固体矿产地球化学勘查进展与成果

为庆祝第三十届国际地质大会在北京召开,让世界各国地质同行们了解中国地矿部门固体矿产地球化学勘查工作的进展,本文主要介绍我国地球化学勘查的成果。近十五年来已完成区域化探覆盖面积517万km2,中比例尺化探普查面积约90万km2,发现各类化探异常约4.3万处,通过检查化探异常和工程验证发现具工业价值的大、中、小型矿床569处,找矿效果非常显着,特别是化探找金、银矿方面取得突破性成果,化探方法技术不断提高和广泛推广。特殊景观区的野外工作方法、化探样品微量、痕量元素测试方法技术、化探异常的查证方法及化探数据处理与成图等方面均接近或达到国际水平。回顾过去,地球化学勘查进展迅速,成果丰硕,技术水平不断提高。展望未来,地球化学勘查目标明确,任务繁重,地质找矿潜力巨大。     

Lithogeochemistry in exploration for Proterozoic porphyry-type molybdenum and copper deposits, southern Finland

Over 450 samples were collected around four Proterozoic porphyry-type occurrences and analyzed for 30 elements. Relatively broad primary halos are associated with all four occurrences in spite of their moderate size and grade. The halos are characteristic of each particular occurrence depending on the geological and geochemical conditions. Copper forms extensive and highly contrasted anomalies, whereas Mo anomalies are of limited size. Gold, Zn, Pb, As, and Sb seem to be useful pathfinders for slightly eroded or blind occurrences. Pyritization and wall-rock alteration are weaker than in Phanerozoic porphyry deposits, consequently, S halos are small and often erratic. K₂O, Rb, and SiO₂ produce weak anomalies near the core of the occurrences. A density of a few tens of samples per km² is required for detailed follow-up exploration.The host granitoids have normal chemical compositions outside the mineralized areas with low and constant background contents of ore elements and are thus very suitable for lithogeochemical exploration. On a regional scale a density of one to five samples per km² is sufficient to identify mineralized intrusive phases and areas, because the porphyrytype occurrences were formed by extensive hydrothermal processes, which produced scattered anomalies over large areas.     

Representativity of wide-spaced lower-layer overbank sediment geochemical sampling

To develop a technique of implementing global ultra-low density geochemical sampling and as a contribution to the International Geochemical Mapping Program (IGCP Project No. 259), an orientation study in the use of deep (lower-layer) overbank sediments was conducted in Jiangxi Province of Southeast China in 1989–1990. Ninety-four samples were collected at depths of 50 to 120 cm from overbank terraces at an average density of 1 site per 1800 km². The total area of sampled catchment basins is approximately equivalent to 18% of Jiangxi Province. Most of the samples were collected at outflow sites of catchment basins with areas of 100 to 800 km². The samples were analyzed for 39 elements.The representativity of wide-spaced lower-layer overbank sediment sampling is discussed from various perspectives; the following features have been observed: (1) Widespaced lower-layer overbank sediment data and the data from China's national geochemical mapping (RGNR) project show similar geochemical patterns for W, Sn, Pb, Cu and Zn. (2) The results of wide-spaced lower-layer overbank sediment sampling demonstrate that catchment basins with areas of 100 to 800 km² are suitable sample site locations for the global geochemical reference network. (3) Wide-spaced lower-layer overbank sediment sampling is a fast and cost-effective way to identify geochemical provinces and has strategic significance in mineral exploration. (4) There is a significant correlation between the W content of wide-spaced lower-layer overbank sediment samples and the presence of W mineralizations within the catchment basins. (5) The distributions of Ni, Cr and V in wide-spaced lower-layer overbank sediment samples distinctly reveals the boundary between the Yangtze sedimentary platform and the South China Caledonian fold system in Jiangxi Province. (6) Distributions of Rb and Be coincide with the Yanshan granites, which are closely related to the major ore-forming episodes in Jiangxi Province.     

