depression, Eastern Russia and Northwest Mongolia. International
Geology Review 41, 639664.
Borisenko, A.S., Pavlova, G.G., Borovikov, A.A., Vladimirov, A.G., Mortsev, N.K., 2000.
Silver deposits of the Pamir region, Tajikistan: metallogeny, mineralogy and
genesis. International Geology Review 42, 702723.
Borisenko, A.S., Goverdovskiy, V.A., Ponomarchuk, V.A., 2003. Age of AuHg miner-
alization of Altai-Sayan orogenic region. Vestnik Tomskogo Universiteta 3 (III),
216217 (in Russian).
Borisenko, A.S., Obolenskiy, A.A., Goverdovskiy, V.A., Ponomarchuk, V.A., 2004. Age
boundaries of forming of rare-metal mineralization of West Mongolia and SE Altai.
Proceedings of conference Geodynamical evolution of lithosphere of Central-Asian
mobile belt (from ocean to continent), Publishing House of Siberian Branch of
Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, pp. 4347.
Borisenko, A.S., Borovikov, A.A., Zhitova, L.M., Pavlova, G.G., 2006. Composition of
magmatogenic uids, factors of their geochemical specialization and metal-bearing
capacity. Russian Geology and Geophysics 47, 13081325.
Borisenko, A.S., Pavlova, G.G., Goverdovskiy, V.A., Borovikov, A.A., Naumov, E.A., 2007.
Silverantimony mineralization of SE Altai and NW Mongolia. In: Seltmann, R.,
Borisenko, A., Fedoseev, G. (Eds.), Magmatism and metallogeny of the Altai and
adjacent large igneous provinces. IAGOD Guidebook Series, vol. 16, pp. 1859.
Borshevskiy, Yu.A., Obolenskiy, A.A., Borisenko, A.S., Borisova, S.L., Medvedovskaya, N.I.,
Ivanova, O.I., Khrapovskaya, L.V., 1986. Isotope composition of oxygen and carbon of
carbonates of siderite-sulfosalt mineralization of the Yustid depression. Abstracts of
conference on stable isotopes. Moscow, pp. 4042 (in Russian).
Brodin, B.V., 1959. Mineral composition and regularities of distribution of mineraliza-
tion of Kurgan cluster. Geologiya Rudnykh Mestorozhdeniy 5, 2130 (in Russian).
Buslov, M.M., Watanabe, T., Smirnova, L.V., Fujiwara, Y., Iwata, K., De Grave, J., Semakov,
N.N., Travin, A.V., Kiryanova, A.P., Kokh, D.A., 2003. Role of strike-slip faulting in Late
PaleozoicEarly Mesozoic tectonics and geodynamics of the Altay-Sayan and East
Kazakhstan region. Russian Geology and Geophysics 44 (12), 4771.
Buslov, M.M., Watanabe, T., Fujiwara, Y., Iwata, K., Smirnova, L.V., Safonova, I.Yu.,
Semakov, N.N., Kiryanova, A.P., 2004. Late Paleozoic faults of the Altai region,
Central Asia: tectonic pattern and model of formation. Journal of Asian Earth
Sciences 23, 655671.
Chernyshov, I.V., Troitskiy, V.A., Agapova, A.A., 1983. Isotope analysis of submicrogram
lead samples. Mass-spectrometry and isotope geology. Nauka Press, Moscow,
pp. 1629 (in Russian).
Demin, A.N., Demin, P.A., Storozhenko, A.A., 1991. Geodynamics and evolution of
West Mongolian structures of Vendian and Paleozoic ages. Questions of geology
and metallogeny of the Mongolia and adjacent territories. Abstracts of VII Inter-
national Conference of Kerulen Geological Expedition. MTU Press, Ulan-Bator,
pp. 9294.
Demin, P.A., Demin, A.N., Lepin, V.S., Kolosnitsyna, T.I., Krasnoschekova, T.S.,
Solodyankina, V.N., 1995. Estimation of the age of tungsten deposits. Problems of
geology of Mongolian Altai. Proceedings of conference Natural environments and
resources of West Mongolia. Ulan-Bator, pp. 516.
