Application of multifractal modeling technique in systematic geochemical stream sediment survey to identify copper anomalies: A case study from Ahar,Azarbaijan, Northwest Iran

This research is based on the application of stream sediments to mineral exploration. Identifying the geochemical anomalies from background is a fundamental task in exploration geochemistry. This paper applied the element concentration–area (C–A) model, to separating the geochemical anomalies from background based on a fractal approach and for the compilation of geochemical mapping from stream sediment samples (n = 620) of the Ahar region (Iran), where some Cu mineralization occurs. Comparisons of the known copper occurrences against the anomalous area created using thresholds from C–A method illustrate these hits. All of known Cu mineralizations and moreover defines two extra Cu anomaly districts. Additional sampling (n = 186) around new Cu anomaly confirms this anomaly within the district.     

Application of classical statistics,logratio transformation and multifractal approaches to delineate geochemical anomalies in the Zarshuran gold district,NW Iran

The aim of this study is to discriminate the geochemical anomalies in the Zarshuran district, NW Iran, using different geochemical methods and present a more useful method where anomalous areas better coincide with the geological features. For this methods of delineation, geochemical anomalies were compared using geological features, occupied area of anomalies respect to the total study area, and field observations. Frequency based analysis such as mean + 2SDEV and median + 2MAD and concentration–area (C–A) multifractal methods were adopted for estimating thresholds and separating geochemical anomalies in uni-element data, as well as multi-element ones. Threshold values obtained from mean + 2SDEV and median + 2MAD, from original point geochemical data, are smaller than those of the pixel values; this may be due to the stronger variance of pixel values. In addition, the C–A multifractal method, as a useful tool to identify weak geochemical anomalies, was applied for defining the threshold values. Robust principal component analysis (RPCA) methods coupled with isometric log-ratio (ilr) transformations were utilized to open the geochemical data in order to reduce the effects of the data closure problem. The 20-quantile intervals decomposed anomaly maps from PC1 were obtained from the classical PCA, robust PCA showed that the upper quintile (>80 quintile) of classical PCA covers a larger area (32.54%) than the robust PCA (18.16%), and as a result, the robust PCA displayed smaller areas and has good spatial associations with outcrops of hydrothermal Au–As mineralization in this area; coincident with the known Zarshuran former mining area (ore field), Zarshuran unit, Ghaldagh silicified limestone occurrence and newly explored works confirmed by field observation. Although the C–A model shows a smaller area (8.06%), this anomaly location is limited to the Zarshuran old mining area with no new exploration targets. Comparison of the models indicates that the RPCA model is not only beneficial to further Au exploration in the study area, but also provides a meaningful geological study to the community of the compositional data analysis.     

Application of singularity mapping technique to identify local anomalies using stream sediment geochemical data,a case study from Gangdese,Tibet, western China

Identifying geochemical anomalies from background is a fundamental task in exploration geochemistry. The Gangdese mineral district in western China has complex geochemical surface expression due to complex geological background and was chosen as a study area for recognition of the spatial distribution of geochemical elements and separating anomalies from background using stream sediment geochemical data. The results illustrate that weak anomalies are hidden within the strong variance of background and are not well identified by means of inverse distance weighted; neither are they clearly identified by the C–A method if this method is applied to the whole study area. On the other hand, singularity values provide new information that complements use of original concentration values and can quantify the properties of enrichment and depletion caused by mineralization. In general, producing maps of singularities can help to identify relatively weak metal concentration anomalies in complex geological regions. Application of singularity mapping technique in Gangdese district shows local anomalies of Cu are not only directly associated with known deposits in the central part of the study area, but also with E–W and N–E oriented faults in the north of the study area. Both types of anomalies should be further investigated for undiscovered Cu mineral deposits.     

