Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Introduction

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Geology and Tectonic Settings of China's Mineral Deposits

Abstract

In this introductory chapter an overview of the status of the P. R. China in terms of mineral resources is briefly reviewed, based on published data from the USGS Mineral Year Book, from which it is of great interest to note that China has become the world's largest gold producer for the first time overtaking South Africa. This is followed by historical notes on metal mining, which can be traced with certainty as far back as 8000 years before present. Geological time scales providing local names and usage of terms (e.g. Indosinian, Yanshanian, Sinian, Variscan), commonly used by Chinese geologists. The topics treated in the next seven chapter are also outlined, ending with an explanation of definitions and terms used in this book.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Acta Geologica Sinica Special Issue I (2000a) Papers on geology of China for the 31st IGC, Rio de Janeiro, 2000, 74(2)

    Google Scholar 

  • Acta Geologica Sinica Special Issue II (2000b) Papers on geology of China for the 31st IGC, Rio de Janeiro, 2000, 74(3)

    Google Scholar 

  • Acta Geologica Sinica Special Issue I (2004a) Papers on geology of China for the 32nd IGC, Florence, Italy, 2004, 78(1)

    Google Scholar 

  • Acta Geologica Sinica Special Issue II (2004b) Papers on geology of China for the 32nd IGC, Florence, Italy, 2004, 78(2)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brock RW (1928) China and its mineral resources. Econ Geol 23:209–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G (1988) Tectonics of China. Pergamon Press, Oxford, p 250

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen YC, Tao WP (1995) Metallic and nonmetallic minerals in China. Episodes 18:17–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen ZB, Zhang WX, Liu XH, Zhao FM, Du LT, Huang SJ, Chen ZY, Jiang YY (1996) Galaxy of research achievements of uranium geology of China, Volume Dedicated to the 30th International Geological Congress, Bureau of Geology, China National Nuclear Corporation, Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology, Open laboratory of Nuclear Energy Resource Research, Uranium geology Branch of China Nuclear Society, p 393

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng YQ (2000) Concise regional geology of China. Geological Publishing House, Beijing, p 430

    Google Scholar 

  • China Geological Survey (2004) Geological map of the People’s Republic of China—1:2,500,00 explanatory notes. SinoMaps Press, Beijing, p 198

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooke DR, Hollings P, Walshe JL (2005) A special issue devoted to giant porphyry deposits. Econ Geol 100(5):801–818

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox D, Singer DA (eds) (1986) Mineral deposits models. US Geol Surv Bull 1693, p 379

    Google Scholar 

  • Editorial Committee of the mineral deposits of China (1990) Mineral deposits of China, vol 1. Geological Publishing House, Beijing, p 355

    Google Scholar 

  • Editorial Committee of the mineral deposits of China (1992) Mineral deposits of China, vol 2. Geological Publishing House, Beijing, p 349

    Google Scholar 

  • Editorial Committee of the mineral deposits of China (1995) Mineral deposits of China, vol 3. Geological Publishing House, Beijing, p 343

    Google Scholar 

  • Editorial Committee of the mineral deposits of China (1996a) Mineral deposits of China, vol 4. Geological Publishing House, Beijing, p 288

    Google Scholar 

  • Editorial Committee of the mineral deposits of China (1996b) Mineral deposits of China, vol 5. Geological Publishing House, Beijing, p 228

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng CY, Zhang DQ (2004) Cobalt deposits of China: classification, distribution and major advances. Acta Geol Sin 78:352–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Gernet J (1999) A history of Chinese civilization. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p 801

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper D, Cambon M, Mayhew B, Gaskell K, Miller K, Huhti T, Org M (2002) China. Lonely Planet, Melbourne, p 974

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendrix MS, Davis GA (eds) (2001) Palaeozoic and Mesozoic tectonic evolution of central Asia: from continental assembly to intracontinental deformation. Geol Soc Am Mem 194:447

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou ZQ, Cook NJ (2009) Metallogenesis of the Tibetan collisional orogen: a review and introduction to the special issue. Ore Geol Rev 36:2–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu RZ, Liu JM, Zhai MG (eds) (2011) Mineral resources science in China: a roadmap to 2050. Science Press, Springer, Beijing, p 93

    Google Scholar 

  • JORC Code (2004) Australasia code for reporting of exploration results, mineral resources and ore reserves. Austral Inst Min Metall, Aust Inst Geosci, Min Council Aust, p 17

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawler A (2009) Beyond the yellow river: how China became China. Science 325:930–943

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li YW (ed) (1992) Mineral resources of China. China Building Materials Industrial Press, China, p 390

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu YK (1996) Geology and mineral resources. In: Proceedings of Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, International Academic Publishers, Beijing, p 297