Demin, A.N., Demin, P.A., Andreev, V.V., 2001. Early Mesozoic ore-bearing granitoids and
geodynamic environment of their formation in the Mongolian Altai. Abstracts of
International Conference Postcollisional evolution of mobile belts. Irkutsk
University Press, Irkutsk, pp. 6569.
Distanov, A.G., Borisenko, A.S., Obolenskiy, A.A., Sotnikov, V.I., Lebedev, V.I., 2006.
Metallogeny of polyaccretionary Altai-Sayan orogenic area. Russian Geology and
Geophysics 47, 12571276.
184 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185
Dobretsov, N.L., Berzin, N.A., Buslov, M.M., Ermikov, V.D., 1995. General problems of
evolution of Altai region and mutual relations between basement structure and
development of neotectonic structure. Russian Geology and Geophysics 36 (10),
519.
Dodonova, T.A., 1967. Small intrusions of the Chatkaragai deposit (northern Tien-Shan):
Metallogeny and magmatism of Tien-Shan. Ilim Press, Frunze, pp. 5974
(in Russian).
Dodonova, T.A., 1972. Lamprophyres of the Talas range. Petrography of igneous rocks of
Tien-Shan. Ilim Press, Frunze, pp. 4452 (in Russian).
Dovgal, V.N., Tribunskiy, E.N., Sabotovich, S.A., Distanova, A.N., 1997. Geological and
substantial features of rare-metal Li-F granitoids of Altai. Russian Geology and
Geophysics 38, 18071814.
Dronov, V.I., Bronnikova, A.M., 1988. Stratigraphy and age of Teshiktash volcanic series
in the Kyzylrabat district (SE Pamir). Doklady of Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan
31 (1), 5457 (in Russian).
Efremov, S.V., Kozlov, V.D., Sandimirova, G.P., Dril, S.I., 2006. Age of ultrapotassic mac
magmatism of Central Chukotka and it's role in metallogenic specialization of tin-
bearing granites. Proceedings of III Russian conference on isotope geochronology.
Moscow, vol. 1, pp. 241243.
Fleorov, B.L., 1976. Tin ore deposits of Yano-Kolymsky folded region. Nauka Press,
Novosibirsk. 283 pp. (in Russian).
Gamyanin, G.N., Anikina, E.Yu., Bortnikov, N.S., Alpatov, V.V., Borisenko, A.S., Nosik, L.P.,
1998. Silver-polymetallic Prognoz deposit, Sakha (Yakutia): mineralogicalgeo-
chemical features and genesis. Russian Geology of Ore Deposits 40, 440458.
Gamyanin, G.N., Anikina, E.Yu., Bortnikov, N.S., Alpatov, V.V., 2003. Silver-polymetallic
Prognoz deposit, Sakha (Yakutia): chemistry and zonation of ore veins. Russian
Geology of Ore Deposits 42, 531546.
Gavrilova, S.P., 1975. Granitoid formations of the West Mongolia: granitoid and alkaline
formations in the structures of the West and North Mongolia. Proceedings of
Joint Soviet-Mongolian scientic expedition, vol. 14. Nauka Press, Moscow,
pp. 50164. vip.
Goverdovskiy, V.A., 1987. About age of forming of magmatic rocks of Yustid depression
(SE Altai). Russian Geology and Geophysics 5, 116119.
Goverdovskiy, V.A., 2004. Geodynamic position of Middle Paleozoic mac series of Altai
(by the example of the Karaoyuk and Terekta complexes). Russian Geology and
Geophysics 45, 212221.
Goverdovskiy, V.A., Rudnev, S.N., 2000. Distribution of REE elements in granites of the
Yustid complex (Gorny Altai). Proceedings of regional scientic conference
300 years of mine-geological service of Russia: history of mining, geological
structure and mineral resources of Altai. Publishing House of Altai State University,
Barnaul, pp. 335339 (in Russian).
Gradstein, F.M., Ogg, J.G., Smith, A.G. (Eds.), 2005. A Geologic Time Scale 2004, 2005.
Cambridge University Press. 610 pp.
Gusev, A.I., 2003. Metallogeny of gold of Gorny Altai and southern part of Gorny Shoria.
STT Press, Tomsk. 308 pp.