Comparison of U-spatial statistics and C–A fractal models for delineating anomaly patterns of porphyry-type Cu geochemical signatures in the Varzaghan district,NW Iran

The delineation of populations of stream sediment geochemical data is a crucial task in regional exploration surveys. In this contribution, uni-element stream sediment geochemical data of Cu, Au, Mo, and Bi have been subjected to two reliable anomaly-background separation methods, namely, the concentration-area (C–A) fractal and the U-spatial statistics methods to separate geochemical anomalies related to porphyry-type Cu mineralization in northwest Iran. The quantitative comparison of the delineated geochemical populations using the modified success-rate curves revealed the superiority of the U-spatial statistics method over the fractal model. Moreover, geochemical maps of investigated elements revealed strongly positive correlations between strong anomalies and Oligocene–Miocene intrusions in the study area. Therefore, follow-up exploration programs should focus on these areas.     

Separation of a geochemical anomaly from background by fractal and U-statistic methods,a case study: Khooni district,Central Iran

Separation of geochemical anomalies from background are one of the important steps in mineral exploration. The Khooni mineral district (Central Iran) has complex geochemical surface expression due to a complex geological background. This region was chosen as a study area for recognition of the spatial distribution of geochemical elements and separating anomalies from background using stream sediment geochemical data. In the past decades, geochemical anomalies have been identified by means of various methods. Some of these separation methods include: statistical analysis methods, spatial statistical methods and fractal and multi-fractal methods. In this article, two efficient methods, i.e. U-statistics and the fractal concentration-area for separation and detection of anomalous areas of the background were used. The U spatial statistic method is a weighted mean, which considers sampling point positions and their spatial relation in the estimation of anomaly location. Also, fractal and multi-fractal models have also been applied to separate anomalies from background values. In this paper, the concentration–area model (C–A) was suggested to separate the anomaly of background. For this purpose, about 256 stream sediment samples were collected and analyzed. Then anomaly maps of elements were generated based on U spatial statistics and the C-A fractal methods for Au, As and Sb elements. According to obtained results, the U-statistics method performed better than C-A method. Because the comparisons of the known deposits and occurrences against the anomalous area created using thresholds from U-statistics and C-A method show that the spatial U-statistics method hits all of 3 known deposits and occurrences, the C-A fractal method hits 1 and fails 2. In addition, the results showed that these methods with regard to spatial distribution and variability within neighboring samples, in addition to concentration value frequency distributions and correlation coefficients, have more accurate results than the traditional approaches.     

A comparison study of the C–A and S–A models with singularity analysis to identify geochemical anomalies in covered areas

Fractal/multifractal modeling of geochemical data is an interesting topic in the field of applied geochemistry. Identification of weak anomalies for mineral exploration in covered areas is one of the most challenging tasks for utilization of geochemical data. In this study, three fractal models, consisting of the concentration–area (C–A), spectrum–area (S–A) and singularity index models were applied to identify geochemical anomalies in the covered area located in the Chaobuleng Fe polymetallic district, Inner Mongolia (China). The results show that (1) the grassland cover weakens the concentrations of geochemical elements; (2) the C–A model has a limitation to identify weak anomalies in covered areas; (3) the S–A model is a powerful tool to decompose mixed geochemical patterns into a geochemical anomaly map and a varied geochemical background map but suffers edge effects in an irregular shaped study area; and (4) the singularity index is a useful tool to identify weak geochemical anomalies.     

Decomposing of mixed pattern of arsenic using fractal model in Gangdese belt,Tibet, China

Decomposing mixed geochemical patterns is a challenge in geochemical exploration and environmental assessment. In this paper, the spectrum–area technique (S–A) is used to decompose a mixed pattern of arsenic in Gangdese belt based on stream sediment data. S–A is a multifractal model based on power–law relationships between area of the set consisting of wave numbers with spectral energy density above S[A(>S)] on the 2D frequency domain. The original spatial distribution map of arsenic obtained by inverse distance weighted (IDW) shows a mixed pattern due to superposition of different geological processes or events and is converted into the frequency domain by means of Fourier transformation. Two components, including power spectrum density and phases, are obtained. The spectrum energy density (S) and the area (A) enclosed by the above-threshold spectrum energy density is plotted on a log–log scale. Two cutoff values determined by three straight lines define three filters which decompose the original map of arsenic into background, anomalous, and high frequency (noise) components. The areas with high anomaly of arsenic mainly are located surrounding known Cu deposits, indicating that arsenic anomalies may be related to Cu mineralization.     

