A number of large and medium-scale gold and copper deposits have been found in northern Xinjiang, including the Axi gold deposit, Lamasu copper deposit, Ashley copper (zinc) deposit, Salbulak gold deposit, and Kalatongke copper-nickel deposit. In this paper, the authors present a study and comparison of the geological and geochemical characteristics of these deposits, and discuss their ore-forming environments and ore genesis. It is suggested that these deposits belong to five metallogenetic series, i. e. , (1) volcanic-hosted massive sulphide type copper-gold-polymetallic deposits (e. g. , Ashley); (2) epithermal type gold deposits (e. g. , Axi and Kuoerzhenkuola); (3) copper-nickel sulphide type deposits (e.g. , Karatungke); (4) structural-altered rock type gold deposits related to some ductile shear zones (e. g. , Sal'bulak, Saidu and Dolanasayi); (5) skarn-type copper (molybdenum) deposits or copper (molybdenum) deposits related to skarn (e. g. , Lamasu ). On the basis of geochronological data from the studied deposits, the mineralization took place in mainly two peak stages or epochs; the early period of the Late Paleozoic (380-340 Ma) and the middle period of the Late Palaeozoic (310~270 Ma), and these ore deposits occur only in several small metallogenetic areas. A detailed regional mineralization model is proposed. The authors suggest that these deposits have multiple ore sources, complex ore genesis and polymetallogenetic epochs or stages, according to their sulphur and lead isotopic compositions and REE distribution patterns.