Haber, M., 1980. Mineralogisch-geochemische und paragenetische Erforschung hydro-
termaler Gange im Gebiet zwischen Pracovce und Kojsov (Spissko-Gemerske
rudohorie). Zpadne Karpaty, Sria Mineralogia, Petrograa., Geochmie rudnch.
Loisk. (Bratislava), vol. 7, pp. 7133.
Hacker, B., Luf, P., Lutkov, V., Minaev, V., Ratschbacher, L., Plank, T., Ducea, M., Patino-
Douce, A., McWilliams, M., Metcalf, J., 2005. Near-ultrahigh pressure processing of
continental crust: Miocene crustal xenoliths from Pamir. Journal of Petrology 46,
16611687.
Hobbs, S.W., Friklund, V.S., 1972. Coeur D'Alene ore district, Idaho state. In: Ridge, J.D.,
Smirnov, V.I. (Eds.), Ore Deposits of the United States. Mir Press, Moscow, pp. 403422.
Indolev, L.N., 1979. Dikes of ore districts of Eastern Yakutia. Nauka Press, Moscow.
195 pp. (in Russian).
Indolev, L.N., Nevoisa, G.G., 1974. Silverlead deposits of Yakutia. Nauka Press,
Novosibirsk. 250 pp. (in Russian).
Kabaev, O.D., 1989. Precambrian sedimentary formations of Talas range and their ore-
bearing capacity. Unpublished Ph. D. thesis. Publishing House of Academy of
Sciences of Kirgizia, Frunze, 250 pp. (in Russian).
Koleda, A.Ya., 1974. About silver mineralization of the Talas range. Razvedka I Ohrana
Nedr 4, 2354 (in Russian).
Koleda, A.Ya., 1983. Geology and genesis of silver and Ag-bearing mineralization of Talas
Alatau. Actual questions of geology, mineralogy and geochemistry of gold and silver
in middle Asia. Publishing House of Middle Asia Institute of Geology and Mineral
Resources, Tashkent, pp. 105110 (in Russian).
Koleda, A.Ya., 1990. Genetic model of silver-sulfosalt formation (on the example of the
Talas Alatau, northern Tien-Shan). Sources of ore matter and physic-chemical con-
ditions of epithermal ore formation. Nauka Press, Novosibrsk, pp. 4052 (in Russian).
Konyuk, A.A., 1956. Alkaline basalt and ultramac rocks of the Talas range. Reports
of Institute of Geology of Kirgizian Academy of Sciences, vol. 5, pp. 2735. vip.,
(in Russian).
Kostin, A.V., 2001. Silver deposits of West Verkhoyanie. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis.
Institute of Geology of Diamond and Noble Metals, Siberian Branch of Russian
Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, 360 pp. (in Russian).
Kostin, A.V., Shoshin, V.V., Rabandirov, Yu.T., 1995. Native silver of the AgPb deposits of
the Andybalsky ore cluster. Russian Geology and Geophysics 36 (9), 5865.
Kostin, A.V., Zaitsev, A.I., Shoshin, V.V., Ganeev, A.Sh., Lobanov, S.P., 1997. Silver-bearing
province of West Verkhoyanie (by the example of Mangazeisky ore eld).
Publishing House of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk.
155 pp. (in Russian).
Krivenko, A.P., 1965. Questions of rock origin of the Torgalyk intrusive complex of the
Tuva. Magmatic formations of the Altai-Sayan folded region. Nauka Press, Moscow,
pp. 6583 (in Russian).
Kruk, N.N., Rudnev, S.N., Zhuravlev, D.Z., Plotnikov, A.V., Babin, G.A., Vystavnoy, S.A.,
Palesskiy, S.V., 2001. Stages of forming and sources of continental crust in western
part of Altai-Sayan folded region (by isotope-geochemical study data). Proceedings
of conference Actual questions of geology and mineralogy of southern Siberia.
Publishing House of Institute of Geology and Geophysics of Russian Academy of
Sciences, Novosibirsk, pp. 12 (in Russian).
Layer, P.W., Newberry, R., Fujita, K., Parfenov, L.M., Trunilina, V.A., Bakharev, A.G., 2001.