Fractal-Based Wavelet Filter for Separating Geophysical or Geochemical Anomalies from Background

The widely used wavelet filtering technique holds potential to approach anomaly–background separation in geophysical and geochemical data processing. Wavelet statistics provide crucial information on such filtering methods. In general, conventional (Gaussian-type) statistical modeling is insufficient to adequately describe the heavily tailed and sharply peaked (at zero) distribution of the wavelet coefficients of irregular geo-anomaly patterns. This paper demonstrates that the cumulative (frequency) number of the wavelet coefficient yields a power-law scaling relationship with the coefficient based on wavelet transform of a fractal/singular measure. This wavelet coefficient–cumulative number power-law model is proven to be more flexible and appropriate than the Gaussian model for characterizing the scaling nature of the coefficient distribution. Accordingly, a fractal-based filtering technique is developed based on the wavelet statistical model to decompose mixed patterns into components based on the distinct self-similarities identified in the wavelet domain. The decomposition scheme of the fractal-based wavelet filtering method considers not only the coefficient frequency distribution but also the fractal spectrum of singularities and the self-similarity of real-world features. Finally, a synthetic data test and real applications from two metallogenic provinces of China are used to validate the proposed fractal filtering method for anomaly–background separation and identification of geophysical or geochemical anomalies related to mineralization and other geological features.     

Geochemistry,geochronology and Hf isotope of granitoids in the Chinese Altai: Implications for Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

The Chinese Altai in northwestern Xinjiang has numerous outcrops of granitoids which provide critical information on accretionary orogenic processes and crustal growth of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.Zircon U-Pb ages, Hf-isotopic compositions and whole-rock geochemistry of monzogranite and granodiorites in the Qinghe County are employed to elucidate Paleozoic tectonics of the Chinese Altai. Granodiorites have crystallization ages of 424.6 ± 3.1 Ma(MSWD = 0.23) and 404.0 ± 3.4 Ma(MSWD = 0.18);monzogranite was emplaced in the early Permian with a crystallization age of 293.7 ± 4.6 Ma(MSWD = 1.06). Both granodiorites and monzogranite are I-type granites with A/CNK ratios of 0.92 -0.97 and 1.03 -1.06, respectively. They also show similar geochemical features of high HREE and Y contents, low Sr contents and Sr/Y ratios, as well as enrichment of Cs, Rb, Th and U, and depletion of Nb, Ta, P and Ti.These geochemical features indicate that the monzogranite and granodiorites were formed in an arc setting related to subduction. The gneissic monzogranites display high SiO_2 and K_2 O contents, and belong to the high-K calc-alkaline series. In the chondrite normalized REE distribution pattern, the monzogranite samples exhibit enrichment of LREE with strong negative Eu anomalies(σE u =0.44 -0.53), zircon εHf(t) values from +7.24 to +12.63 and two-stage Hf model ages of 463 -740 Ma. This suggests that the monzogranite was generated from the mixing of pelitic and mantle material. The granodiorite samples are calc-alkaline granites with lower contents of Si O_2 and Na_2 O + K_2 O, higher contents of TiO_2, Fe_2O_3~t, MgO and CaO compared to the monzogranite samples. They also show enrichment of LREE and moderate negative Eu anomalies(σE u= 0.54 =0.81), as well as slightly higher differentiation of LREE than that of HREE. The425 Ma granodiorite has zircon εHf(t) values from -0.51 to +1.98 and two-stage Hf model ages of 1133 -1240 Ma, whereas the 404 Ma granodiorite displays those of +2.52 to +7.50 and 816 -1071 Ma.Geochemistry and zircon Hf isotopic compositions indicate that granodiorites were formed by partial melting of juvenile lower crust. Together with regional geology and previous data, the geochemical and geochronological data of the monzogranite and granodiorites from this study suggest long-lived subduction and accretion along the Altai Orogen during ca. 425 -294 Ma.     

