Metallogenic background, process and exploration as one: A trinity concept for prospecting for super-large ore deposits

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2021.1.11

Abstract

Abstract:

Super-large ore deposits are giant storages for one or some kinds of mineral resources. About Roughly 70%-85% of world’s known ore reserves are concentrated in super-large deposits that account for 10% of the world’s total in terms of deposit numbers. Thus the discovery of super-large deposits is of great importance to the socioeconomic development of a country. The geological background of a super-large deposit is the basis of its formation; the metallogenic process is the key to its mineralization; and conceptual exploration, evaluation is the fundamental approach to its discovery. In this paper we attempt to explore the idea of trinity—metallogenic background, process and exploration as one—for prospecting for super-large deposits. For hidden and new types of super-large deposits, ore prospecting based on the trinity concept is the key to the success of mineral exploration. According to the theory of Earth dynamics, we define the geological anomaly area (e.g., various kinds of plate boundaries) with a complex crustal structure as the feasible ore prospecting area; within this area, the subarea associated with key metallogenic factors (source, transport, storage, cover) is defined as the favorable ore prospecting area according to the concept of metallogenic system; inside the favorable ore prospecting area, the district with variable mineralization types is defined as the ore prospective area based on the concept of ore-forming series. According to the theory of self-organization, metallogenic system in an ore-rich area follows the power-law distribution, hence it requires multi-scale oriented ore prospecting; while the uncertainty of single information on geology and mineralization warrants collection of comprehensive ore-forming information. Metallogenic system-based mineral exploration, combined with prediction model based on comprehensive ore-forming information, is the most effective way to determine the possible mineralization area as it takes account of two factors simultaneously: the mechanism of mineralization (essence) and the correlation (phenomenon) between ore deposit and various ore controlling factors. The search for super-large deposits should be regarded as a scientific exploration from the viewpoint of geoscience. It involves first integrating the ore-forming information extracted from various sources, including geological, geochemical, geophysical, and remote sensing data; then transforming the obtained information of key ore-forming processes and parameters into spatial information of ore prospecting; next identifying and confirming such spatial information according to the target selection model; and finally delineating the ore-prospecting target area of varying scales, from global ore deposit zones to metallogenic provinces to ore-rich areas. The trinity concept lays a theoretical, methodological foundation for future exploration of super-large deposits and provides a reasonable engineering scheme for the application of direct prospecting technology in ore exploration.

Key words: super-large ore deposits, geodynamic background, metallogenic dynamic system, comprehensive ore-forming information digital prospecting model, comprehensive quantitative exploration/evaluation

CLC Number:

P611
P612

CHEN Yongqing, MO Xuanxue. Metallogenic background, process and exploration as one: A trinity concept for prospecting for super-large ore deposits[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2021, 28(3): 26-48.

Figures/Tables 14

Fig.1 Components, structure and a dynamic model of the Earth system. Adapted from [30].

Fig.2 Divergent plate boundaries and the main deposit types in inland hot spring/incipient rift (a), inland rift zone (b), or ocean ridge/Hawaii type hot spring deposit (c). Adapted from [32].

Fig.3 Convergent plate boundary and the deposit types in oceanic island arc or (continental) back-arc basin. Adapted from [33].

Fig.4 Tanlu strike-slip fault and distribution of gold deposits. Adapted from [22].

Fig.5 Cordillera orogenic belt and associated ore deposits. Adapted from [35].

Fig.6 Gold deposits in the orogenic belts associated with the Himalayan orogenic belt. Adapted from [32].

Fig.7 Main deposit types and metallogenic environments through the geological history. Adapted from [38].

Fig.8 The main characteristics of super-large deposits. Adapted from [57].

Fig.9 Flowchart of digital mineral exploration using integrated ore-forming information. Adapted from [15-16].

Fig.10 Regional geologic and mineral resources distributions in the Gejiu-Bozhushan ore-rich area. Adapted from [16].

Table 1 Ore-forming favorability frequency and cumulative frequency of sample units in the Gejiu-Bozhushan ore-rich area

组间距	频数	频率/%	累积频率/%	组间距	频数	频率/%	累积频率/%
0.1~0.2	2	0.69	0.69	1.1~1.2	12	4.17	92.01
0.2~0.3	10	3.47	4.17	1.2~1.3	6	2.08	94.10
0.3~0.4	17	5.90	10.07	1.3~1.4	4	1.39	95.49
0.4~0.5	60	20.83	30.90	1.4~1.5	3	1.04	96.53
0.5~0.6	51	17.71	48.61	1.5~1.6	4	1.39	97.92
0.6~0.7	37	12.85	61.46	1.6~1.7	3	1.04	98.96
0.7~0.8	28	9.72	71.18	1.7~1.8	0	0.00	98.96
0.8~0.9	23	7.99	79.17	1.8~1.9	2	0.69	99.65
0.9~1.0	16	5.56	84.72	1.9~2.0	1	0.35	100
1.0~1.1	9	3.13	87.85

Fig.11 Frequency distribution of ore-forming favorability of sample units in the Gejiu-Bozhushan ore-rich area

Fig.12 Distribution of potential Sn-Cu and Ag-Pb-Zn polymetallic mineral resources zones in the Gejiu-Bozhushan ore-rich area

Table 2 Ore prospecting priority and prospecting probability of the target area

靶区编号	S_i/km²	F_i	P_Oi	P_i
I	125	0.95	119	0.05
II	325	1.24	403	0.34
III	275	1.12	307	0.24
IV	250	0.86	214	0.15
V	825	1.28	1056	1
VI	75	0.86	64.5	0
VII	100	0.9	90.25	0.02
VIII	175	0.95	166.25	0.1

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