区域化探扫面资料可以满足1:5万区调对化探的需求——试述水系沉积物测量采样密度试验成果

本文以福建区域化探的实际资料为基础,讨论了1:5万化探区调的采样密度.对比了不同采样密度的化深异常和经济效益.认为在福建省1:5万区域化探以1—2点/km²最好,既能取得较好结果,又经济高效.     

Low-density geochemical mapping in Hungary

Guidelines for a low-density geochemical survey were described in 1990 by the Western European Geological Surveys. A low-density geochemical survey of Hungary was carried out in 1991–1995. The results are useful for future surveys and for the IGCP 360 project ‘Global Geochemical Baseline’. In regions with well-developed drainage systems in Hungary, 196 catchment basins of approx. 400 km² were delineated and flood-plain deposits sampled at their outlets. The samples were taken from 0 to 10 cm and from 50 to 60 cm depths. Samples were analysed by ICP-AES and AAS techniques in two laboratories. A Geochemical Atlas of Hungary is in preparation that will show the distribution of 25 elements in the two sampled layers. Maps for the lower layer represent regional geochemical baseline values and a geochemical subdivision of the country (maps showing the distribution of element associations) was made on the basis of factor variables. Maps constructed from the data of the upper sampling level show us the present state of contamination of the surface. The results of this survey have contributed to the establishment of guidance values for soils prepared by the Hungarian Ministry of the Environment in 1995. Safe levels were established for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn and regional environmental loads plotted. Differences between the median values of the two levels are generally small. However, the concentrations of certain elements like P, Pb and S are significantly greater in the upper layer reflecting contamination from agriculture. In certain regions, the rate of sedimentation was fairly fast such that the environmental effects of ore mining in Transylvania and southern Slovakia as well as those of heavy industry in northern Hungary can be observed in samples from the lower level. The main factor controlling the geochemical pattern in Hungary is the predominance of young (Pleistocene or Miocene) clastic sediments at the surface. Approx. 90% of the surface is covered by these young sediments. This kind of survey has the disadvantage of not providing enough contrast to differentiate geologically dissimilar areas but it has the advantage to provide regional surface background geochemical data and it helps to outline areas of possible surface contamination. Based on the results of this survey we conclude that it would be much better to sample smaller, but geologically homogeneous areas in mountainous terrain to obtain data characteristic of the geochemical background of lithologic units. This approach would mean a sampling density of a few tens of km²/sample for hilly areas, and a few hundred km²/sample for lowland areas.     

National-Scale Geochemical Mapping Projects in China

Regional, national and global scale geochemical mapping projects have been carried out in China since the late 1970s, due to the development of cost‐effective, low detection limit analytical methods. These projects have provided a huge mass of high‐quality, informative and comparable data for mineral resource exploration and are now making contributions to environmental assessment. In this paper, four national‐scale geochemical mapping projects are described. (1) The Regional Geochemistry‐National Reconnaissance Project (RGNR project), which is China's largest national geochemical mapping project, has covered 6 million km² of upland regions since 1978. Generally, stream sediment samples were collected at a density of 1/km² and four samples were composited into one sample and analysed for thirty‐nine elements. (2) The deep‐penetrating geochemical mapping project (DEEPMAP Project) has been conducted since 1994 in covered terrains, including sedimentary basins, at a density of 1 sample per 100 km² with thirty to seventy elements determined per sample. In the past 10 years, an area of approximately 800 000 km² has been covered and this project has played an important role in finding sandstone‐type uranium deposits in basins. (3) The seventy‐six geochemical element mapping project (76 GEM project) has been carried out since 1999 and involved the collection of stream sediment samples from the RGNR project targets which were analysed for seventy‐six elements. Samples from each 1:50 000 map sheet were composited into one analytical sample (approximately one composite sample per 400 km²). Approximately 1 million km² have been surveyed to date. (4) The multi‐purpose eco‐geochemical mapping project has been conducted since 1999 in Quaternary plain areas for environmental and agricultural applications. Surface soils (depths from 0–20 cm) were collected at a density of one sample per km², and four samples were composited into one for analysis. Deep soils (from a depth of 150 to 200 cm) were collected at a density of one sample per 4 km² and four samples were composited into one analytical sample. All the composite samples were analysed for fifty‐four elements.     

