Abstract:Objectives: The Western Kunlun—Karakorum Orogenic Belt (WKOB), located the most northern margin of the Qinghia—Xizang(Tibet) Plateau, underwent the timeintegrated Tethys evolution process and exhibits distinct rock packages and tectonic signatures. Particularly, several key metallogenic series were formed during its long evolution history. The aims of this study include ① having a sketch on its texture, rock packages and tectonic evolution process and ② decoding the coupling between its tectonic evolution and domino mineralization effect. Methods: Synthesizing the recent studies on the regional geology, deposit exploration results. Results: The WKOB could be divided into four main units, i.e., the Northern Kunlun terrane (NKT), the Southern Kunlun terrance (SKT), the Mazar—Tianshuihai terrane (MZTT) and the Karakorum terrane (KAT). The NKT, as a member of the Tarim Precambrian basement, had undergone the assemblage and breakup of the late Paleoproterozoic Columbia and the early Neoproterozoic Rodinia supercontinents. The MZTT is composed by the Neoarchean metamorphic bimodal volcanic sequences (the basement) in southern Tashikorgan and the Nanhuaian clastic sedimentary sequences (the cover sequences). It shows significant affinity with the Yangtze and, together with the Qaidam, Qilian and Northern Althyn terranes, could be continental fragments drifted from Yangtze during the breakup of the Rodinia. The amphibolite to granulite facies metamorphic volcanic—sedimentary sequences in SKT deposited during late Sinian to early Ordovician during the southward subdution of the ProtoTethys Ocean under the MZTT. They exhibit features of typical accretionary complex composing of forearc accretion sequences, intraocean arc, arc and ophiolites. The ProtoTethys Ocean closed at ca. 440~430 Ma and this process induced the MZTT, Qaidam, Qilian and Northern Qinling terranes docking at the northern margin of the Eastern Gondwana. The opening of the PaleoTethys Ocean took place at early Carboniferous as demonstrated by the Carboniferous rifting volcanic rocks distributed between NKT and SKT. The initial northward subduction of the PaleoTethys Ocean along the Qiaoertian zone (to south of MZTT) began at ca. 260 Ma according to the voluminous 260~200 Ma Itype granites distributed along the MZTT and even in SKT. In line with the metamorphic ages of the granulitefacies metamorphic rocks we deduce that the closure of the PaleoTethys Ocean took place at 200~180 Ma, indicating the final formation the Pangea. This conclusion was also evidenced by the Jurassic—Cretaceous molass in Pamir and the MZTT. During the Meso—NeoTethys evolution stage, the northward subduction along the Bangong —Nujjiang suture zone induced voluminous Jurassic—Cretaceous arc——signature magmatism and the coeval rifting basins in MZTT. The four stages of magmatism in WKOB were well coupled with the four main tectonic evolution stages. The mineralization of the WKOB was intimately related to its tectonic evolution. Among those large—super large deposits, the supper large iron deposits in Tashikorgan was genetically related the evolution of the early Paleozoic huge accretionary complex. In PaleoTethys evolution process, the northward subdction of the PaleoTethys Ocean along the Qiaoertianshan under the MZTT, coevally with the Triassic granites, voluminous pegmatite emplaced at this time, which contains super large rare metal deposits. The Meso—NeoTethys evolution was intimately related to the formation of the supper large lead—zinc deposits. Conclusions:The mineralization in WKOB is intimately related to the Tethys evolution. Integrating the regional geology, geophysical and geochemical fields, we suggest that the Tianshuihai terrane is a potential area for prospecting nonferrous deposits.