Geochemical distribution of Pb and Zn in the Eastern High Atlas, Morocco: Implications for Pb-Zn ore prospecting

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.10.41

Abstract

Abstract:

The Moroccan High Atlas tectonic belt is located at the west end of the Tethyan metallogenic domain with favorable geological conditions for mineralization. Numerous Mississippi Valley-type lead-zinc deposits (MVT) have been discovered in this region. However, the mineralization potential of lead and zinc is unclear due to lack of long-term, high-level geological investigation. Medium- to large-scale geochemical surveys are effective tools for resource exploration, as detailed geochemical anomaly information can help to quickly delineate prospective mineralization areas, thereby improving the exploration efficiency and success rate. In this study, a 1∶100000 geochemical survey was conducted over an area of more than 10000 km² in the eastern section of the Moroccan High Atlas tectonic belt. The results revealed that the lead content in stream sediments ranged from 5.7 to 43,210.0 μg/g, averaging 45.0 μg/g, and the zinc content ranged from 12.2 to 75,420.0 μg/g, averaging 86.4 μg/g. Both values are higher than the Clarke values of the Earth’s crust. Using the 92% cumulative frequency as the anomaly threshold (Pb=36.9 μg/g, Zn=78.3 μg/g), a total of 73 lead and 68 zinc geochemical anomalies were delineated. By analyzing the regional geochemical distribution characteristics of lead and zinc, combined with the regional geological background and mineralization conditions, three major lead-zinc metallogenic belts were identified, and nine lead-zinc ore prospective areas were delineated. This study suggests that the region has significant potential for discovering MVT deposits, providing important directions for future mineral exploration efforts.

Key words: geochemical survey, Mississippi Valley-type Pb-Zn deposits, prospecting areas optimization, resource potential, Morocco

CLC Number:

P622.3
P632

WU Fafu, ZHAO Kai, SONG Song, LUO Junqiang, ZHANG Huishan, YU Wenming, LIU Jiangtao, CHENG Xiang, LIU Hao, ZENG Xiongwei, HE Yaoyan, XIANG Peng, WANG Jianxiong, HU Peng. Geochemical distribution of Pb and Zn in the Eastern High Atlas, Morocco: Implications for Pb-Zn ore prospecting[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2025, 32(1): 162-182.

Figures/Tables 22

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元素	最大值	最小值	平均值	标准误差	中位数	标准离差	均方差	偏度	峰度	异常下限
Pb	43 210.0	5.7	45.0	5.3	20.6	545.8	297 852.4	57.9	4 067.0	36.9
Zn	75 420.0	12.2	86.4	9.9	49.0	1 023.0	1 046 467.1	57.7	3 682.0	78.3

元素	最大值	最小值	平均值	标准误差	中位数	标准离差	均方差	偏度	峰度	异常下限
Pb	43 210.0	5.7	45.0	5.3	20.6	545.8	297 852.4	57.9	4 067.0	36.9
Zn	75 420.0	12.2	86.4	9.9	49.0	1 023.0	1 046 467.1	57.7	3 682.0	78.3

元素	单元代号	样品数量/件	Avg/(μg·g^-1)	Min/(μg·g^-1)	Max/(μg·g^-1)	Var/(μg·g^-1)	Sev/(μg·g^-1)
Pb	Q	4 981	36.0	5.7	11 777.0	78 891.2	280.9
	K	481	21.3	6.0	1 710.8	6 242.3	79.0
	J	5 061	56.6	6.5	43 210.0	551 025.9	742.3
	tβ	58	55.2	13.1	1 121.0	20 861.9	144.4
	O	96	21.3	9.8	186.0	411.0	20.3
		23	18.8	12.9	44.6	50.1	7.1
Zn	Q	4 981	77.1	12.2	44 490.0	533 877.3	730.7
	K	481	37.7	12.3	149.5	199.8	14.1
	J	5 061	100.5	15.3	75 420.0	1 686 452.6	1 298.6
	tβ	58	111.9	43.3	1 133.0	20 322.6	142.6
	O	96	63.5	32.9	129.0	302.8	17.4
		23	42.9	33.0	69.0	67.5	8.2

