Detailed Division of Metallogenic Provinces
Metallogenic Province—A secondary metallogenic district (zone) within the scope of a metallogenic domain—its extent is controlled by geotectonic cycles, and metallogenesis occurs during one or several metallogenic cycles. It hosts specific types of mineralization; the enrichment of ore-forming materials is primarily associated with interactions among Earth’s spheres. Metallogenesis is markedly influenced by regional magmatic activity, sedimentary strata, and metamorphism. For example, the South China metallogenic province in China is controlled by granitic magmatism and magmatic eruptions, giving rise to “metallogenic series groups” of base metals, rare metals, rare earth elements, and non-metallic minerals that are linked to the Yanshan metallogenic cycle (or volcanic rocks). Each of these series is governed by its own metallogenic geological environment. Within a metallogenic province, certain metallogenic geological environments give rise to one or several ore deposit series, and there is generally a close correspondence between metallogenic geological environments and ore deposit series. By applying metallogenic chronology to date ore deposits, analyzing the metallogenic cycles during the development of geological structures, and identifying the metallogenic geological environments and corresponding ore deposit series that occur in different metallogenic districts, we can reconstruct the evolutionary history of regional metallogenesis within each metallogenic province. The concept of the “regional ore deposit metallogenic series” is used to analyze the evolutionary processes of regional metallogenesis in each metallogenic province and to summarize regional metallogenic patterns. Based on this approach, we have compiled regional ore deposit metallogenic series maps for each metallogenic province. The regional ore deposit metallogenic series deepens our understanding of ore deposit metallogenic patterns and provides a scientific basis for establishing a metallogenic system for mainland China. The content and implications of the “ore deposit metallogenic series groups” and the regional ore deposit metallogenic series will be discussed in detail in Part Four. The 16 metallogenic provinces and 80 metallogenic districts (zones) delineated nationwide have spatially located various ore deposits formed during different metallogenic cycles across mainland China, along with their corresponding ore deposit metallogenic series. Applying the theory of ore deposit metallogenic series, we have clarified the boundaries of each metallogenic province, its regional tectonic overview, and regional metallogenic characteristics, as well as the division of metallogenic districts (zones) within each province, the formation of ore deposit metallogenic series, and the regional ore deposit metallogenic series. The spatial location of ore deposit metallogenic series has been established using characteristic tables of ore deposit metallogenic series for each metallogenic province and the “regional ore deposit metallogenic series and ore deposit metallogenic series maps.” We propose that within the spatial limits defined by a metallogenic province (or metallogenic district zone), the evolutionary patterns of regional metallogenesis and the peak periods of regional metallogenesis can be identified. Moreover, the inheritance of regional tectonic evolution and the intrinsic connections among ore-forming materials are closely intertwined, and there exist certain “affinities” and evolutionary trends among ore deposit metallogenic series, thus forming the framework of regional metallogenesis for the “Mainland China Metallogenic System.”

I. Division of Metallogenic Regions (Belts)

1. Metallogenic Domain (Level I Metallogenic Belt)
Ⅰ1 - Paleo-Asian Metallogenic Domain
Ⅰ2 - Qinqi-Kuncheng Mineralization Domain
Ⅰ3-Thetis-Himalayan Metallogenic Domain
Ⅰ4 - Binhai-Western Pacific Metallogenic Domain
Ⅰ5 - Pre-Cambrian Terrane Metallogenic Domain
The metallogenic domain is an intercontinental-scale metallogenic unit, controlled by global-scale geological structural belts (or zones) and governed by specific tectonic cycles and their associated metallogenic cycles. Within each metallogenic domain, differences in regional geological structures and evolutionary histories give rise to the formation of metallogenic provinces and metallogenic districts (or belts). Newly formed metallogenic domains in later stages typically overlay earlier, pre-existing ancient metallogenic domains. In such cases, subsequent metallogenetic events generally superimpose themselves entirely on earlier structural units or on parts of these units. The boundaries of metallogenic domains may even cut across already existing metallogenic provinces or metallogenic districts (or belts). These domains represent the results of metallogenetic processes that occurred during a particular historical period in a given region of Earth’s evolutionary history—for example, the West Pacific metallogenic domain overlaps with metallogenic provinces such as the North China Block and the Qinling-Dabie region.