Late Paleozoic alkaline magmatism in Western Transbaikalia,Russia:Implications for magma sources and tectonic settings

This paper presents the results of geochronological(~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar,U-Pb SHRIMP Ⅱ),petrological and geochemical studies of the Late Paleozoic complexes of alkaline rocks(Zimovechinsky,Tuchinsky and Koma) located within the Vitim Plateau(the western part of the Mongol-Okhotsk Orogenic Belt).The rocks were formed at 310-280 Ma.It is coeval with Late Paleozoic magmatism within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt.The ε_(Nd)(T) values show large variations from-2.1 to +3.3 as well as the initial Sr(I) isotopic ratios from 0.7042 to 0.7138,that demonstrate strong isotopic heterogeneity of the magmatic source.The geochemical characteristics of the rocks show pronounced positive Pb and negative Ti,Zr-Hf anomalies that can be explained by involvement of the subducted component in primary melts.The rocks intruded in a setting of extension at the active continental margin of the Siberian Craton during subduction of Mongol-Okhotsk oceanic crust under the Siberian Craton.     

The advantages of using n-alkanes, triterpane, and steranes to determine the characterization of sedimentary organic matter

The current geochemical study of n-alkanes, steranes, and triterpanes in bitumen from the Late Maastrichtian–Paleocene El Haria organic-rich facies in West of Gafsa, southern Tunisia, was performed in order to characterize with accuracy their geochemical pattern. The type of organic matter as deduced from n-alkanes, steranes, and triterpanes distributions is type II/III mixed oil/gas prone organic matter. Isoprenoids and biomarkers maturity parameters (i.e., T _s/T _m, 22S/(22S?+?22R) of the C₃₁ αβ-hopanes ratios, 20S/(20R?+?20S) and ββ/(ββ?+?αα) of C₂₉ steranes), revel that the organic-rich facies were deposited during enhanced anoxic conditions in southern Tunisa. The organic matter is placed prior to the peak stage of the conventional oil window (end of diagenesis–beginning of catagenesis). All these result are suggested by total organic carbon analysis, bitumen extraction and liquid chromatography data. Thus, the n-alkanes, triterpane, and steranes study remains valuable and practical for geochemical characterization of sedimentary organic matter.     

Paleoproterozoic Nb-enriched meta-gabbros in the Quanji Massif,NW China:Implications for assembly of the Columbia supercontinent

Diverse models have been proposed for the role of the Tarim Craton within the Paleoproterozoic Columbia supercontinent assembly. Here we report a suite of-1.71 Ga Nb-enriched meta-gabbro lenses in the eastern Quanji Massif, within the Tarim Craton in NW China. The meta-gabbroic rocks have Nb contents of 11.5-16.4 ppm with Nb/La ratios varying from 0.84 to 1.02((Nb/La)_N = 0.81-0.98) and Nb/U ratios from 38.0 to 47.2. They show low SiO_2(45.1-48.5 wt.%) and MgO(5.96-6.81 wt.%) and Mg#(Mg# = Mg/(Mg + Fe) = 43.5-47.7), high FeO~t(13.0-15.7 wt.%) and moderate Ti02(1.70-2.51 wt.%).with tholeiitic affinities. These rocks possess low fractionated REE patterns without obvious Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu~* = 0.87-1.02). Their primitive mantle-normalized elements patterns display significant Zr-Hf troughs, positive Nb anomalies, weak negative Ti and P anomalies, and high contents of Rb and Ba,resembling Nb-enriched basalts generated in arc-related tectonic settings. Their arc-like geochemical signatures together with whole rock εNd(t) values of 0.4-2.1 and corresponding old T_(DM)(2.22-2.37 Ga)as well as(~(143)Nd/~(144)Nd)_t and(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)t(t = 1712 Ma) values of 0.5104-0.5105 and 0.7030-0.7058,respectively, suggest that their precursor magma originated from mantle wedge peridotite metasomatised by subduction-derived melts. The results from our study reveal subduction along the eastern periphery of the Tarim Craton and marginal outgrowth continuing to ~1.7 Ga within the Columbia supercontinent.     

