Distribution of metallogenic zones of the Caucasus region originated as a result of the subduction of the lithosphere of the Tethys Paleo-Oceanic plate under the East-European Paleo-Continental plate

Abstract

On the assumption that the 2D heat flux anomaly in the territory of Caucasus is provided by the convective heat transfer from the mantle wedge, the angle and velocity of subduction of the paleo-lithospheric plate Tethys (Mediterranean and East Black Sea paleo-lithospheric plates) under the East-European paleo-lithospheric plate (Caucasus region) are estimated numerically. Within the framework of the geodynamical model constructed the horizontal extent of the 2D heat flux anomaly observed in the rear of the Caucasus mountain belt corresponds to subduction velocity of ~ 40 mm per year which is close to that observed with the help of geodetic means. The upwelling convective mantle flows can transport the mantle calc-alkali magmas (containing metals) to the subsurface Earth’s crust layers, thus making the ore deposits to be attached to the upper lithospheric locations above the ascending flows of the Karig-Richter vortices.