Metallogenic information extraction and quantitative prediction process of seafloor massive sulfide resources in the Southwest Indian Ocean |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China;2. Institute of Land Resources and High Techniques, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China;3. The Beijing Key Laboratory of Development and Research for Land Resources Information, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China;4. School of Geophysics and Information Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China;1. State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China;2. Open Laboratory of Orogenic and Crustal Evolution, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;3. Henan Provincial Non-ferrous Metals Geological and Mineral Resources Bureau, Zhengzhou 450016, China;1. Centre for Exploration Targeting, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia;2. Economic Geology Research Centre, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814 Australia;3. Geological Survey of Western Australia, 100 Plain Street, East Perth, WA 6004, Australia;4. Geology Department, Ministry of Mineral Resources, Imaneq 1A 201, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland;1. Geoscience Australia, GPO Box 378, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia;2. Geological Survey of New South Wales, PO Box 344, Hunter Region Mail Centre, NSW 2310, Australia;3. Exploration Consultant, 468 Fairy Hole Rd, Yass, NSW 2582, Australia;4. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia;5. Argent Minerals, 6 Clerence Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia;1. Dokuz Eylul University, Department of Geological Engineering, Buca, Izmir TR-35160,Turkey;2. Durham University, Department of Earth Sciences, Durham DH1 3LE, UK |
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| Abstract: | Seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits have significant development potential. In 2011, the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRA) and International Seabed Authority (ISA) signed a contract to explore a 10 000 km2 region of the seafloor along the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) containing hydrothermal sulfides. As regulated by the contract, China will have to relinquish 50% and 75% of the contract area within 8 and 10 years, respectively. However, exploration for seafloor hydrothermal sulfide deposits in China remains in the initial stage. Based on quantitative prediction theory and the status of exploration for SMS, we assemble factors related to the deposits in terms of topography, geology, geophysics, and several other related aspects along the SWIR and extract the most favorable information to establish a prospecting prediction model for SMS. By employing the weights-of-evidence method, we obtain a weighting for each prediction factor and thereby obtain a posterior probability map for the SWIR. The prediction result suggests that the central region of the SWIR has the highest posterior probability, i.e., it is the most prospective for the formation of hydrothermal vents and related SMS. Known hydrothermal areas such as Mt. Jourdanne, area A and 10°E–16°E are all located in the regions with high posterior probability values. The Chinese contract area (47°–51°E) has the highest posterior probability value and thus can be selected as a reserved region for additional exploration. By narrowing the exploration area and improving exploration accuracy, the predictions made will provide a focus for further exploration of seafloor hydrothermal sulfide resources. |
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