Tectonic setting of the plutonic belts of Yakutia, Northeast Russia, based on 40Ar/
39
Ar and trace element geochemistry. Geology 29, 167170.
Legler, V.C., Pilot, J., Schlichting, M., 1984. Blei und Schwefelisotopenbestimmungen an
schichtgebunden Mineralisationen der Fichtelgebirgish - Erzgebirgischen Anti-
klinalzone, vol. 389 (II). Freiberger Forschungscheft, Leipzig, pp. 123141.
Lugov, S.F. (Ed.), 1986. Geology of tin ore deposits of SSSR. Nedra Press, Moscow. 200 pp.
(in Russian).
Marty, B., Tolstikhin, I., Kamensky, I., Nivin, V., Balaganskaya, E., Zimmerman, J.-L., 1998.
Plume-derived rare gases in 380 Ma carbonatites from the Kola region (Russia) and
the argon isotopic composition in the deep mantle. Earth and Planetary Science
Letters 164, 179192.
Mikhaleva, L.A., 1989. Mesozoic lamprophyry-diabase formation of south Siberia. Nauka
Press, Novosibirsk. 167 pp. (in Russian).
Mitcham, T., 1952. Indicator minerals, CoeurD'Alene Silver Belt. Economic Geology 47,
414450.
Mitropolskiy, A.A., Kulik, N.A., 1975. Bismuthnickelcobalt mineralization in zones of
Mesozoic activation of Gorny Altai and West Tuva: Regularities of distribution of
natural resources, vol. 2. Nauka Press, Moscow, pp. 306313 (in Russian).
Natapov, L.M. (Ed.), 1975. 1:1,000,000 scale State Geological Map, pages M-52, 53.
Karpinsky Russian Geological Research Institute. Leningrad.
Naumov, E.A., 2007. Types of goldmercury mineralization of the Altai-Sayan folded
region and physic-chemical conditions of their formation. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis,
Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of
Sciences. Novosibirsk, 192 pp. (in Russian).
Obolenskaya, R.V., 1971. Chuisky complex of alkali basaltoids of Gorny Altai. Nauka
Press, Novosibirsk. 147 pp. (in Russian).
Obolenskaya, R.V., 1983. Mesozoic magmatism of the Alatai-Sayan folded region. Nauka
Press, Novosibirsk. 48 pp. (in Russian).
Obolenskiy, A.A., 1985. Genesis of the deposits of mercury ore formation. Nauka Press,
Novosibirsk. 194 pp. (in Russian).
Obolenskiy, A.A., Gushchina, L.V., Borovikov, A.A., Borisenko, A.S., Pavlova, G.G., 2007.
Antimony in hydrothermal processes: solubility, conditions of transport, metal-
bearing capacity of solutions. Russian Geology and Geophysics 48, 9921001.
Ozerova, N.A., 1986. Mercury and endogenous ore formation. Nauka Press, Moscow.
232 pp. (in Russian).
Parfenov, L.M., Kuzmin, M.I. (Eds.), 2001. Tectonics, Geodynamics and Metallogeny of
Territory of Sakha Republic (Yakutia). MAIK Nauka/Interperiodika, Moscow.
571 pp. (in Russian).
Pavlova, G.G., 1987a. Mineral composition and some questions of genesis of silver-
sulfosalt mineralization of the Yustid depression (Gorny Altai). Unpublished Ph.D.
thesis, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Siberian Branch of Academy of Sciences
of the SSSR, Novosibirsk, 263 pp. (in Russian).
Pavlova, G.G., 1987b. Mineralogicalgeochemical features of siderite-sulfosalt miner-
alization of Southern Siberia. Geologicky Zbornik Geologica Carpatica 38 (1),
3542.
Pavlova, G.G., Borovikov, A.A., 2008. Physic-chemical factors of forming of AuAs, AuSb
and AgSb deposits. Russian Geology of Ore Deposits 50 (6), 496506.
Pavlova, G.G., Mortsev, N.K., Borisenko, A.S., Dyschuk, M.Yu., Borovikov, A.A., 1990.
Mineral composition and depositional sequence of AgSb mineralization, Akjilga,
SE Pamir. In: Vladimirov, A., Sharapov, V., Borisenko, A. (Eds.), Granite magmatism
and ore mineralization of the Bazardara mining area, SE Pamir. Publishing House of
Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Siberian Branch of Academy of Sciences of the
SSSR, Novosibirsk, pp. 124159 (in Russian).
Pavlova, G., Gushchina, L., Borovikov, A., Borisenko, A., Obolenskiy, A.A., 2004. Silver and
antimony in hydrothermal solutions of AgSb deposits. Russian Geology and
Geophysics 45, 11861197.
Pavlova, G., Gushchina, L., Borovikov, A., Borisenko, A., Palyanova, G., 2006. Forming
conditions for AuSb and AgSb ore according to thermodynamic modeling data.
Journal of Materials Science 41, 15571562.
Pavlova, G.G., Borisenko, A.S., Goverdovskiy, V.A., Travin, A.V., Zhukova, I.A., Tretyakova,
I.G., 2008. PermianTriassic magmatism and AgSb mineralization of SE AltaiNW
Mongolia. Russian Geology and Geophysics 49, 545555.
Petrov, O.V., Prasolov, E.M., Lokhov, K.I., Rozinov, M.I., Sergeev, S.A., Gruzdov, K.A.,
Kapitonov, I.N., 2007. Helium isotopes and estimation of scale of volcanogenous ore
formation (AuAg). Abstracts of 18th Symposium on stable isotopes. Moscow, p.
187 (in Russian).
Pilot, V.J., Legierski, J., Rosler, H.J., 1970. Pb- und S-Isotopen-Untersuchungen an
Freiberger und anderen Erzlagersttten. Geologi 1, 1120.
Pirajno, F., 1992. Hydrothermal mineral deposits. Principles and Fundamental Concepts
for the Exploration Geologist. Springer-Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg. 709 pp.
Prokopiev, A.V., Toro, J., Miller, E.L., Layer, P.W., Hourigan, J.K., Bakharev, A.G., Zaitsev,
A.I., Dumitru, T., Gehrels, G.E., Walles, V.L., Tretyakov, F.F., Tarabukin, V.P., 2006. New
UPb, 40Ar/39Ar isotope geochronological and AFT thermochronological data on
north-east Yakutia and their possible tectonic and geodynamic interpretation.
Proceedings of the B.Flerov memorial conference Ore genesis and metallogeny of
East Asia. Yakutsk University Press, Yakutia, pp. 145148 (in Russian).
Prokopiev, A.V., Toro, J., Miller, E.L., Wooden, J., Trunilina, V.A., Bakharev, A.G., 2007.
Granitoids of the main batholith belt (Northeast Asia): new UPb SHRIMP
geochronological and geochemical data. In: Khanchuk, A. (Ed.), Tectonics and
 G.G. Pavlova, A.S. Borisenko / Ore Geology Reviews 35 (2009) 164185
metallogeny of the Circum-North Pacic and Eastern Asia. Proceedings of the
L. Parfenov memorial conference. Publishing House of Institute of Tectonics
and Geophysics, Far East Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Khabarovsk,
pp. 286288.
Seifert, T., 1999. Relationship between late Variscan lampropyres and hydrothermal
vein mineralization in the Erzgebirge. In: Stanley, C.J., et al. (Ed.), Mineral Deposits:
Processes to Processing. A.A.Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands, pp. 429432.
Seifert, T., 2004. Post-collisional bimodal magmatism and related SnWMo and Ag-
rich base metal deposits at the northern border of the Bohemian massif, Central
Europe. Proceedings of conference Metallogeny of the Pacic northwest: Tectonics,
magmatism and metallogeny of active continental margins. Dalnauka Press,
Vladivostok, pp. 373375.
Seifert, T., 2007. Genesis and Metallogenetic Potential of Permo-Carboniferous
Lamprophyric Intrusions in the Saxo-Thuringian Zone of the Mid-European
Variscides (Erzgebirge). Millpress Science Publishers, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
304 pp.
Seifert, T., Baumann, L., 1994. On the metallogeny of the Central Erzgebirge Anticlinal
area (Marienberg district), Saxony, Germany. Monograph Series on Mineral
Deposits 31, 169190.