Petrology and geochemistry of Early Permian volcanic rocks in South Tian Shan,NW China: implications for the tectonic evolution and Phanerozoic continental growth

Situated in the southwest of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), the South Tian Shan (STS) Block is a key area for understanding the final accretion of the CAOB. A suite of volcanic rocks interbedded with continental sediments from the Xiaotikanlike Formation lies along the southwestern edge of the Tian Shan orogen. Laser-ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer U–Pb dating provided a crystallization age of 295.0 ± 2.8 Ma (MSWD = 1.3), suggesting an Early Permian magmatic event. The volcanic rocks show a variable composition, with dominant rhyolites and dacites, subordinate basaltic andesites and few basalts. The felsic rocks are enriched in K and exhibit remarkably negative anomalies in Ba, Sr, Eu, P and Ti. These anomalies associated with their high negative ε _Nd(t) values and old Nd model ages suggest that they are most likely sourced from ancient lower crustal rocks. The mafic rocks are characterized by high Mg#, Cr, Ni contents, negative Nb, Ta anomalies and pronounced enrichment in light rare earth elements as well as mild enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements. The mafic rocks are thus inferred to derive from enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle. The petrographic and geochemical characteristics of the Xiaotikanlike Formation volcanic rocks indicate that they were generated under a post-collisional regime. Therefore, the final collision between the Tarim Craton and the Kazakhstan–Yili terrane took place before Early Permian, most probably at Late Carboniferous. Differing from other tectonic units of the CAOB, the recycling of ancient lithospheric crust played a significant role in the continental growth of the STS Block.     

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of suprasubduction volcanic complexes of the Char shear zone,eastern Kazakhstan

The paper presents new petrographic, geochemical, and petrologic data from volcanic rocks of suprasubduction origin of the Char shear zone in eastern Kazakhstan. We discuss bulk rock composition (concentrations of major and trace elements), types of mantle sources and parameters of their melting, conditions of crystallization of mafic magma, and geodynamic settings of basalt eruption. According to the major element composition, the volcanic rocks are basalt, andesibasalt, and andesite of tholeiitic and transitional, from tholeiitic to calc-alkaline, series. They are characterized by low TiO₂ (0.85 wt.% on average) and crystallization trends in MgO–major elements plots. In terms of trace element composition, the volcanic rocks possess moderately LREE-enriched rare-earth element patterns and are characterized by negative Nb anomalies present on the multi-element spectra (Nb/La_pm = 0.14–0.47; Nb/Th_pm = 0.7–1.6). The distribution of rare-earth elements (La/Sm_n = 0.8–2.3, Gd/Yb_n = 0.7–1.9) and the results of geochemical modeling in the Nb–Yb system suggest high degrees of melting of a depleted mantle source at spinel facies depths. Fractional crystallization of clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and opaque minerals also affected the final composition of the volcanic rocks. Clinopyroxene monomineral thermometry calculations suggest that the melts crystallized within a range of 1020–1180 °C. We think that this volcanic complex formed at a western active margin of the Paleo-Asian Ocean.     

