The Western Segment of the Precambrian Suture Between the Yangtze and Cathaysia Blocks: Constraints From Magnetotelluric Data in Southwest China

The western segment of the suture zone between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks, which is most important tectonic boundary related to formation rifting south China, enigmatic not fully understood due sporadic exposure Precambrian strata ophiolites. Three-dimensional electrical resistivity models derived from inversion magnetotelluric data identified a lithospheric-scale conductive extending northeastwards beneath Youjiang basin, was interpreted as zone. high conductivity coincident magnetic anomalies closely match location Carlin-type gold deposits, can be explained by fluids gold-bearing sulfide minerals in fossil Inconsistent with southeast-dip resolved at eastern (the Jiangshan-Shaoxing fault) earlier study, slightly north-dipping geometry implies reactivation northward subduction closure Paleo-Tethys Ocean.