Application of an improved zonality index model integrated with multivariate fractal analysis: epithermal gold deposits

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Geology, Payame Noor University, PO Box 19395-3697, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Iranian Society of Mining Engineering, Tehran, Iran

4 Geology Society of Iran, Tehran, Iran

5 Department of Economic Geology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

6 EarthByte Group, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

7 Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia

Abstract

The main goal of this present study is to apply an improved zonality index to epithermal gold ores based on staged factor and number-size (N-S) fractal analysis. This technique was utilized in Bardaskan district, NE Iran, which is epithermal gold mineralization. An improved zonality index is a proportion of factors including ore and pathfinder elements based on rock samples. Consequently, two factors were selected after four stages of the staged factor analysis which consist on F-4 (As-Fe-Mo-S) and F 3-4 (Au-Ag). Based on these factors, (F1-4)/(F3-4) is determined as an improved zonality index. In addition, the improved zonality index was categorized by fractal modeling. The N-S model demonstrates that the major anomalies of this improved zonality index are associated with silicification as main alteration zone and the intersections of faults, particularly in the NE and northern parts of the Bardaskan region. Additionally, additional rock samples with Au higher than 100 ppb are located in anomalous parts of the improved zonality index and marginal parts of this area with high values of this index contain pathfinders of gold mineralization, especially As based on this methodology. This methodology could be strongly considered in the exploration of different types of mineral deposits and the classification of the target anomalies.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Article Title [Persian]

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Geopersia
Volume 12, Issue 2
November 2022
Pages 379-394

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History

  • Receive Date: 02 March 2022
  • Revise Date: 20 September 2022
  • Accept Date: 05 December 2022

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