Metallogenic specialization of supercontinent cycles: A case study of silver deposits

Abstract

The distribution of integrated resources of large and superlarge mineral deposits (LSLDs) of silver, where the main part of industrially recoverable silver reserves is concentrated, is compared with the existing model of supercontinent cyclicity over the geological history of the Earth. It is found that each supercontinent cycle (Kenoran, Columbian, Rodinian, Pangean, and Amasian) is particularly expressed in the silver metallogeny. The significant intercycle variations in the numbers of LSLDs, diversity of types of these deposits, accumulated resources, mean tenors of silver in ores, and some other numerically expressible characteristics are revealed. These variations correlate with a number of geohistorical changes in the conditions under which endogenous and exogenous geological processes run.