元素	单元代号	样品数量/件	Avg/(μg·g^-1)	Min/(μg·g^-1)	Max/(μg·g^-1)	Var/(μg·g^-1)	Sev/(μg·g^-1)
Pb	Q	4 981	36.0	5.7	11 777.0	78 891.2	280.9
	K	481	21.3	6.0	1 710.8	6 242.3	79.0
	J	5 061	56.6	6.5	43 210.0	551 025.9	742.3
	tβ	58	55.2	13.1	1 121.0	20 861.9	144.4
	O	96	21.3	9.8	186.0	411.0	20.3
		23	18.8	12.9	44.6	50.1	7.1
Zn	Q	4 981	77.1	12.2	44 490.0	533 877.3	730.7
	K	481	37.7	12.3	149.5	199.8	14.1
	J	5 061	100.5	15.3	75 420.0	1 686 452.6	1 298.6
	tβ	58	111.9	43.3	1 133.0	20 322.6	142.6
	O	96	63.5	32.9	129.0	302.8	17.4
		23	42.9	33.0	69.0	67.5	8.2

异常编号	S/km²	样品数量/件	Avg/ (μg·g^-1)	Min/ (μg·g^-1)	Max/ (μg·g^-1)	异常编号	S/km²	样品数量/件	Avg/ (μg·g^-1)	Min/ (μg·g^-1)	Max/ (μg·g^-1)
Pb03	142.25	135	542.5	12.5	23 813.4	Pb25	12.34	12	62.6	21.7	127.1
Pb09	40.06	39	478.5	16.6	11 333.0	Pb29	9.02	9	62.1	14.4	186.0
Pb11	30.60	37	428.4	16.7	10 042.0	Pb52	2.33	3	60.2	46.5	69.3
Pb01	328.17	320	289.4	10.9	43 210.0	Pb34	6.60	6	59.0	23.5	180.0
Pb16	20.67	20	233.7	8.5	2 677.0	Pb26	13.69	12	58.8	32.1	90.3
Pb04	116.95	123	181.2	15.4	7 812.0	Pb23	11.91	13	56.2	18.1	171.0
Pb10	41.82	39	166.6	20.8	2 480.0	Pb48	4.69	4	55.5	19.1	101.0
Pb14	25.76	30	136.7	10.4	1 350.0	Pb51	2.59	3	54.6	30.1	70.3
Pb07	56.90	49	126.6	17.9	2 279.0	Pb38	3.94	6	54.0	20.3	127.0
Pb24	10.47	12	106.5	16.8	921.0	Pb49	5.72	3	54.0	44.8	59.2
Pb22	11.37	13	93.7	17.4	865.0	Pb30	9.00	8	53.3	28.8	136.0
Pb13	35.46	33	86.3	16.6	1 166.0	Pb32	8.48	7	51.4	31.5	80.5
Pb12	34.31	36	85.6	8.6	631.0	Pb50	1.19	3	51.4	40.3	71.1
Pb42	5.62	5	85.3	16.4	264.0	Pb28	14.65	11	50.2	24.0	75.7
Pb35	5.84	6	83.5	17.4	393.0	Pb18	13.29	16	48.8	28.2	112.0
Pb08	51.63	45	81.1	22.7	800.0	Pb43	4.93	5	48.8	30.2	70.8
Pb37	8.54	6	77.6	15.8	192.0	Pb20	15.56	14	48.2	22.7	96.4
Pb36	5.19	6	75.9	14.1	369.0	Pb05	48.61	53	47.7	19.7	111.0
Pb27	10.89	11	75.2	18.9	449.0	Pb17	22.34	20	46.5	25.6	70.0
Pb06	53.74	52	74.9	20.1	284.1	Pb31	7.99	8	46.5	33.0	77.2
Pb39	5.48	6	74.0	17.7	334.0	Pb44	3.67	4	45.3	44.4	47.5
Pb47	3.56	4	71.4	22.7	88.9	Pb19	12.88	14	43.8	25.3	79.3
Pb45	2.78	4	70.8	20.3	211.0	Pb15	26.36	28	43.4	20.8	85.6
Pb02	188.71	162	65.6	21.7	258.0	Pb46	4.26	4	43.1	36.5	52.0
Pb40	6.10	5	65.2	23.6	122.0	Pb33	4.18	7	42.1	32.2	61.4
Pb41	4.38	5	63.6	21.0	188.0	Pb21	9.76	13	41.1	33.0	58.3