Epithermal Au and polymetallic mineralization in the Tulasu Basin, western Tianshan, NW China: Potential for the discovery of porphyry CuAu deposits

•The Tulasu basin in western Tianshan was part of a magmatic arc during late Paleozoic period.•The AuCu-polymetallic mineralization in the Tulasu basin is related to the late Paleozoic arc magmatism.•There is potential to find porphyry deposits in addition to epithermal deposits in the Tulasu basin.•Tawuerbieke, Jingxi–Yelmend and Kexiaxi are promising targets for porphyry CuAu exploration.

The Tulasu basin is an important epithermal Au mineralization district in western Tianshan in northwestern China. Geochemical and geochronological studies of the volcanic host rocks (the Dahalajunshan Formation) and associated intrusive rocks, particularly the enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements and depletion of high field strength elements, suggest that the Tulasu basin was located in a magmatic-arc setting from Late-Devonian to Early-Carboniferous, associated with the southward subduction of the North Tianshan Ocean beneath the Kazakhstan–Yili plate. Geologic and geochemical characteristics of the AuCu–polymetallic deposits in the Tulasu basin suggest that the mineralization is related to the Late-Devonian to Early-Carboniferous arc magmatism, and is mainly of epithermal nature, including both the adularia–sericite type (Axi, Tawuerbieke and Tabei) and alunite–kaolinite or acid–sulfate type (Jingxi–Yelmend and Tieliekesayi). However, some evidence of porphyry-type mineralization has also been found, including the presence of mineralized porphyry enclaves in volcanic rocks hosting the Tawuerbieke Au prospect, and the development of porphyry-style Cu mineralization overprinted by vein-type mineralization at Kexiaxi. Considering the magmatic-arc setting that is favorable for both epithermal and porphyry types of mineralization, and the development of such mineralization systems in other parts of western Tianshan and the Altaid Belt (e.g., Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan), we suggest that major porphyry CuAu deposits may have been developed in the Tulasu basin, probably beneath or adjacent to known epithermal Au mineralization.