Abstract:
[Objective] This study investigates the geochemical characteristics of two representative giant mineral deposits in the Central Asian Metallogenic Belt—the Muruntau-type gold deposit in Uzbekistan and the Almalyk porphyry copper deposit—at both regional and orefield scales. The multiscale structures of geochemical anomalies associated with the two mineral systems are systematically characterized, and geochemical exploration criteria for analogous deposits in the Central Asian Metallogenic Belt are established. [Conclusions] The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The Muruntau gold deposit is primarily controlled by anticlinal structures that provided favorable space for ore emplacement and is characterized by pronounced enrichment of Au, As, Sb, Hg, Pt, and Pd. At the regional scale, Au-As-Sb-Hg multielement anomalies exhibit strong spatial overlap, whereas at the orefield scale, strong Au and As anomalies occur directly above the main orebodies. These features demonstrate a consistent association and co-enrichment of Au, As, Sb, and Hg within the orogenic gold mineral system. (2) The Almalyk porphyry Cu-Au orefield is characterized by strongly overlapping Cu-Mo-Au-Pb-Zn multielement anomalies at the regional scale. At the orefield scale, these anomalies show a classic concentric geochemical zoning pattern, comprising an inner Mo zone, an intermediate Cu-Au zone, in which Cu and Au occupy separate northern and southern domains, and an outer Pb-Zn zone. [Significance] The Muruntau and Almalyk deposits exemplify the characteristic geochemical signatures and exploration criteria of two major deposit types in the Central Asian Metallogenic Belt. The results provide a useful reference for exploration for analogous deposits in the Chinese segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, from regional targeting to orefield-scale exploration.