Ore-controling structures and ore prospecting in the Liwu copper orefield in western Sichuan

The Liwu copper orefield is hosted in the domal structures of the Jianglang metamorphic core complexes on the western margin of the Yangtze platform, where seven medium-to small-sized copper deposits such as the Liwu and Heiniudong copper deposits have been delineated up to now. The emplacement,occurrence and sizes of copper orebodies are controlled by the structural associations composed of the metamorphic core complex domes and associated ductile shear-decollement zones on the basis of the integration of geology, ore-controling factors and orecontroling structures in the orefield. The copper deposits commonly occur as vein, lenticular and stratoid deposits filled-replaced along the ductile shear-decollement zones of the metamorphic core complex domes where larger metallogenic and accommodation spaces are favourable for the formation of larger-sized copper deposits. Therefore, the ductile shear-decollement zones of the metamorphic core complex domes are believed to be the main orecontroling structures in the Liwu copper orefield. Future targets for the further prospecting and exploration should be concentrated in the Liwu copper orefield and its surrounding areas similar to the Jianglang metamorphic core complex domes on the western margin of the Yangtze platform.