Geodynamic constraints on orebody localization in the Anqing orefield, China: Computational modeling and facilitating predictive exploration of deep deposits

The Anqing Fe–Cu skarn deposit, with an age of 134 to 142 Ma and resources of 62.4 Mt at 0.906% Cu and 32.2% Fe, is one of the most important deposits in the Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, East China. To better understand the localization of orebodies and thus facilitate predictive exploration of deep orebodies, computational modeling is used to simulate the coupled geodynamic processes during the syn-tectonic cooling of the ore-related intrusion, based on geological and geophysical investigations in the Anqing orefield.The occurrences of the ore veins and veinlets in diorite and skarn, as well as the sharp zigzag boundary of the orebody, indicate that the Cu ores were deposited after the solidification of the diorite and skarn formation, and were located in some tensional structural spaces that are unevenly distributed along the contact zone between the felsic intrusion and sedimentary carbonates. The locations of orebodies are closely associated with the contact zone shape. The computational results of two models with two typical contact-shapes show that pore fluid flow was focused into the dilation zones from different sources. All the significant dilation zones, in which the existing orebodies were located, are distributed in some specific places of the south contact zone of the intrusion. In addition, these dilation zones are closely related to the contact zone shape of the intrusion and can control the location of orebodies through the coupled mechano-thermo-hydrological processes during cooling of the intrusion in the extension setting. The skarns are not critical for controlling the localization of orebodies. This means that exploration for deep ore should target deep dilation zones close to the contact boundary of the intrusion. Such recognition may provide a useful guide in selecting exploration targets in the Anqing orefield. As a direct result of computational modeling, an orebody has been discovered in the deep dilation zone in this orefield. It demonstrates that computational modeling is a promising tool for understanding the metallogenic processes and for facilitating the deep exploration of hidden orebodies that are related to intrusions.