Compositional and geochronological signatures of metamafic dykes from the Sangsang peridotites,South Tibet: Evidence for magma-starved forearc rifting during Neo-Tethyan subduction re-initiation

In this study we present new mineral chemistry, whole-rock geochemical and zircon U–Pb geochronological data for 12 metamafic dykes in the mantle sequence of the Sangsang ophiolite in South Tibet (China). Modal analyses of these dykes gave averages of ~40%–65% plagioclase and ~35%–60% amphibole and small amounts of (igneous) clinopyroxene, epidote and opaque minerals. This mineral assemblage resembles that of typical orthoamphibolites. Nevertheless, due to the absence of foliation the investigated rocks are described as metamafic lithologies. These rocks have primitive mantle (PM)-normalized multi-element patterns with negative Nb and Ta anomalies as well as weak, negative Ti anomalies. In addition, they have initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios [(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i] of 0.702844–0.703581, initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios [(¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd)_i] of 0.512891–0.512959 and high ε_Nd(t) values (+7.9 to +9.3). Uranium-Pb ages of magmatic zircons separated from the investigated metamafic dykes indicate that the parental melts of their protoliths intruded the Sangsang mantle at ~119.0–118.5 ​Ma.The metamorphic mineral assemblages recognized in the investigated dykes are suggestive of a retrograde metamorphic process, from (epidote-)amphibolite facies (~470–610 ​°C, ~1.9–4.3 ​kbar) and to prehnite-pumpellyite facies (≤280 ​°C, ≤ 3 ​kbar), active within a rift-produced oceanic lithosphere. Microtextural and geochemical data suggest that the protoliths of the dykes were most likely massive gabbros. Compositional data show that the parental magmas of the gabbroic protoliths were generated by melting of a depleted mantle (DM) source that had been weakly modified by fluids emanating from a subducted oceanic lithospheric slab. The age of the gabbroic protoliths is slightly younger than the existing ages for ophiolites from the central Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone (YZSZ) in the literature (~129–123 ​Ma). We, therefore, suggest that the gabbroic protoliths of the Sangsang metamafic dykes were formed in an incipient forearc setting during Neo-Tethyan subduction re-initiation (Aptian). Our tectonomagmatic model provides insights into the igneous accretion and post-solidification evolution of the oceanic lithosphere in South Tibet.     

东昆仑拉浪麦地区地球化学勘查异常下限确定方法对比研究

东昆仑地区是我国重要成矿带,地球化学勘查作为该区基础性的勘查手段在区域找矿、矿区及其外围找矿发挥了重要作用。地球化学勘查工作中,异常下限的确定是圈定地球化学异常的基础和关键。拉浪麦钨多金属矿区地球化学勘查工作中利用传统统计法、EDA法、含量—面积分形法分别对土壤地球化学分析元素计算确定异常下限,并结合成矿地质条件对三种方法计算出的异常下限进行综合对比研究,发现EDA法得出钨等元素异常不漏掉隐伏矿床形成的矿致异常,从而达到快速精准高效的找矿效果,具有很好代表性。因此,在东昆仑地区寻找钨多金属矿地球化学勘查中,采用EDA法确定异常下限是可行的。     

The Late Mesozoic tectonic evolution and magmatic history of west Zhejiang,SE China: implications for regional metallogeny