Seifert, T., Sandmann, D., 2006. Mineralogy and geochemistry of indium-bearing
polymetallic vein-type deposits: implications for host minerals from the Freiberg
district, Eastern Erzgebirge, Germany. Ore Geology Reviews 28, 131.
Shnai, G.K., Sobolev, A.E., Iegoshina, I.I., 1991. Lamproites of South Verkhoyanye. Doklady
of Academy of Sciences of the SSSR 319 (4), 957961.
Shokalsky, S.P., Babin, G.A., Vladimirov, A.G., Borisov, S.M., 2000. Correlation of
magmatic and metamorphic complexes of west part of the Altai-Sayan folded
region. Publishing House of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences,
Novosibirsk. 188 pp. (in Russian).
Solomon, M., Groves, D.I., Jaques, A.L., 2000. The geology and origin of Australia's
mineral deposits. Centre for Ore Deposit Research, University of Tasmania and the
Centre for Global Metallogeny. University of Western Australia (Publication No. 32).
1002 pp.
Tolstkhin, I.N., Kamensky, I.L., Marty, B., Nivin, V.A., Vetrin, V.R., Balaganskaya, E.G.,
Ikorsky, S.V., Gannibal, M.A., Kirnarsky, Yu.M., Weiss, D., Verhulst, A., Demaiffe, D.,
1999. Low mantle plume component in Devonian Kola ultrabasicalkaline
185
carbonatite complexes: Evidence from rare gas isotopes and related parent
elements. Reprint, Apatity.
Trunilina, V.A., Orlov, Yu.S., Roev, S.P., Ivanov, P.O., 2000. Ore-bearing granitic complexes
of the eastern Yakutia. In: Kremenetsky, A., Lehmann, B., Seltmann, R. (Eds.), Ore-
bearing granites of Russia and adjacent countries. Publishing House of Institute of
Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Rare Elements, Moscow, pp. 295314.
Tyulkin, V.G., 1980. Bismuth-cobalt mineralization in the structures of activization of
SW Tuva and some questions of genesis. Unpublished Ph. D. thesis. Publishing
House of Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Siberian Branch of Academy of
Sciences SSSR, Novosibirsk, 260 pp. (in Russian).
Tyutin, M.A., Bezugliy, M.M., 1990. Tintungsten ore-magmatic systems of the South
Pamir. In: Vladimirov, A., Sharapov, V., Borisenko, A. (Eds.), Granitoid magmatism
and mineralization of the Bazardara ore region (SE Pamir). Publishing House of
Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Siberian Branch of Academy of Sciences SSSR,
Novosibirsk, pp. 318 (in Russian).
Varek, C., 1965. Specialities of regional zoning of hydrothermal mineralization in the
Spisko-Gemerske rudohorie. Proceedings of conference Problems of postmag-
matic ore deposition, vol. 1. Publishing House of Czechoslovak Academy of
Sciences, Praque, pp. 137143.
Varek, C. (Ed.), 1985. Rudnianske rudne pole. Veda Press, Bratislava. 363 pp. (in
Slovak).
Vladimirov, A.G., Ponomareva, A.P., Shokalsky, S.P., 1997. The Late PaleozoicEarly
Mesozoic granitoid magmatism of Altai. Russian Geology and Geophysics 38,
715729.
Vladimirov, A.G., Borisenko, A.S., Rudnev, S.N., Chupin, V.P., Kruk, N.N., Titov, A.V.,
Borovikov, A.A., Pavlova, G.G., Averkin, Yu.A., Turkina, O.M., Vladimirov, V.G.,
Mortsev, N.K., 2000. Ore-bearing granite plutons of the Southern Pamir, Tajikistan.
In: Kremenetsky, A., Lehmann, B., Seltmann, R. (Eds.), Ore-bearing granites of
Russia and adjacent countries. Publishing House of Institute of Mineralogy and
Geochemistry of Rare Elements, Moscow, pp. 331348.
Vrublevskiy, V.V., Gertner, I.F., Polyakov, G.V., Izokh, A.E., Krupchatnikov, V.I., Travin,
A.V., Voitenko, N.N., 2004. ArAr isotope age of lamproite dikes of Chuisky
complex, Gorny Altai. Doklady of Russian Academy of Sciences 399, 516519.