A Review of Carboniferous-Triassic Tectonic-Magmatic Evolution of Luang Prabang–Loei Metallogenic Belt in Laos and Thailand and Implications for Gold–Copper Mineralization

The Luang Prabang (Laos)–Loei (Thailand) metallogenic belt is located on the northwestern margin of the Indochina Block. It is one of the most important gold–copper metallogenic belts in Southeast Asia. This region underwent tectonic and magmatic evolution in the late Paleozoic-Mesozoic period withi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Linnan Guo, Khin Zaw, Shusheng Liu, Yongfei Yang, Fei Nie, Songyang Wu, Meifeng Shi, Chunmei Huang, Xiangfei Zhang, Huimin Liang, Xiangting Zeng, Siwei Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Geosciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/2/68
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850082433365442560
author Linnan Guo
Khin Zaw
Shusheng Liu
Yongfei Yang
Fei Nie
Songyang Wu
Meifeng Shi
Chunmei Huang
Xiangfei Zhang
Huimin Liang
Xiangting Zeng
Siwei Xu
author_facet Linnan Guo
Khin Zaw
Shusheng Liu
Yongfei Yang
Fei Nie
Songyang Wu
Meifeng Shi
Chunmei Huang
Xiangfei Zhang
Huimin Liang
Xiangting Zeng
Siwei Xu
author_sort Linnan Guo
collection DOAJ
description The Luang Prabang (Laos)–Loei (Thailand) metallogenic belt is located on the northwestern margin of the Indochina Block. It is one of the most important gold–copper metallogenic belts in Southeast Asia. This region underwent tectonic and magmatic evolution in the late Paleozoic-Mesozoic period within the Paleo-Tethys realm, resulting in complex metallogenic processes. Consequently, epithermal Au-Ag, porphyry-skarn Au-Cu, and hydrothermal vein-type gold deposits were formed. However, the genetic type of the vein-type gold deposits is still not fully understood. The relationship between the three types of gold deposits and the regional tectonic evolution has not been summarized up until today. We summarize the previous mineralization characteristics and exploration data of commonly known deposits and combine them with new evidence and ore deposit insights from our recent studies on the source and evolution of ore-forming fluids in the region. We confirm that the hydrothermal vein-type gold deposits in the belt are typical orogenic gold deposits. Based on previous regional tectonic-magmatic-metallogenic studies, metallogenic characteristics, and temporal and spatial distribution of three types of typical gold–copper deposits in the belt, we synthesize and establish a regional metallogenic model related to the subduction-closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and subsequent continental–continental collision process, resulting in the formation of epithermal Au-Ag during the late Permian-early Triassic subduction, porphyry-skarn Au-Cu in the early–middle Triassic period during the closure of the ocean, and orogenic Au during the late Triassic collision. Since there are few reports on the geochemical characteristics of gold–copper deposits and their related magmatic rocks, the potential for gold–copper mineralization and their links to the magmatic rocks in the belt still needs further study.
format Article
id doaj-art-ca912f61e30f47be8bb9b324cb0b7665
institution DOAJ
issn 2076-3263
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Geosciences
spelling doaj-art-ca912f61e30f47be8bb9b324cb0b76652025-08-20T02:44:32ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632025-02-011526810.3390/geosciences15020068A Review of Carboniferous-Triassic Tectonic-Magmatic Evolution of Luang Prabang–Loei Metallogenic Belt in Laos and Thailand and Implications for Gold–Copper MineralizationLinnan Guo0Khin Zaw1Shusheng Liu2Yongfei Yang3Fei Nie4Songyang Wu5Meifeng Shi6Chunmei Huang7Xiangfei Zhang8Huimin Liang9Xiangting Zeng10Siwei Xu11Chengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610081, ChinaCODES Centre of Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, AustraliaChengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610081, ChinaResearch Center of Applied Geology, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610036, ChinaChengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610081, ChinaChengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610081, ChinaThe Luang Prabang (Laos)–Loei (Thailand) metallogenic belt is located on the northwestern margin of the Indochina Block. It is one of the most important gold–copper metallogenic belts in Southeast Asia. This region underwent tectonic and magmatic evolution in the late Paleozoic-Mesozoic period within the Paleo-Tethys realm, resulting in complex metallogenic processes. Consequently, epithermal Au-Ag, porphyry-skarn Au-Cu, and hydrothermal vein-type gold deposits were formed. However, the genetic type of the vein-type gold deposits is still not fully understood. The relationship between the three types of gold deposits and the regional tectonic evolution has not been summarized up until today. We summarize