Major Advances in the Study of the Precambrian Geology and Metallogenesis of the North China Craton: A Review

The North China Craton (NCC) is one of the most ancient cratons in the world and records a complex geological evolution since the early Precambrian. In addition to recording major geological events similar to those of other cratons, the NCC also exhibits some unique features such as multistage cratonization (late Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic) and long-term rifting during the Meso–Neoproterozoic. The NCC thus provides one of the best examples to address secular changes in geological history and metallogenic epochs in the evolving Earth. We summarize the major geological events and metallogenic systems of the NCC, so that the evolutionary patterns of the NCC can provide a better understanding of the Precambrian NCC and facilitate comparison of the NCC with other ancient continental blocks globally. The NCC experienced three major tectonic cycles during the Precambrian: (1) Neoarchaean crustal growth and stabilization; (2) Palaeoproterozoic rifting–subduction–accretion–collision with imprints of the Great Oxidation Event and (3) Meso–Neoproterozoic multi-stage rifting. A transition from primitive- to modern-style plate tectonics occurred during the early Precambrian to late Proterozoic and is evidenced by the major geological events. Accompanying these major geological events, three major metallogenic systems are identified: (1) the Archaean banded iron formation system; (2) Palaeoproterozoic Cu–Pb–Zn and Mg–B systems and (3) a Mesoproterozoic rare earth element–Fe–Pb–Zn system. The ore-deposit types in each of these metallogenic systems show distinct characteristics and tectonic affinities.