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma L, Ding XH, Fan BX (1996) Geological map of China. Geological Publishing House, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma L (2002) Geological Atlas of China. Geological Publishing House, Beijing, p 348

    Google Scholar 

  • Malpas J, Fletcher CJN, Ali JR, Aitchison JC (2004) Aspects of the tectonic evolution of China. Geological Society, London, Sp Publ 226, p 362

    Google Scholar 

  • Mao JW, Xie GQ, Pirajno F, Ye HS, Wang YB, Li YF, Xiang JF, Zhao HJ (2010) Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous granitoid magmatism in Eastern Qinling, central-eastern China: SHRIMP zircon U-Pb ages and tectonic implications. Aust J Earth Sci 57(1):51–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mao JW, Pirajno F, Cook N (eds) (2011) Mesozoic metallogeny in East China and corresponding geodynamic settings—an introduction to the special issue. Ore Geol Rev 43(1):1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore B (ed) (2000) The Australian Oxford dictionary. Oxford Univ Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Nie FJ (1997) An overview of the gold resources of China. Int Geol Rev 39:55–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren JS, Jiang CF, Zhang ZK, Qin D (1987) Geotectonic evolution of China. Science Press, Beijing, Springer, Berlin, p 203

    Google Scholar 

  • Sengör AMC, Natal’in BA (1996) Paleotectonics of Asia: fragments of synthesis. In: Yin A, Harrison TM (eds) The tectonic evolution of Asia. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 486–640

    Google Scholar 

  • Sillitoe RH (1997) Characteristics and controls of the largest porphyry copper-gold and epithermal gold deposits in the circum-Pacific region. Aust J Earth Sci 44:373–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang Z, Yan H, Jiao J, Li X (2006) Classification of magmatic sulphide desposits in China and mineralization of small intrusions. Acta Geol Sin 80:412–419

    Google Scholar 

  • Trumbull RB, Morteani G, Li ZL, Bai HS (1992) Gold metallogeny in the Sino-Korean platform. Springer, Berlin, p 202

    Google Scholar 

  • Tse PK (2009) The mineral industry of China. In: USGS 2008 Minerals Yearbook, China Advance Release, US Dept Int, p 9.1–9.26

    Google Scholar 

  • Tse PK (2010) The mineral industry of China. In: USGS 2010 Minerals Yearbook, China Advance Release, US Dept Int, Revised Feb 2012, p 9.1–9.29

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang YP, Mo XY (1995) Basic characteristics of active tectonics in China. Episodes 18:73–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Zhang SH, He GQ (2005) China and Mongolia. In: Selley RC, Cocks LRM, Plimer IR (eds) Encyclopedia of geology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 345–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilde SA, Cawood PA, Wang KY, Nemchin A, Zhao GC (2004) Determining Precambrian crustal evolution in China: a case-study from Wutaishan, Shanxi Province, demonstrating the application of precise SHRIMP U-Pb geochronology. Geological Society, London, Spec Publ 226, pp 5–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Windley BF, Maruyama, S, Xiao WJ (2010) Delamination/thinning of subcontinental lithospheric mantle under eastern China: the role of water and multiple subduction. Am J Sci 310:1250–1293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J (1993) Antimony vein deposits of China. Ore Geol Rev 8:213–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang ZY, Cheng YQ, Wang HZ (1986) The geology of China. Clarendon Press, Oxford, p 303

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin A, Harrison M (eds) (1996) The tectonic evolution of Asia. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p 666

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhai Y, Deng J (1996) Outline of the mineral resources of China and their tectonic setting. Aust J Earth Sci 43:673–685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhai MG, Windley BF, Kusky TM, Meng QR (eds) (2007) Mesozoic sub-continental lihtospheric thinning under eastern Asia. Geological Society, London, Sp Publ 290, p 352

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang SX (2009) Geological formation names of China (1866–2000), vol 1 and 2. Springer, Dordrecht, p 1537

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou TH, Goldfarb RJ, Phillips GN (2002a) Tectonics and distribution of gold deposits in China—an overview. Miner Depos 37:249–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou MF, Yang ZX, Song XY, Keays RR, Lesher CM (2002b) Magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) sulphide deposits in China. In: Cabri LJ (ed) The geology, geochemistry, mineralogy and mineral beneficiation of platinum-group elements, Volume Can Inst Min Metall Pet, Montreal Special Volume 54. pp 619–636

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou MF, Yang ZX, Song XY, Keays RR, Lesher CM (2002c) Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide deposits in China. Chem Geol 209:233–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu X (ed) (2007) Mineral facts of China. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 776

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of Western Australia Centre for Exploration Targeting, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

    Franco Pirajno

Authors
  1. Franco Pirajno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Franco Pirajno .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Pirajno, F. (2013). Introduction. In: The Geology and Tectonic Settings of China's Mineral Deposits. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4444-8_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation