Prospects of the mafic-ultramafic belt of the Nuratau Mountains for platinoids (Uzbekistan)

Abstract

Mafic-ultramafic belts, tracing zones of deep faults, and suture zones have been discovered in Uzbekistan. Within their limits, in the mountains of Sultanuvais, Bukantau, Tamdytau, Nurata, and Chakylkalyan, studies have been conducted for the detection of platinum group metals (PGM). The article discusses the prospects of the mafic-ultramafic belt (intrusive massif) of the Nuratau mountains for platinoids. It is located on Yuzhno-Gissarsky and Kuldzhuktau-Zirabulak-Karatyubinsky and includes intrusions of the Kyzylturuk ore poly, etc. The host rocks are represented by metamorphosed Devonian formations (siliceous shales, siltstones, sandstones). The Zarafshan-Turkestan mafic-ultramafic belt (MUB) is a core belt in the Southern Tien Shan, which is traced intermittently for a distance of about 1000 km. From the north, it borders the Turkestan-Alai MUB, in the South Kuldzhuktau-Zirabulak-Karatyubinsky MUB (along the South Auminzatau and Zarafshan deep fault). The belt covers the Malguzar Mountains, the western end of the Turkestan ridge, most of the North Nuratinsky ridge, the South Nuratinsky Ridge, and the Kyzylkum hills: Sangruntau (southern part), Aristantau, Tamdytau (northern half), Auminzatau and Beltau. In the eastern direction, it can be traced to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, in the western direction it stretches up to the Ural-Tien Shan transverse fault. After which it is planned to move to the Mugodzhar and Ural-Tobolsk zones, which form a single Mugodzhar-Alai zone of the Ural-Tien Shan belt.