2. Metallogenic Province (Level II Metallogenic Region (Zone))
Ⅱ-1 Jilin-Harbin Metallogenic Province;
Ⅱ-2 Inner Mongolia-Daxinganling Metallogenic Province;
Ⅱ-3 Mineralization Province on the Northern Margin of the North China Craton;
Ⅱ-4 North China Craton Mineralization Province;
Ⅱ-5 Altai-Junggar Metallogenic Province;
Ⅱ-6 Tianshan-Beishan Metallogenic Province;
Ⅱ-7 Tarim Block Metallogenic Province;
Ⅱ-8 Qinling-Dabie Metallogenic Province;
Ⅱ-9 Qilian Metallogenic Province;
Ⅱ-10 Kunlun Metallogenic Province;
Ⅱ-11 Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Province;
Ⅱ-12 South China Metallogenic Province (including Taiwan Island and Hainan Island);
Ⅱ-13 Upper Yangtze Metallogenic Province;
II-14 Sanjiang Metallogenic Province;
Ⅱ-15 Songpan-Ganzi Metallogenic Province;
Ⅱ-16 Yarlung Tsangpo Metallogenic Province

3. Metallogenic Province (Zone) (Level III Metallogenic Province (Zone))
(1) Jilin-Heilongjiang Metallogenic Province (II-1)
III-1 The Mesozoic Nonferrous and Precious Metal Mineralization Belt in the Wanda Mountains;
III-2 Taipingling-Lao Yaling Paleozoic and Mesozoic Gold-Copper-Nickel-Lead-Zinc-Silver-Iron Mineralization Belt;
III-3 Jiamusi-Xingkai: Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic, Late Paleozoic, and Mesozoic iron-polymetallic and non-metallic mineralization belt;
III-4 The Paleoproterozoic, Late Paleozoic, and Mesozoic Iron-Copper-Nickel-Silver-Lead-Zinc Mineralization Belt of the Lesser Xing'an Mountains–Zhangguangcai Range–Jilin Hada Ridge;
III-5 Neogene Oil, Gas, and Uranium Metallogenic Region of the Songliao Basin;
(2) Inner Mongolia-Daxinganling Metallogenic Province (Ⅱ-2)
III-6 The Erguna Mesozoic Copper-Molybdenum-Lead-Zinc-Silver-Gold Mineralization Belt;
III-7 Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic Lead-Zinc-Silver-Gold Mineralization Belt in the Northern Section of the Greater Khingan Range;
III-8 Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic Gold, Iron, Tin, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Silver, Beryllium, Niobium, and Tantalum Ore Belt in the Southern Section of the Greater Khingan Range;
III-9 The Erlian-Bayin Chagan Late Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic Copper-Iron-Chromium-Lead-Zinc-Silver Mineralization Belt;
III-10 Xilinhot–Suolunshan Proterozoic, Late Paleozoic, Mesozoic Copper-Iron-Chromium-Gold-Tungsten-Germanium-Fluorite-Natural Alkali Mineralization Belt;
(3) Mineralization Province at the Northern Margin of the North China Craton (Ⅱ-3)
III-11 The Archean, Proterozoic, Mesozoic Gold-Copper-Silver-Lead-Zinc-Nickel-Cobalt-Sulfur Mineralization Belt in the Eastern Section of the Northern Margin of the North China Craton;
III-12 The Mesoproterozoic, Paleoproterozoic, and Mesozoic gold, silver, lead, zinc, and iron-sulfide mineralization belt in the middle segment of the northern margin of the North China Craton;
III-13: The Archean, Proterozoic, Mesozoic Iron-Niobium-Rare Earth Metals-Gold-Copper-Lead-Zinc-Sulfur Mineralization Belt in the Western Section of the Northern Margin of the North China Craton;
(4) North China Craton Metallogenic Province (II-4)
III-14 Jiaoliao Archean, Proterozoic, Mesozoic Gold-Copper-Lead-Zinc-Silver-Periclase-Talc-Graphite Mineralization Belt;
III-15 LuXi Mesozoic Gold-Copper-Iron Metallogenic Belt;
