Risk quantification with combined use of lithological and grade simulations: Application to a porphyry copper deposit

The uncertainty in the recoverable tonnages and grades in a mineral deposit is a key factor in the decision-making process of a mining project. Currently, the most prevalent approach to model the uncertainty in the spatial distribution of mineral grades is to divide the deposit into domains based on geological interpretation and to predict the grades within each domain separately. This approach defines just one interpretation of the geological domain layout and does not offer any measure of the uncertainty in the position of the domain boundaries and in the mineral grades. This uncertainty can be evaluated by use of geostatistical simulation methods. The aim of this study is to evaluate how the simulation of rock type domains and grades affects the resources model of Sungun porphyry copper deposit, northwestern Iran. Specifically, three main rock type domains (porphyry, skarn and late-injected dykes) that control the copper grade distribution are simulated over the region of interest using the plurigaussian model. The copper grades are then simulated in cascade, generating one grade realization for each rock type realization. The simulated grades are finally compared to those obtained using traditional approaches against production data.     

新疆阿尔金构造带长青铁矿地质特征

阿尔金构造带是我国西北地区的一个重要成矿带,成矿条件优越,在开展矿产调查中发现了长青铁矿。该铁矿位于阿尔金构造带的中西部,赋存于长沙沟超镁铁质岩中,其分布范围受超镁铁质岩的控制。为扩大找矿成果,继续寻找同类型铁矿,通过对矿区岩石组成、构造变形、矿化蚀变带分布特征、磁铁矿化蚀变带规模、分布及矿体的形态、产状、空间分布规律等矿体特征以及矿石质量特征、围岩特征的研究,总结出了该矿床属于岩浆晚期分异类型并受阿尔金断裂多期改造的特点,归纳了主要找矿标志,为在该区进一步寻找该类型铁矿提供了新的思路。     

Geostatistical modeling of the geological uncertainty in an iron ore deposit

This paper addresses the problem of quantifying the joint uncertainty in the grades of elements of interest (iron, silica, manganese, phosphorus and alumina), loss on ignition, granulometry and rock types in an iron ore deposit. Sampling information is available from a set of exploration drill holes. The methodology considers the construction of multiple rock type outcomes by plurigaussian simulation, then outcomes of the quantitative variables (grades, loss on ignition and granulometry) are constructed by multigaussian joint simulation, accounting for geological domains specific to each quantitative variable as well as for a stoichiometric closure formula linking these variables. The outcomes are validated by checking the reproduction of the data distributions and of the data values at the drill hole locations, and their ability to measure the uncertainty at unsampled locations is assessed by leave-one-out cross validation.Both the plurigaussian and multigaussian models offer much flexibility to the practitioner to face up to the complexity of the variables being modeled, in particular: (1) the contact relationships between rock types, (2) the geological controls exerted by the rock types over the quantitative variables, and (3) the cross-correlations and stoichiometric closure linking the quantitative variables. In addition to this flexibility, the use of efficient simulation algorithms turns out to be essential for a successful application, due to the high number of variables, data and locations targeted for simulation.     

澳大利亚Cloncurry地区铁矿化岩石与铜金矿化的时空关系

澳大利亚Cloncurry地区大部分被元古宙地层所覆盖,其中赋存有大量世界级的成矿热液系统。大型热液系统大都与含磁铁矿或赤铁矿等铁氧化物的铁矿化岩石密切相关。铁氧化物和铜金矿化的矿物学、地球化学及年代学特征反映出成矿过程可能涉及到多种流体间的作用和水岩反应。对Cloncurry地区典型矿床和区域Na-Ca热液系统的研究表明,含铁氧化物的铁矿化岩石与铜金矿化之间的关系可分为4类:①贫磁铁矿或赤铁矿的"Kiruna-型"铁矿化岩石;②铜金矿化赋存于含铁氧化物的铁矿化岩石中;③与铁氧化物有关的铜金矿化;④少量或者不含铁氧化物的铜金矿化。该分类提供了一些与铁氧化物有关的铜金矿化成因联系、矿物学和矿化类型信息。     