The granitoids and related polymetallic mineralization in the Zhejiang Province at the southeast margin of the Yangtze Block in China provide an important window to evaluate metallogeny associated with convergent margin magmatism. Here, we present geochronological, geochemical, and isotopic data from the granitic rocks of west Zhejiang, to constrain the timing of transformation of the tectonic setting of this region from volcanic arc to intra-plate during Late Mesozoic and its bearing on regional metallogeny. The granitic rocks in west Zhejiang can be geochemically subdivided into two groups. The first group is characterized by relatively steep rare earth element (REE) patterns with slight Eu anomalies, high Sr, low Yb, and negative Nb–Ta–Ti (NTT) anomalies, indicating a volcanic arc environment with a thickened crust in a convergent setting. The second group is featured by flat REE patterns with prominent negative Eu anomalies, low Sr, high Yb, and weak NTT anomalies, suggesting an intra-plate extensional environment with a thin crust. The geochronology of granitic rocks in west Zhejiang, combined with ages of regional tectonic basins and nappe structures, constrains the timing of the tectonic transformation to be in the range from 150 to 140 Ma. Sr–Nd isotopic data and a positive correlation displayed by oxygen fugacity (fO₂), and La/Sm and Ba/Th ratios (proxies of subducted sediments and slab dehydration fluids) suggest that the high oxygen fugacity is probably related to the melting of subducted sediments and slab dehydration. From 180 to 80 Ma, due to the increasing dip angle of the subducted Izanagi Plate, the volcanic arc belt migrated oceanward, leaving most of the interior of Zhejiang Province under an intra-plate environment where insufficient subducted components and upwelling mantle generated reduced magmas which were not favorable for Cu–Mo mineralization. Our model provides a plausible explanation for the absence of Cu–Mo porphyry deposits in the adjacent region of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Anhui provinces (Zhe-Gan-Wan region) after 140 Ma.     

Carboniferous ridge subduction in the Xingmeng Orogenic Belt: Constraints from geochronological,geochemical, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic analysis of strongly peraluminous granites and gabbro-diorites in the Xilinhot micro-continent

The Xingmeng Orogenic Belt evolved through a long-lived orogeny involving multiple episodes of subduction and accretion. However, there is a debate on its tectonic evolution during the Late Paleozoic. Here, we report geochemical, geochronological, and isotopic data from strongly peraluminous granites and gabbro-diorites from the Sunidzuoqi–Xilinhot region. Zircon U–Pb ages suggest that the intrusive rocks were emplaced during the Early Carboniferous (333–322 Ma). The granites exhibit geochemical characteristics similar to S-type granites, with high SiO₂ (72.34–76.53 wt.%), Al₂O₃ (12.45–14.65 wt.%), and A/CNK (1.07–1.16), but depleted Sr, Nb, and Ta contents. They exhibit positive ε_Nd(t) and ε_Hf(t) values (?0.3 to 2.8 and 2.7–5.7, respectively) and young Nd and Hf model ages (T_DM2(Nd)=853–1110 Ma and T_DM2(Hf)=975–1184 Ma), suggesting that they may be the partial melting products of heterogeneous sources with variable proportions of pelite, psammite, and metabasaltic rocks. The meta-gabbro-diorites from the Maihantaolegai pluton have low SiO₂ (47.06–53.49 wt.%) and K₂O (0.04–0.99 wt.%) contents, and demonstrate slight light rare earth element (REE) depletion in the chondrite-normalized REE diagrams. They have high zircon ε_Hf(t) values (14.41–17.34) and young Hf model ages (T_DM2(Hf)= 230–418 Ma), indicating a more depleted mantle source. The variations of the Sm/Yb and La/Sm ratios can thus be used to assess the melting degree of the mantle source from 5% to 20%, suggesting a quite shallow mantle melting zone. We propose that the petrogenesis and distribution of the strongly peraluminous granites and gabbro-diorites, as well as the tectonic architecture of the region, can be explained by a ridge subduction model. Based on these results, and previous studies, we suggest a southward ridge subduction model for the Sunidzuoqi–Xilinhot region.     

