Geochemical distribution and metallogenic potential of Pb-Zn in Pakistan and its implications for mineral prospecting in sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits in the Tethys belt

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.10.44

Abstract

Abstract:

Pakistan, which is located between the Tibetan and Iranian Plateaus, is an important part of the Tethys Domain, where some lead-zinc deposits and ore occurrences have been revealed. The metallogenic pattern and the extend of lead-zinc mineralization zones, however, are unclear due to lack of systematic geological investigation, and the metallogenic potential of lead and zinc in Pakinstan remains undetermined. The low-density geochemical survey is an effective method to address the above issues. Based on the results of the 1∶1000000 low-density geochemical survey in Pakistan, this paper describes the geochemical background and geochemical anomaly distribution characteristics of lead and zinc in Pakistan. Combined with the regional geology and metallogeny, types, and key ore-controlling factors of lead-zinc deposits, favorable prospective areas are delineated and potential ore deposit types are proposed, providing the foundation for lead and zinc prospecting and exploration. The results show that the content of lead in stream sediments in the bedrock outcrop area of Pakistan ranged between 0.37-155.90 μg/g, with an average value of 13.44 μg/g, which is higher than the Clark value of the crust. The content of zinc varied from 1.78 to 288.70 μg/g, with an average value of 52.10 μg/g, which is lower than the Clark value of the crust. According to 92% cumulative frequency as the lower limit of anomaly (Pb = 18.4 μg/g, Zn = 76.0 μg/g), a total of 18 lead geochemical anomalies, 24 zinc geochemical anomalies, nine lead-zinc prospective areas were delineated, and three main metallogenic series were identified. It is suggested that the Khuzdar-Rasbela and Quetta areas of south-central Pakistan have great prospecting potential for SEDEX and MVT lead-zinc deposits. This region—connecting with the Sanandagi-Sirjan lead-zinc metallogenic belt of Iran to the west, extending to the Tianshuihai-Sanjiang lead-zinc metallogenic belt of China to the east—is an important component of the giant metallogenic belt of the Tethys hosting sedimentary lead-zinc deposits, and this type of lead-zinc deposits may also be found in other metallogenic belts and areas of the Tethys belt.

Key words: Tethy, metallogenic potential, geochemical survey, sedimentary lead-zinc deposits, SEDEX and MVT, Pakistan

CLC Number:

P632

ZHANG Huishan, SONG Yucai, LI Wenchang, MA Zhongping, ZHANG Jing, HONG Jun, LIU Lei, LÜ Pengrui, WANG Zhihua, ZHANG Haidi, YANG Bo, Naghmah HAIDER, Yasir Shaheen KHALIL, Asad Ali NAREJO. Geochemical distribution and metallogenic potential of Pb-Zn in Pakistan and its implications for mineral prospecting in sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits in the Tethys belt[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2025, 32(1): 105-126.

Figures/Tables 22

References 68

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元素	最大值	最小值	平均值	平均差	中位数	标准离差	方差	偏度	峰度	异常下限
Pb	155.90	0.37	13.44	4.98	12.90	8.22	67.53	4.95	66.38	18.4
Zn	288.70	1.78	52.10	21.31	49.57	27.01	729.45	0.75	2.12	76.0

元素	最大值	最小值	平均值	平均差	中位数	标准离差	方差	偏度	峰度	异常下限
Pb	155.90	0.37	13.44	4.98	12.90	8.22	67.53	4.95	66.38	18.4
Zn	288.70	1.78	52.10	21.31	49.57	27.01	729.45	0.75	2.12	76.0

元素	单元代号	样品数量/件	平均值/ (μg·g^-1)	最小值/ (μg·g^-1)	最大值/ (μg·g^-1)	标准离差/ (μg·g^-1)	均方差/ (μg·g^-1)
Pb	1	107	19.37	0.72	50.68	65.38	8.09
	2	300	11.16	1.42	52.13	50.93	7.14
	3	246	18.62	1.54	155.90	157.15	12.54
	4	379	14.93	4.31	136.73	56.27	7.50
	5	145	11.06	1.08	28.53	22.68	4.76
	6	199	13.15	4.28	45.66	17.38	4.17
	7	1 088	11.45	0.37	116.59	51.01	7.14
Zn	1	107	58.02	3.77	134.05	511.99	22.63
	2	300	67.86	15.59	133.69	304.68	17.46
	3	246	66.86	9.61	170.66	602.70	24.55
	4	379	41.07	10.10	102.97	296.17	17.21
	5	145	31.91	4.99	82.90	238.92	15.46
	6	199	65.87	21.95	288.70	581.15	24.11
	7	1 088	47.49	1.78	143.70	894.33	29.91

元素	单元代号	样品数量/件	平均值/ (μg·g^-1)	最小值/ (μg·g^-1)	最大值/ (μg·g^-1)	标准离差/ (μg·g^-1)	均方差/ (μg·g^-1)
Pb	1	107	19.37	0.72	50.68	65.38	8.09
	2	300	11.16	1.42	52.13	50.93	7.14
	3	246	18.62	1.54	155.90	157.15	12.54
	4	379	14.93	4.31	136.73	56.27	7.50
	5	145	11.06	1.08	28.53	22.68	4.76
	6	199	13.15	4.28	45.66	17.38	4.17
	7	1 088	11.45	0.37	116.59	51.01	7.14
Zn	1	107	58.02	3.77	134.05	511.99	22.63
	2	300	67.86	15.59	133.69	304.68	17.46
	3	246	66.86	9.61	170.66	602.70	24.55
	4	379	41.07	10.10	102.97	296.17	17.21
	5	145	31.91	4.99	82.90	238.92	15.46
	6	199	65.87	21.95	288.70	581.15	24.11
	7	1 088	47.49	1.78	143.70	894.33	29.91

异常编号	面积/km²	样品数量/件	异常编号	面积/km²	样品数量/件
Pb01	1 844.16	13	Pb10	758.44	7
Pb02	1 084.65	9	Pb11	2 255.80	14
Pb03	781.86	5	Pb12	11 487.88	80
Pb04	781.95	6	Pb13	2 945.04	15
Pb05	854.68	5	Pb14	7 195.06	35
Pb06	662.54	6	Pb15	2 942.27	20
Pb07	2 948.19	14	Pb16	1 430.34	4
Pb08	6 258.94	51	Pb17	10 047.64	41
Pb09	1 413.71	9	Pb18	2 171.95	11