Abstract: The rapid economic development in recent years has led to the increased demand for leadzinc mineral resources, putting huge pressure on Chinas leadzinc reserves. Therefore, a nationwide comprehensive assessment on the status of leadzinc geological survey and mineral prospecting is much needed to aid future resource management in areas of resource prediction, identification, deployment and rational utilization. Here, we performed comprehensive analyses on the metallogenic, geological and spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of leadzinc deposits in 29 provinces, using the classification scheme developed in the national key mineral resources potential assessment project. We divided the prediction types of leadzinc deposits into nine types according to traditional ore deposit model, namely the stratabound carbonate (MVT), carbonate to fine clastic rock (SEDEX), glutenite, sedimentaryreworked, continental volcanic, marine volcanic, magmatic hydrothermal, skarn and weathering crust types. We also analyzed the prediction types and metallogenic epoch of leadzinc deposits in key metallogenic belts, documented the regional prediction factors of main leadzinc deposits in each metallogenic belt, and established the main regional prediction models for leadzinc deposits. Incorporating tectofacies, metallogenic belts and forecasting area distribution maps of China, we identified 15 metallogenic provinces and 47 levelⅢ leadzinc metallogenic zones, where mineral resource potential evaluation and prediction were performed. Our work provided a framework for future leadzinc prospecting.

Key words:  leadzinc deposits, metallogenic zone, mineral prediction type, prediction model, mineral resource potential assessment