the previous mineralization characteristics and exploration data of commonly known deposits and combine them with new evidence and ore deposit insights from our recent studies on the source and evolution of ore-forming fluids in the region. We confirm that the hydrothermal vein-type gold deposits in the belt are typical orogenic gold deposits. Based on previous regional tectonic-magmatic-metallogenic studies, metallogenic characteristics, and temporal and spatial distribution of three types of typical gold–copper deposits in the belt, we synthesize and establish a regional metallogenic model related to the subduction-closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and subsequent continental–continental collision process, resulting in the formation of epithermal Au-Ag during the late Permian-early Triassic subduction, porphyry-skarn Au-Cu in the early–middle Triassic period during the closure of the ocean, and orogenic Au during the late Triassic collision. Since there are few reports on the geochemical characteristics of gold–copper deposits and their related magmatic rocks, the potential for gold–copper mineralization and their links to the magmatic rocks in the belt still needs further study.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/2/68Paleo-Tethys tectonic-magmatic evolutionLuang Prabang–Loei metallogenic beltgold–copper metallogenesisorogenic gold deposits
spellingShingle Linnan Guo
Khin Zaw
Shusheng Liu
Yongfei Yang
Fei Nie
Songyang Wu
Meifeng Shi
Chunmei Huang
Xiangfei Zhang
Huimin Liang
Xiangting Zeng
Siwei Xu
A Review of Carboniferous-Triassic Tectonic-Magmatic Evolution of Luang Prabang–Loei Metallogenic Belt in Laos and Thailand and Implications for Gold–Copper Mineralization
Geosciences
Paleo-Tethys tectonic-magmatic evolution
Luang Prabang–Loei metallogenic belt
gold–copper metallogenesis
orogenic gold deposits
title A Review of Carboniferous-Triassic Tectonic-Magmatic Evolution of Luang Prabang–Loei Metallogenic Belt in Laos and Thailand and Implications for Gold–Copper Mineralization
title_full A Review of Carboniferous-Triassic Tectonic-Magmatic Evolution of Luang Prabang–Loei Metallogenic Belt in Laos and Thailand and Implications for Gold–Copper Mineralization
title_fullStr A Review of Carboniferous-Triassic Tectonic-Magmatic Evolution of Luang Prabang–Loei Metallogenic Belt in Laos and Thailand and Implications for Gold–Copper Mineralization
title_full_unstemmed A Review of Carboniferous-Triassic Tectonic-Magmatic Evolution of Luang Prabang–Loei Metallogenic Belt in Laos and Thailand and Implications for Gold–Copper Mineralization
title_short A Review of Carboniferous-Triassic Tectonic-Magmatic Evolution of Luang Prabang–Loei Metallogenic Belt in Laos and Thailand and Implications for Gold–Copper Mineralization
title_sort review of carboniferous triassic tectonic magmatic evolution of luang prabang loei metallogenic belt in laos and thailand and implications for gold copper mineralization
topic Paleo-Tethys tectonic-magmatic evolution
Luang Prabang–Loei metallogenic belt
gold–copper metallogenesis
orogenic gold deposits
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/2/68
work_keys_str_mv AT linnanguo areviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT khinzaw areviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT shushengliu areviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT yongfeiyang areviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT feinie areviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT songyangwu areviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT meifengshi areviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT chunmeihuang areviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT xiangfeizhang areviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT huiminliang areviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT xiangtingzeng areviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT siweixu areviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT linnanguo reviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT khinzaw reviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT shushengliu reviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT yongfeiyang reviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT feinie reviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT songyangwu reviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT meifengshi reviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT chunmeihuang reviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT xiangfeizhang reviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT huiminliang reviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT xiangtingzeng reviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization
AT siweixu reviewofcarboniferoustriassictectonicmagmaticevolutionofluangprabangloeimetallogenicbeltinlaosandthailandandimplicationsforgoldcoppermineralization