III-16 Iron, Coal, and Oil-Gas Mineralization Belts in the North China Basin, spanning the Neoarchean and Mesozoic-Cenozoic Eras;
III-17 The Xiaoqinling-Yuxi Archean, Proterozoic, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic Gold-Molybdenum-Aluminum-Bauxite-Pb-Zn Mineralization Belt;
III-18 Wutai-Taihang Archean, Proterozoic, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic gold, iron, copper, molybdenum, cobalt, silver, and manganese mineralization belt;
III-19: The Precambrian and Late Paleozoic Bauxite, Rare Earth, Copper, Iron, Gold, Coal, and Salt Mineralization Belt on Both Sides of the Yellow River in Western Shanxi and Eastern Shaanxi;
III-20 Mesozoic and Cenozoic Oil, Gas, Coal, and Salt Mineralization Belts in the Ordos Basin;
III-21 Alashan Proterozoic and Cenozoic copper-nickel-platinum-group fluorite mineralization district;
(5) Altai–Junggar Metallogenic Province (II-5)
III-22 Haron-North Late Paleozoic, Mesozoic Gold-Pb-Zn-Fe Rare, Precious, and Gem-Mica Mineralization Belt;
III-23 The Late Paleozoic Iron-Copper-Zinc-Gold-Silver-Lead Mineralization Belt;
III-24 The Late Paleozoic and Cenozoic Copper-Nickel-Molybdenum-Gold Zeolite-Bentonite Mineralization Belt along the Northern Margin of Dzungaria;
III-25 Junggar Western Margin Late Paleozoic Gold-Chromium Mineralization Area;
III-26 The Late Paleozoic, Mesozoic Oil, Gas, Uranium, Coal, and Salt Mineralization Region in the Junggar Basin;
(6) Tianshan-Beishan Metallogenic Province (Ⅱ-6)
III-27 Bogda Late Paleozoic Copper-Zinc-Graphite-Salt Mineralization Area;
III-28 Alatau-Sayram Late Paleozoic Tin-Tungsten-Lead-Zinc Mineralization Area;
III-29 The Middle and Cenozoic Oil, Gas, Coal, Uranium, Zeolite, Bentonite, and Salt Mineralization Belt in the Tuha Basin;
III-30: Uranium, coal, copper (molybdenum), manganese, iron, nickel, gold, silver, rare metals, mica, and salt mineralization belt in the western Tianshan region spanning the Late Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras of the Precambrian;
III-31 Jueluotage—Xingxing Gorge Late Paleozoic Copper-Molybdenum-Gold-Silver-Nickel Mineralization Belt;
III-32 Southern Tianshan Mabuzhong Late Paleozoic Iron-Gold-Lead-Zinc-Silver-Vanadium-Uranium Rare Earth, Apatite, Vermiculite, Magnesite, and Talc Deposit Mineralization Belt;
III-33 Eqi Na Banner Late Paleozoic Copper-Iron (Fluorite) Mineralization Area;
III-34 Beishan Precambrian and Late Paleozoic Polymetallic Iron, Copper, Nickel, Gold, Lead, Zinc, Silver, Phosphorus, and Rare Metal Mineralization Belt;
III-35 Sa’er: Late Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Gold-Iron-Manganese-Lead-Zinc Rare Metal Salt Mineralization Belt;
III-36 Southwest Tian Shan Late Paleozoic Gold-Copper-Lead-Zinc-Silver-Antimony-Uranium-Tin Mineralization Belt;
(7) Tarim Craton Mineralization Province (II-7)
III-37 Tarim Mesozoic and Cenozoic Oil, Gas, Coal, Uranium, and Salt Mineralization Belt;
III-37--1 Kuche New Generation Oil-Gas-Uranium Metallogenic Belt;
III-37--2 Awati–Shaya Mesozoic and Cenozoic Oil, Gas, and Coal Mineralization Belt;
III-37--3 Keping Late Paleozoic Pb-Zn-Fe-V-Ti Metallogenic Area;
III-37--4 Katark—Manjhar Neogene Oil and Gas Exploration Region;
III-37--5 The Salt Mineralization Belt along the Southern Margin of the Tarim Basin.