Deep-penetrating geochemistry for sandstone-type uranium deposits in the Turpan–Hami basin, north-western China

The Turpan–Hami basin, covering an area of approximately 50,000 km² in NW China, contains concealed sandstone-type U deposits in a Jurassic sequence of sandstone, mudstone and coal beds. Sampling of soil profiles over the Shihongtan concealed U deposit in this basin shows that fine-grained soil collected from the clay-rich horizon contains U concentrations three times higher than similar soils at background areas. Selective leaching studies of these soils show that U is mainly associated with clay minerals, which comprise from 17.9% to 40% (average 30.4%) of the total mineral content. This may indicate that U is converted to uranyl ions [UO₂]²⁺ under oxidizing conditions and is sorbed on clay minerals to accumulate in anomalous concentrations. Fine-grained soil (<120 mesh, <0.125 mm) from the clay-rich horizon, generally occurring at a depth of 0–40 cm, is shown to be an effective sampling medium for deep-penetrating geochemical surveys. A wide-spaced geochemical survey at a density of approximately 1 site per 100 km² was carried out throughout the whole basin using this sampling medium. Samples were analyzed for 30 elements by ICP-MS following a 4-acid extraction. Three large-scale geochemical anomalies of U and Mo were delineated over the whole basin. One of the anomalies is consistent with the known U deposit at Shihongtan in the western part of the basin. A new potential target in the eastern part of the basin was selected for a follow-up survey at a density of 1 sample per 4 km². A drilling exploration programme at the center of the geochemical anomaly delineated by this follow-up survey discovered a new U deposit.     

平原区中大比例尺土壤地球化学调查采样方法--浙江省平湖市试验研究

文章以浙江省平湖市为典型三角洲平原区,开展了多种尺度、不同采样方法的对比试验。结果表明,田块内土壤元素分布较为均匀,小范围内元素的空间分异性较小,而田块之间土壤元素含量差异性明显增加;Hg,Cd等典型污染元素空间分异性较强,而人为污染扰动较弱的元素的空间分布较为均一;不同采样方法取得的区域性资料,其统计值接近,空间分布模式也相似,但有些元素仍有较明显差异。因此,中大比例尺地球化学调查时,应根据调查研究的目标任务,充分考虑地块分布、土壤类型和土地利用方式,选择合理的采样点。土壤样品可采取多坑点采集、多子样组合的方式,以保证样品的代表性,同时减少分析测试工作量。     

地球化学块体——概念和方法学的发展

中国的全国区域化探扫面计划（RGNR）迄今已进行了24年,已经覆盖了全国600余万平方千米的国土面积,获得了高质量元素分析的海量数据,通过对这些数据进行的综合研究,笔者发现了比传统意义的分散晕分散流更为宽广的地球化学模式：区域异常、地球化学省、地球化学巨省和地球化学域。这种更为宽广的所谓套合着的地球化学模式谱系实际上是地球上富含各种金属的巨大岩块的内部结构特征在地表的表现,这种“地球化学块体”是原始地球的不均一性以及地球从起始演化到现在的过程中元素的分布再分配的最终结果的体现,笔者从中得到了这种大的地球化学块体能够为大型巨型矿床的形成提供其所必需的足够的物质供应量的新认识。而追索某元素地球化学块体的内部结构则可揭示该元素在地球化学块体中逐步浓集成矿的轨迹。尽管地球化学块体的理论与方法学研究虽然尚在初期阶段,但已为勘查地球化学、矿床学与成矿学开拓了眼界,并提供了新的研究思路。     

