Geological characteristics, deposit type, and metallogenic epoch of the Katebasu gold–copper deposit in western Tianshan

The Katebasu gold (Au)–copper (Cu) deposit is one of the extra large‐scale Au–Cu deposits discovered in the western Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang in the recent years. The geological characteristics of the deposit have not been systematically studied and summarized, and there is considerable debate about the deposit type and metallogenic epoch. In this paper, we studied the Katebasu Au–Cu deposit orebody production characteristics, ore mineral composition, structural tectonic, surrounding rock alteration, and metallogenic phases. We identified the deposit types, presented a new discussion on the metallogenic epoch combined with the study of garnet Sm–Nd chronology, and indicate that the deposit type is a skarn type–fracture zone alteration rock type. The skarn‐type Cu–Au deposit is mainly distributed in the fault fracture zone and skarn in the contact zone between the rock mass and marble strata. The fracture zone alteration‐type Au–Cu deposit is mainly distributed in the monzonite granite fracture zone. The mining area has two phases of metallogenesis, which are related to monzonite granite and diorite dykes, respectively, and have a certain degree of superposition in space. The early metallogenesis occurred at 334.3 ± 6.7 Ma. The above results provide direction for regional prospecting.