长白山地区和龙第二林场铁-金-银多金属矿床成矿特征及找矿方向

在长白山地区和龙第二林场铁矿地质调查的基础上,结合钻探及物化探资料,发现区内存在金银矿,空间上与铁矿共生。铁矿为磁铁石英岩型,产于太古代斜长角闪片麻岩和斜长角闪岩中,属于沉积变质型铁矿床;金银矿为含金石英脉型,产于侵入到老变质岩中的酸性岩脉中,属浅成热液型金银矿床。二者属于两期不同成矿物质的空间叠置,发育成为特有的铁、金、银多金属矿产类型。工业品位矿体主要见于北西向韧性剪切带与太古代变质岩体交汇部位,尤其是沿矿体走向(北西向)和切割矿体走向(北东向)两组断裂交汇部位。沿西拉木伦河缝合带,在韧性剪切变形较强的老变质岩区,寻找北西—北东断裂和岩脉发育带,是该类铁-金--银多金属矿床的主要找矿方向。     

硅质岩岩石化学研究方法及其在“镜铁山式”铁矿床中的应用

硅质岩研究是难度较大且目前又颇受重视的课题,岩石化学方法是研究其成因及成岩环境的重要手段。本文对常用的近２０种比值法、图解法作了初步检验,考察了其可行性。“镜铁山式”铁矿床产于北祁连造山带上元古代镜铁山群,应用上述方法对其岩石化学特征作了较全面的分析研究,认为铁矿床围岩中的石英岩具有生物成因硅质岩特征,主要来自地表风化作用,铁矿体中的铁碧玉岩具火成成因特征,来源于海底喷流。     

弓长岭铁矿蚀变岩及富矿成因

弓长岭铁矿床是鞍山本溪地区最典型的BIF型铁矿床之一,而且是该地区最大的富铁矿产区。从野外产出关系来看,弓长岭矿区的富铁矿与蚀变岩密切相关,蚀变岩与富铁矿基本上是形影相随。蚀变岩具有分带性,由富铁矿向外依次为镁铁闪石岩石榴石岩绿泥石岩弱蚀变斜长角闪岩斜长角闪岩。弱蚀变岩保留了蚀变原岩的岩貌特征,矿物的蚀变并不完全,可见残余的原生矿物。强蚀变岩的蚀变较彻底,基本无原生矿物残留。将蚀变岩与斜长角闪岩、磁铁石英岩的地球化学特征进行对比可以发现弱蚀变岩、石榴石岩、绿泥石岩与斜长角闪岩的痕量元素特征基本一致,而镁铁闪石岩的痕量元素特征更接近磁铁石英岩。再结合镜下特征、野外接触关系、主量元素特征等证据,认为除了镁铁闪石岩是由磁铁石英岩蚀变形成,其余蚀变岩都是由斜长角闪岩蚀变形成。根据各类蚀变岩中主要矿物的(Fe+Mg)/Si值以及蚀变岩的SiO2和Fe2OT3含量变化规律可以发现,在蚀变岩和富矿形成过程中发生了Mg、Fe以及Si的迁移。对本次取样的样品进行原岩恢复和构造环境判别投图,投图结果表明,绿泥石岩和弱蚀变岩的最初原岩都是形成于弧后盆地的玄武岩。     

Change of Conditions of the Formation of the Karelian Province of the Baltic Shield Continental Crust during Transition from Meso- to Neoarchean: Geochemical Study Results

The compositions of the tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) assemblage and volcanic rocks of the Archaean greenstone belts from different domains of the Karelian province of the Baltic Shield are compared. Neoarchean medium felsic volcanic rocks and TTG of the Central Karelian domain drastically differ from analogous Mesoarchean rocks of the neighboring Vodlozero and West Karelian domains in higher Rb, Sr, P, La, and Ce contents and, correspondingly, values of Sr/Y, La/Yb, and La/Sm, and also in a different REE content distribution owing to different rock sources of these domains. This fact is confirmed by differences in the composition and the nature of the REE distribution in the basic and ultrabasic volcanic rocks making up the greenstone belts of these domains. It is established that the average compositions of Mesoarchean TTG rocks and volcanic rocks of the Karelian province differ markedly from those of plagiogranitoids and volcanic rocks of the recent geotectonic environments in high Mg (mg#) and Sr contents. Neoarchean volcanic rocks of Karelia differ from recent island-arc volcanic rocks, but are similar in composition to recent volcanic rocks of the continental arcs. On the basis of the cumulative evidence, the Karelian province of the Baltic Shield was subject to dramatic changes in the crust formation conditions at the beginning of the Neoarchean at the turn of about 2.75–2.78 Ga. These changes led to formation of volcano-sedimentary and plutonic rock complexes, different in composition from Mesoarchean rocks, and specific complexes of intrusive sanukitoids and granites. Changes and variations in the rock composition were related to the mixing of plume sources with continental crust and/or lithospheric mantle material, likely as a result of the combined effect of plumes and plate tectonics. This process resulted in formation of a younger large fragment of the Archean crust such as the Central Karelian domain which factually connected more ancient fragments of the crust and likely contributed to development of the Neoarchean Kenorland Supercontinent.     