The suitability of floodplain sediment as a global sampling medium: evidence from China

Research undertaken by IGCP 259 (International Geochemical Mapping) indicates that wide-spaced sampling is a fundamental concept of international geochemical mapping as it appears to provide the only practical way to obtain a relative rapid (10–20 years) overview of global geochemistry. The main aim of this study is to test the suitability of floodplain sediment as a global sampling medium.Thirteen floodplain sediment samples and 13 stream sediment samples were taken at the exit of 13 super large drainage basins (SCB). The areal extents of these basins are in the order of 1000–10,000 km². Within each SCB, 3–11 stream sediment samples each representing a component catchment basin (CCB) of 100–1000 km² were also taken. Fourty nine elements were analyzed. The results were compared with the average values derived from calculating thousands of stream sediment data available from China's National Geochemical Mapping (RGNG) program. Strong similiarities were demonstrated in distribution and trends among the three levels of data. The set of floodplain sediment data shows great coincidence with RGNR stream sediment data.     

Metallogenic provinces,geochemical provinces and regional geology — what causes large-scale patterns in low density geochemical maps of the C-horizon of podzols in Arctic Europe?

The <2 mm fraction of 605 samples of the C-horizon of podzols collected from an area of 188,000 km² in the European Arctic was analysed for more than 40 chemical elements. The results were used to construct geochemical maps which showed clear regional distribution patterns, notwithstanding the very low sample density of 1 site per 300 km². Some of these patterns fit established lithological boundaries. Others fit lineament structures in the area and underline the relative importance of certain tectonic directions some of which have not yet been delineated on existing geological maps. Some mark large-scale hydrothermal events and related alteration. Finally, some are connected with prominent, known ore deposits occurring in the area. However, several large deposits and even famous metallogenic provinces (Fe, Ni/Cu) are hardly, or not at all, reflected in the regional geochemical maps. In their present definitions geochemical provinces and metallogenic provinces are thus not necessarily related. Special geochemical features can occur at very different scales. The term geochemical province is so imprecise in terms of processes leading to regional-scale geochemical features that it should be avoided. Low-density geochemistry can be used to aid the interpretation of the geological evolution of large regions. It can also be used to find prospective areas within such regions.     

Geochemical mapping in China

China's National Geochemical Mapping Project (Regional Geochemistry-National Reconnaissance, RGNR project) was initiated in 1979. From 1978 to 1982, cooperative research projects were carried out for the preparation and distribution of standard reference samples and for the development of field sampling techniques, multi-element analytical methodology and a unified data quality monitoring procedure. Large pilot surveys were also commenced in several provinces. After five years of technical preparation, the project came into its full implementation. More than 5 million km² of Chinese land surface has been covered by this project. During 1993–1995, another national geochemical project, under the name of ‘Environmental geochemical monitoring network and dynamic geochemical maps in China’ as a pilot survey to choose the suitable sampling medium for the global geochemical mapping application, was carried out in China. The remarkable achievements of China's geochemical mapping projects are widely recognized. Nearly 66% of new discoveries of economic mineralization by MGMR were attributed to the RGNR project. New concepts and new methodologies have emerged through these projects. They also made a great contribution to the international activity toward standardization of geochemical mapping methodology and the possible realization of wide-spaced global geochemical mapping.     