Petrology,geochemistry and geochronology of the magmatic suite from the Jianzha Complex,central China: Petrogenesis and geodynamic implications

The intermediate–mafic–ultramafic rocks in the Jianzha Complex (JZC) at the northern margin of the West Qinling Orogenic Belt have been interpreted to be a part of an ophiolite suite. In this study, we present new geochronological, petrological, geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic data and provide a different interpretation. The JZC is composed of dunite, wehrlite, olivine clinopyroxenite, olivine gabbro, gabbro, and pyroxene diorite. The suite shows characteristics of Alaskan-type complexes, including (1) the low CaO concentrations in olivine; (2) evidence of crystal accumulation; (3) high calcic composition of clinopyroxene; and (4) negative correlation between FeO^tot and Cr₂O₃ of spinels. Hornblende and phlogopite are ubiquitous in the wehrlites, but minor orthopyroxene is also present. Hornblende and biotite are abundant late crystallized phases in the gabbros and diorites. The two pyroxene-bearing diorite samples from JZC yield zircon U–Pb ages of 245.7 ± 1.3 Ma and 241.8 ± 1.3 Ma. The mafic and ultramafic rocks display slightly enriched LREE patterns. The wehrlites display moderate to weak negative Eu anomalies (0.74–0.94), whereas the olivine gabbros and gabbros have pronounced positive Eu anomalies. Diorites show slight LREE enrichment, with (La/Yb)_N ratios ranging from 4.42 to 7.79, and moderate to weak negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu¹ = 0.64–0.86). The mafic and ultramafic rocks from this suite are characterized by negative Nb–Ta–Zr anomalies as well as positive Pb anomalies. Diorites show pronounced negative Ba, Nb–Ta and Ti spikes, and typical Th–U, K and Pb peaks. Combined with petrographic observations and chemical variations, we suggest that the magmatism was dominantly controlled by fractional crystallization and crystal accumulation, with limited crustal contamination. The arc-affinity signature and weekly negative to moderately positive ε_Nd(t) values (−2.3 to 1.2) suggest that these rocks may have been generated by partial melting of the juvenile sub-continental lithospheric mantle that was metasomatized previously by slab-derived fluids. The lithologies in the JZC are related in space and time and originated from a common parental magma. Geochemical modeling suggests that their primitive parental magma had a basaltic composition. The ultramafic rocks were generated through olivine accumulation, and variable degrees of fractional crystallization with minor crustal contamination produced the diorites. The data presented here suggest that the subduction in West Qinling did not cease before the early stage of the Middle Triassic (∼242 Ma), a back-arc developed in the northern part of West Qinling during this period, and the JZC formed within the incipient back-arc.     

Application of the tectono-geochemistry method to mineral prospectivity mapping: a case study of the Gaosong tin-polymetallic deposit,Gejiu district,SW China

The tectono-geochemistry method as a lithogeochemical exploration tool is a process centric approach based on the premise that element migration and concentration within and adjacent to geological structures are controlled by large-scale dynamic earth processes that operate on a variety of scales to focus mass and energy flux. Here we present a case study of the Gaosong tin-polymetallic deposit, Gejiu district, SW China, illustrating how the tectono-geochemistry method can be applied to mineral prospectivity mapping. As a first step, 2216 fault rock samples collected within the Geiju district were assayed followed by a detailed examination of the assay results by means of factor analysis and multifractal singularity mapping. The main aims of these analyses were to (1) statistically explore the data with respect to specific element concentrations, associations and geochemical patterns by which the fault rock samples can be grouped, (2) better characterize the samples in terms of whether or not the rocks recorded any evidence for hydrothermal mineralization processes, and (3) identify any geochemical anomalies that may present vectors to buried ore. The results illustrate that element distribution patterns are greatly influenced by fault permeability and that NE-SW-striking faults are the most favorable in terms of concentration of ore elements. Factor analysis greatly assisted the identification and interpretation of, for example, element associations, and geochemical zonation patterns genetically related to intrusions. Recognition of singularities was of particular importance with respect to identifying and delineating primary fault tectono-geochemical anomalies that may be caused by buried ore. Of particular interest are low singularity values as these correspond with positive geochemical anomalies over known ore deposits in the Gejiu district. Anomalies delineated by local singularity exponents may represent undiscovered ore and, thus, warrant further exploration.