Tectonophysical analysis of environments for localization of ore fields and deposits in fault zones of the earth's crust

On the basis of analysis of materials obtained in studying the inner structure of natural faults by geological and experimental methods, main types of structural environments for localization of ore fields have been distinguished. They are represented as a tectonophysical classification of a group of structures of ore fields and deposits related to fault zones of the earth's crust. Structural subgroups of the new classification are determined by three main disjunctive stages in the fault development-the early stage, the late stage, and the stage of complete destruction. The types of ore fields and deposits correspond to linear and isometric segments of faults that differ in structure and evolve at each of the stages distinguished. Subtypes reflect more characteristic particular structural environments available in the fault zone, the main of which, being widely occurring, were represented in many previous classifications. Hence, the new classification combines succession features with objectivity of distinguishing main units since it is underlain by key regularities in the development of the inner structure of ore-controlling fault zones.