上宫构造蚀变岩型金矿床地质特征及化探找金经验

上宫金矿位于河南省西部熊耳山北麓,在该区1 020 km²范围内进行了1:5万的地球化学水系沉积物测量,按水系划分取样单元,取样本着"小沟多取,支流放稀,大河不管"的原则进行。本次水系沉积物测量的特点是:取样少,控制面积大,速度快,省钱、省人、省物,找矿效果好、经济效益好。本区水系沉积物测量中所发现的金异常,后经异常检查、地质普查评价及钻探验证,确定为一大型构造蚀变岩型金矿床。     

1:50 000山东毕郭幅地球化学数据集

该数据集依托中国地质调查局“山东莱州-招远地区金矿整装勘查区矿产调查与找矿预测”项目,在充分收集地质、物探、化探、遥感及矿产等资料基础上,开展毕郭幅矿产地质调查。项目共采集1 875件水系沉积物样品,采样粒级为-10～+80目,平均采样密度4.5个/km²。采用电感耦合等离子质谱法（ICP-MS）、原子荧光光谱法（AFS）、粉末发射光谱法（ES）和石墨炉原子吸收光谱法（GF-AAS）分析了16种元素,最终形成1：50 000山东毕郭幅地球化学数据集,数据集包含有1 875件样品×16种元素的原始分析数据表格一个,图集一套（含有1张矿产地质图、一张采样点位图和16张元素地球化学图）。区内共新发现单元素地球化学异常149处,综合异常10处,结合地质、矿产、物探、化探、遥感等信息并圈出金矿找矿靶区5处。     

Low-density geochemical mapping in Portugal

This paper reports the first results of a low-density geochemical survey covering the whole continental area of Portugal, taking both topsoils and active stream sediments as the sampling media. The data were obtained in a consistent way from 653 sites at a sampling density of 1 site/135 km². The samples were analysed for 31 elements by ICP-AES and after quality control the following 19 were selected: Al, As, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, La, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, Th, V and Zn. The baseline levels for these elements are presented. The first geochemical maps of Portugal were prepared and the geochemical patterns are generally well correlated to geological factors sometimes combined with anthropogenic influences. Some general trends can be observed between geochemical patterns and soils distribution.     

大兴安岭中北段森林沼泽丘陵景观区的1∶5万化探方法技术研究

在森林沼泽水系较不发育区开展土壤测量时,部分区段存在厚度为1~3 m的黏土层,采样困难,大家选用采样介质不一。通过对比研究残积土、腐殖土、黏土的粒级分布特征、元素分布特征及同点采集的样品元素含量的对比研究,认为在大兴安岭中北段森林沼泽丘陵景观区开展1∶5万化探时采用的方法为:采样介质为残坡积土;采样粒级为-10~+60目;采样密度为9点/km²;野外样品加工方法为水筛。     

Ground-water geochemistry in the abitibi volcanic belt of quebec

Large sections of the Abitibi volcanic belt of Archean age are covered by thick glacial and glacio-lacustrine overburden. To increase our knowledge of the geology and the economic potential of the basement, approximately 5000 ground-water samples were collected from wells, springs and drill holes over an area of about 20 000 km². Samples were collected at intervals varying from 150 to 500 m in settled areas. They were analysed for: Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Co, Cd, Cr, Mn, Fe, Mo, Hg, As, U, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Li, F, and Cl⁻ and pH.Several types of regional and local geochemical patterns were identified. However, since the apparent dispersion distance of trace elements from a point source is usually less than 1 km in ground waters, the local zones of geochemical activity having an area less than 15 km² are considered of greatest interest for exploration. The large regional patterns and geochemical complexes which consist of clusters of grouped, overlapping, and superimposed regional and local patterns are presumed to be related to particular geological or metallogenic contexts.The elements with the highest frequency of occurrence in the 240 identified local zones of geochemical activity are As, Ni and U which occur in more than 30% of these zones; they are closely followed by the groups Co, Cu, Mo and Zn, Hg, Pb, F⁻ which occur respectively in more than 25% and 20% of the zones. Element associations in these zones can be broken down into three major groups: the trace metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Co, Cd, Mo), the major and associated elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Li, F⁻, Cl⁻) and the elements As, U and Ni which occur with elements of either of the first two groups.Ground-water samples were also collected in 21 mines. The results of this study suggest that the best indicator elements for base metal deposits are As, Mo and F, whereas As, Ni, F⁻ or Cl⁻ and Mn are the best indicators of gold deposits.The results of the ground-water survey have identified numerous new areas to explore. Anomalous concentrations of at least two of the best indicators occur in more than 33% of the 240 local zones of geochemical activity.     