华北地区东部下古生界烃源岩分布特征及其发育模式

华北地区下古生界烃源岩研究对前第三系油气战略资源选区具有重要意义。从沉积学角度出发,通过对研究区有机碳含量、生烃潜力和氯仿沥青"A"等参数的统计分析和平面制图,划分了烃源岩类型,并进行了品质评价,分析了烃源岩的成因,总结了烃源岩发育模式。研究认为:华北东部奥陶系上、下马家沟组及峰峰组为较好的烃源岩,平均有机碳含量分别为0.183%、0.21%和0.181%;下寒武统发育优质烃源岩(TOC平均值为6.46%,最高值为11.2%),但分布范围局限。华北地区东部烃源岩按岩石类型不同可分为两套,即下寒武统泥质烃源岩,中、下奥陶统的碳酸盐岩烃源岩。烃源岩的成因取决于沉积环境,泥质烃源岩发育于陆棚浅海环境,而碳酸盐岩烃源岩则受控于云坪和局限台地环境。对烃源岩空间展布规律研究发现,合肥盆地为潜在的泥质烃源岩发育区,而东濮拗陷、临清拗陷、冀中拗陷为潜在的碳酸盐岩烃源岩发育区。     

Occurrence of the Iron–rich Melt in the Heijianshan Iron Deposit, Eastern Tianshan, NW China: Insights into the Origin of Volcanic Rock–hosted Iron Deposits

Long-standing controversy persists over the presence and role of iron–rich melts in the formation of volcanic rock-hosted iron deposits. Conjugate iron–rich and silica–rich melt inclusions observed in thin-sections are considered as direct evidence for the presence of iron-rich melt, yet unequivocal outcrop-scale evidence of iron-rich melts are still lacking in volcanic rock-hosted iron deposits. Submarine volcanic rock-hosted iron deposits, which are mainly distributed in the western and eastern Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, are important resources of iron ores in China, but it remains unclear whether iron-rich melts have played a role in the mineralization of such iron ores. In this study, we observed abundant iron-rich agglomerates in the brecciated andesite lava of the Heijianshan submarine volcanic rock–hosted iron deposit, Eastern Tianshan, China. The iron-rich agglomerates occur as irregular and angular masses filling fractures of the host brecciated andesite lava. They show concentric potassic alteration with silicification or epidotization rims, indicative of their formation after the wall rocks. The iron-rich agglomerates have porphyritic and hyalopilitic textures, and locally display chilled margins in the contact zone with the host rocks. These features cannot be explained by hydrothermal replacement of wall rocks(brecciated andesite lava) which is free of vesicle and amygdale, rather they indicate direct crystallization of the iron-rich agglomerates from iron-rich melts. We propose that the iron-rich agglomerates were formed by open-space filling of volatile-rich iron-rich melt in fractures of the brecciated andesite lava. The iron-rich agglomerates are compositionally similar to the wall-rock brecciated andesite lava, but have much larger variation. Based on mineral assemblages, the iron-rich agglomerates are subdivided into five types, i.e., albite-magnetite type, albite-K-feldsparmagnetite type, K-feldspar–magnetite type, epidote-magnetite type and quartz-magnetite type, representing that products formed at different stages during the evolution of a magmatic-hydrothermal system. The albite-magnetite type represents the earliest crystallization product from a residual ironrich melt; the albite-K-feldspar-magnetite and K-feldspar-magnetite types show features of magmatichydrothermal transition, whereas the epidote-magnetite and quartz-magnetite types represent products of hydrothermal alteration. The occurrence of iron-rich agglomerates provides macroscopic evidence for the presence of iron-rich melts in the mineralization of the Heijianshan iron deposit. It also indicates that iron mineralization of submarine volcanic rock-hosted iron deposits is genetically related to hydrothermal fluids derived from iron-rich melts.     