(8) Qinling-Dabie Metallogenic Province (Ⅱ-8)
III-38 North Qinling Early Paleozoic and Mesozoic Gold, Copper, Silver, Antimony, and Molybdenum Mineralization Belt;
III-39 Tongbai-Dabie Proterozoic and Mesozoic Gold, Lead, Zinc, Silver, and Non-Metallic Mineralization Belt;
III-40 South Qinling Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic Lead-Zinc-Silver-Copper-Iron-Mercury-Antimony-Barite Mineralization Belt;
(9) Qilian Metallogenic Province (II-9)
III-41 Corridor: Paleozoic-Cenozoic Iron-Manganese Fluorite-Salt Mineralization Belt;
III-42 North Qilian Proterozoic Gold-Copper-Iron-Chromium-Tungsten-Lead-Zinc Mineralization Belt;
III-43 South Qilian Paleozoic Copper-Zinc-Lead-Silver-Nickel-Phosphorus Mineralization Belt;
III-44 La Jishan Early Paleozoic Copper-Gold-Nickel Mineralization Belt;
(10) Kunlun Metallogenic Province (II-10)
III-45 Qaidam Neogene Lithium-Boron-Potassium-Sodium-Magnesium Salts, Mirabilite, Gypsum, Natural Alkali, Halite (Water) Ore-Forming Area;
III-46 Altyn Early Paleozoic Copper-Gold-Asbestos Mineralization Belt;
III-47 East Kunlun Precambrian, Late Paleozoic, and Mesozoic Gold-Copper-Lead-Zinc-Iron Mineralization Belt;
III-48 Gongger Precambrian and Late Paleozoic Gold, Copper, Lead, Zinc, and Gemstone Mineralization Belt;
III-49 Tashkurgan Precambrian and Late Paleozoic Gold-Copper Mineralization Belt;
III-50 Karakoram Mesozoic Copper-Lead-Zinc-Gold Mineralization Belt;
(11) Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Province (Ⅱ-11)
III-51 The Neogene Oil, Gas, and Salt Mineralization Belt in the Subei Depression;
III-52 Mesozoic Copper-Gold-Iron-Lead-Zinc-Sulfur Mineralization Belt in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River;
III-53 Mesozoic copper-molybdenum-gold-silver-lead-zinc mineralization belt in the Jiangnan Block;
III-54 Mesozoic and Cenozoic gold and rare earth salt mineralization zones in the Jianghan Depression;
(12) South China Metallogenic Province (including Taiwan Province, II-12)
III-55 Mesozoic Non-Metallic Lead-Zinc-Silver Mineralization Belt along the Zhejiang-Fujian Coast;
III-56 Mesozoic Tin-Tungsten-Lead-Zinc-Silver Non-Metallic Mineralization Belt along the Fujian-Guangdong Coast;
III-57 Hangzhou Bay–Northern Wuyishan Paleozoic and Mesozoic Lead-Zinc-Silver-Tungsten-Tin-Rare Earth and Rare Metal Mineralization Belt;
III-58 Iron, tungsten, tin, antimony, lead, zinc, and rare metal mineralization zones in central Hunan and central Jiangxi—spanning the Proterozoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras;
III-59 Mid-section of the Nanling Region: Mesozoic Tin, Silver, Lead, Zinc, and Rare Earth Mineralization Belt;
III-60 Silver, iron, gold, tungsten, tin, and rare-element mineralization zones in the Mesoproterozoic, Paleozoic, and Mesozoic of central Guangdong;