Hydrogeochemical methods for base metal exploration in the northern Canadian shield

The use of lake waters for base metal exploration has been studied in the northern part of the Slave Geological Province of the Canadian Shield. The area is north of the treeline, within the zone of continuous permafrost, and, like most other regions of the Shield, has a high density of small lakes.A regional sampling of 1218 lakes established that less than 2 ppb (μg/l) Zn or Cu is typical of waters from unmineralized terrane. These samples had a median pH of 6.8 and a median specific conductivity of 19.5 μmhos. Lake waters were also taken from the areas surrounding five massive sulphide occurrences: High Lake, Canoe Lake, Takiyuak Lake, Hackett River and Agricola Lake. In all cases there are unambiguous anomalies for Zn. Anomalies are also present for Cu, but are less intense and extensive. This difference between the two elements is related to the superior mobility of Zn in surface waters and its more consistent presence as a major constituent of massive sulphides.A water sampling apparatus has been developed and tested on a light turbine helicopter. Using this, thirty sites may be sampled each hour when sampling at a density of 1 site per 2.8 km². Measurement of pH, conductivity and water temperature are recorded in the helicopter during sampling.A number of factors have been investigated that may influence the utility of lake water sampling for base metal exploration:

1. (1) Seasonal variability, while present to moderate degree, is unlikely to hinder application of the method.

2. (2) For the size of lakes sampled (2 km² or less), elements are homogeneously distributed across the lake surface during the ice-free season. During the initial period of break-up there are marked variations in element content around the ice-free lake margin. Sampling during this period may help define the source of metals for anomalous lakes.

3. (3) Study of sample preservation suggests that mobile elements, such as Zn, that are stable in solution within lakes, are also relatively stable when untreated water is stored in plastic bottles.

4. (4) Care must be taken to avoid contamination of the samples, particularly from the bottle.

The areal extent of lake water base metal anomalies appears to be less than equivalent lake sediment anomalies. Thus for wide-interval, regional geochemical reconnaissance, lake sediment sampling is the method of choice. Lake waters are an appropriate medium for detailed exploration of areas of interest, such as volcanic belts. For this application, the principal attractions are rapid sampling rates, and hence low costs, high contrast anomalies, and a uniform sampling medium.     

Spatial filtering of exploration geochemical data using EDA and robust statistics

The spatial filtering techniques that are used for the analysis and interpretation of exploration geochemical data to define regional distribution patterns or to outline anomalous areas are, in most cases, based on non-robust statistical methods. The performance of these techniques is heavily influenced by the presence of outliers that commonly exist in the data. This study describes a number of filtering techniques motivated by the development of exploratory data analysis (EDA) and robust statistical procedures. These are the median filter (MF) and the adaptive trimmed mean filter (ATM) for the smoothing of regional geochemical data to reduce spurious variations; two new filters, the fence filter (FF) and the notch filter (NF), have been developed to define geochemical anomalies.The application of the spatial filtering techniques is illustrated by Zn data from approximately 3100 stream sediment samples taken in a regional geochemical survey over 25,000 km² of the western margin of the São Francisco Basin, Brazil. Regional distribution patterns for Zn obtained by the MF and ATM filters are clearly related to known stratigraphic units. Anomaly filtering using the FF and NF has delineated most known base metal and gold occurrences, as well as a number of anomalies located in geologically favourable environments but unrelated to any known mineralization. The two anomaly filters have, for the most part, defined the same anomalies in the study area but only the NF highlights the anomaly associated with the important Morro Agudo Pb-Zn deposit, which is too subtle to be immediately apparent in the unprocessed data.     

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.