Evaluation of regional fracture properties for groundwater development using hydrolithostructural domain approach in variably fractured hard rocks of Purulia district,West Bengal,India

Estimation of geohydrologic properties of fractured aquifers in hard crystalline and/or metamorphosed country rocks is a challenge due to the complex nature of secondary porosity that is caused by differential fracturing. Hydrologic potentiality of such aquifers may be assessed if the geological controls governing the spatial distribution of these fracture systems are computed using a software-based model. As an exemplar, the Precambrian metamorphics exposed in and around the Balarampur town of Purulia district, West Bengal (India) were studied to find out the spatial pattern and consistency of such fracture systems. Surfer and Statistica softwares were used to characterize these rock masses in terms of hydrological, structural and lithological domains. The technique is based on the use of hydraulically significant fracture properties to generate representative modal and coefficient of variance (Cν) of fracture datasets of each domain. The Cν is interpreted to obtain the spatial variability of hydraulically significant fracture properties that, in turn, define and identify the corresponding hydrolithostructural domains. The groundwater flow estimated from such a technique is verified with the routine hydrological studies to validate the procedure. It is suggested that the hydrolithostructural domain approach is a useful alternative for evaluation of fracture properties and aquifer potentiality, and development of a regional groundwater model thereof.     

云南个旧印支期基性火山岩地球化学特征及其大地构造背景

通过对个旧地区印支期火山岩的地质、岩石地球化学、微量元素和稀土元素等研究表明,该期火山岩的岩石类型为杏仁状斑状纤闪石化玄武岩,属于硅不饱和、富碱、高钛,镁、铁偏高,铝偏低,具有大陆碱性橄榄玄武岩的组分特征.该玄武岩为陆内拉张环境下基性程度高、分异程度低的幔源岩浆分异的产物,形成于大陆板内裂谷环境,并与拉裂作用有关.     

杜家沟铝土矿成矿特征及成因分析

铝土矿和其下部的铁质粘土岩组成铝岩系.铝土矿的铝硅和铝铁均呈反比关系,硅铁呈正比关系,这一特征反映出第一期脱硅,第二期脱铁的两期风化成矿作用.粘土岩的铝含量稳定,铁含量变化大,硅铁是反比关系,显示第二期风化作用,脱出的铁质在粘土岩内沉淀,并生成山西式铁矿.铝岩系具有Al_2O_3/SiO_2和Fe_2O_3/SiO_2两值间同步正相关,显示铝土矿及其母质层粘土岩的陆壳风化成矿.     

鲁西齐河地区铁矿控矿特征及找矿标志

山东省齐河县境内发育有矽卡岩型铁矿,近年来该区铁矿勘查和研究工作取得了较大进展。本文通过对研究区内铁矿勘查研究成果进行统计分析,旨在对其控矿特征和找矿标志进行探讨来促进该区铁矿找矿工作。研究区内铁矿控矿地层为奥陶纪碳酸盐岩和石炭纪-二叠纪碎屑岩地层,成矿地质体为燕山晚期中基性侵入岩体;铁矿体主要赋存于地层和岩体的接触带处,且在碳酸盐岩、碎屑岩地层中和侵入岩体中也赋存有部分铁矿体。区内铁矿体赋存类型多样,其中以接触带赋存式为主,且含有断裂充填式、层间充填式、裂隙贯入式、捕虏体构造式等。铁矿体形态复杂,呈层状、似层状、囊状、透镜状等;矿床典型蚀变分带特征为闪长岩带-蚀变闪长岩带-内矽卡岩带-铁矿体-外矽卡岩带-大理岩化带-灰岩带。该区成矿作用以接触扩散交代作用、接触渗滤交代作用为主,此外还有富矿热液充填作用等。研究区内铁矿找矿标志主要包括地层标志（奥陶纪碳酸盐岩和石炭纪-二叠纪碎屑岩地层）、岩体标志（中基性侵入岩体,且发育有钠长石化的蚀变闪长岩）、构造标志（地层与岩体接触带、构造交汇部位、层间滑脱部位、脆性裂隙部位等）、围岩蚀变标志（磁铁矿化、矽卡岩化、钠长石化、蛇纹石化、金云母化等与成矿关系密切）、地球物理标志（明显的高值磁异常和化极磁异常部位、重力异常梯度带和高-低电阻转换带）。在今后铁矿勘查过程中,需要在综合研究该区控矿特征的基础上,可利用多种找矿标志进行相互配合、互为补充和综合研究,以期达到预期勘查效果。     

鞍山—本溪地区含铁变质地层的划分与对比

鞍山—本溪地区是我国前寒武系条带状铁建造型铁矿的主要分布区,已探明资源储量约占全国同类型铁矿已探明资源储量的40%,是我国最大的铁矿石资源基地。通过铁矿带对比,依据变质岩石组合、原岩建造以及铁矿地质特征,将鞍山—本溪地区含铁变质地层划分为茨沟组、大峪组和西鞍山组。与绿岩带柱状剖面对比,茨沟组和大峪沟组相当于绿岩带中部岩系的上部岩组,西鞍山组相当于绿岩带上部沉积岩系。     