III-61 Guangxi West—Daming Mountain Mesozoic Tungsten, Tin, Lead, Zinc, Gold, and Silver Mineralization Belt;
III-62 Iron, copper, cobalt, gold, silver, bauxite, quartz, and kaolin mineralization zones in Hainan’s Archean, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic periods;
(13) Upper Yangtze Metallogenic Province (II-13)
III-63 Longmenshan–Shennongjia Early Paleozoic and Cenozoic Iron, Gold, and Phosphorus Mineralization Belt;
III-64 Xiangxi–Eastern Guizhou Mesozoic Antimony, Mercury, Gold, Phosphorus, and Talc Mineralization Belt;
III-65 Yunnan-Southwestern Guizhou Paleozoic and Mesozoic Iron, Mercury, Manganese, and Aluminum Mineralization Belt;
III-66 Mesozoic and Cenozoic Iron, Copper, Oil, Gas, and Salt Mineralization Belt in the Sichuan Basin;
III-67 Lead-Zinc-Silver-Phosphorus Mineralization Area on the Eastern Side of the Jinsha River, spanning Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou Provinces, Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic;
III-68: Mesozoic gold, lead, zinc, antimony, copper, manganese, aluminum, and phosphorus mineralization zone in the Youjiang geosyncline;
III-69: The Paleoproterozoic, Late Paleozoic, and Mesozoic Iron-Titanium-Vanadium-Copper-Lead-Zinc-Platinum-Silver-Gold Rare Earth Mineralization Belt along the Western Margin of the Yangtze Block;
(14) Songpan-Ganzi Metallogenic Province (II-14)
III-70 Songpan-Mado Late Paleozoic Gold, Silver, Lead, Zinc, and Rare Metal Mineralization Belt;
III-71 Qaidam-Suyuan Mesozoic and Cenozoic Gold-Copper-Zinc-Rare Earth Mineralization Belt;
III-72: The Eastern Tibet–Lazhulong Cenozoic Copper-Molybdenum-Gold-Iron-Salt Mineralization Belt;
(15) Sanjiang Metallogenic Province (II-15)
III-73 White Jade—The Zhongdian Indosinian, Yanshan, and Xishan Period Silver-Lead-Zinc-Copper-Gold-Tin Mineralization Belt;
III-74 The Mesozoic and Cenozoic Copper-Molybdenum-Silver-Gold-Lead-Zinc Mineralization Belt in the Northern Section of the Sanjiang Region;
III-75 Dali-Jinggu Mesozoic and Cenozoic Copper-Zinc-Molybdenum-Gold-Lead-Zinc Mineralization Belt;
III-76 Lancang-Baoshan Late Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic Lead-Zinc-Silver-Copper-Gold-Iron Mineralization Belt;
III-77 Ximeng Mesozoic and Cenozoic Tin-Tungsten-Rare Earth Mineralization Area;
(16) Gangdise-West Kunlun Metallogenic Province (Ⅱ-16)
III-78 Qiangtang-Chamdo Cenozoic Copper-Molybdenum-Gold-Silver-Salt Mineralization Belt;
III-79 Gangdise-Nianqing Tanggula Mesozoic and Cenozoic Copper-Molybdenum-Gold-Iron-Salt Mineralization Belt;
III-80: The Himalayan-Hisshan Metallogenic Belt of Mercury, Antimony, Gold, and Silver in Southern Tibet;

The country is uniformly divided into five metallogenic domains, 16 metallogenic provinces, and 80 metallogenic districts (belts).