中国早元古代区域变质建造及构造环境的初步研究

根据中国早元古代变质建造研究表明，早元古时期，中朝变质地区华北分区是中国陆壳中可确认的最主要相对稳定的隆起区。其它变质地区及中朝变质地区的其它分区相对于华北分区为较活动的构造区。吕梁运动之后中朝变质地区为相对稳定的准地台，而其它变质地区一般仍一度处于较活动的构造环境。     

Fluid fluxes during low-temperature alteration: implications of multi-style alteration assemblages from the Welsh Borderland,UK

Localized (domainal) low-temperature alteration may indicate variations in the chemistry of alteration fluids and/or discrete fluid flow paths during metamorphism. Occurrences of epidote- and pumpellyite-dominated domains are often used as evidence for large fluxes of Ca-rich fluids. However, comparative studies of two domainal alteration styles from basaltic to andesitic lavas and volcaniclastic rocks at Builth Wells, Wales, UK suggest that such interpretations cannot be applied universally. Here, only one set of domains can be attributed to large fluxes of Ca-rich fluids. In contrast, the second set of domains formed where the host rock supplied the necessary Ca, and fluid/rock ratios were relatively low. These domains are hosted by rocks which show a Caledonian regional metamorphic imprint, characterized by the alteration assemblage albite+chlorite+titanite±prehnite±pumpellyite±calcite±muscovite±quartz (considered to have formed at c. 200°C and ≤2.5 kbar). Type 1 domains lie along fluid channelways, such as veins. Pumpellyite is the dominant secondary mineral, but the alteration assemblage is variable with pumpellyite±prehnite±calcite±titanite±chlorite (±quartz). The domains formed at temperatures of 130–230°C during Ordovician hydrothermal activity, before the peak of regional metamorphism. In contrast, Type 2 domains are not associated with obvious fluid channelways. A central prehnite-dominated zone typically has a rim with the assemblage pumpellyite+calcite±prehnite±chlorite±titanite±K-rich phyllosilicate. These domains probably formed from pelitic xenoliths which contained a volcaniclastic component at temperatures of 130–230°C and at relatively low fluid/rock ratios. However, the timing of domain formation is uncertain. Pyrobitumen, in veins and disseminated throughout the rock, may have influenced the formation of both types of domain by stabilizing pumpellyite in preference to epidote and causing metamorphic calcite formation through the release of CO₂ to the alteration fluids. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

济宁颜店铁矿地质特征及济宁岩群含矿性研究

伏于济宁滋阳山一带千米盖层之下的古元古代济宁岩群是一套低绿片岩相变质含铁岩系,主要岩石组合为千枚岩、板岩、磁铁石英岩等,其原岩为海相含灰质泥岩、砂岩类中酸性火山岩、硅铁岩等,该套岩系最大控制厚度达580m。其中赋存的条带状磁铁石英岩呈层状、似层状埋深在1612．89～1796．54m之间,共有5层铁矿,总厚度85．53m。估算预测的铁矿资源量（334）9．76亿t,mFe平均品位22．37％;低品位矿体预测的资源量（334）2．64亿t,mFe平均品位16．99％。     

Rock geochemistry of an iron ore field in the Divrigi region, Central Anatolia, Turkey. A new exploration model for iron ores in Turkey

One hundred and sixty rock samples of iron ore deposits and their host rocks from the Divrigi iron ore region were analysed for ten major and 31 trace elements, and 30 samples were analysed for rare earth elements. Statistical analyses divide rock types into different units (discriminant analyses) and several element associations (cluster and factor analyses). Individual rock types were also treated statistically. Different element associations and the geochemistry of the REE point to a genetic relationship between ore and host rocks and later hydrothermal overprints.The interpretation suggests iron ores are closely associated with mafic ultramafic rocks. This exploration model has been applied iron ore deposits in central Anatolia, Turkey. The results stimulated first air-magnetic and later ground-magnetic field surveys leading to discovery of new iron ore occurrences which are currently being evaluated for their economic potential.     

吉林省柳河县双河堡铬铁矿地质特征及成因

本文叙述了吉林省柳河县双河堡铬铁矿的地质特征,并对矿床的成因进行了初步探讨。根据岩石化学成分特点,原岩应为基性,超基性岩分异、熔离作用产物,后经变质改造形成滑石岩,阳起-透闪岩等岩石组合,其成因类型应为岩浆分异-熔离型矿床。