Resource Geology

Abstract. Based on field investigation of large number of ore deposits including some latest discoveries and multidiscipline comprehensive research, we demonstrated the general features of metallic deposits and we suggest that Paleozoic archipelago‐type collisional orogen at North Xinjiang, northwestern China show intimate similarity with the metallogenesis of Southeast Asia Cenozoic archipelago. We briefly described the characteristics of major porphyry‐type, skarn‐type Cu deposits and typical high‐sulfidation type (HS‐type) and low‐sulfidation type (LS‐type) epithermal Au deposits as well as some latest discoveries. Systematic isotopic age‐dating on the Tuwu‐Yandong superlarge porphyry Cu deposits revealed that they formed in Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous in an accretionary arc setting. The tectonic settings of epithermal Au deposits and its linkage with porphyry Cu deposits are further discussed. The formation condition for porphyry Cu deposits is more strict than epithermal Au deposits. The distribution width for porphyry Cu deposits in the orogenic belts is more limited than epithermal Au deposits. The discovery and prospecting progress of the Kalatage HS‐type Cu‐Au deposit were reported. The significance in further exploration was suggested.

This paper proposes that the spatial pattern of known prospects of the deposit‐type sought is the key to link predictive mapping of mineral prospectivity (PMMP) and quantitative mineral resource assessment (QMRA). This proposition is demonstrated by PMMP for hydrothermal Au‐Cu deposits (HACD) and by estimating the number of undiscovered prospects for HACD in Catanduanes Island (Philippines). The results of analyses of the spatial pattern of known prospects of HACD and their spatial associations with geological features are consistent with existing knowledge of geological controls on hydrothermal Au‐Cu mineralization in the island and elsewhere, and are used to define spatial recognition criteria of regional‐scale prospectivity for HACD. Integration of layers of evidence representing the spatial recognition criteria of prospectivity via application of data‐driven evidential belief functions results in a map of prospective areas occupying 20% of the island with fitting‐ and prediction‐rates of 76% and 70%, respectively. The predictive map of prospective areas and a proxy measure for degrees of exploration based on the spatial pattern of known prospects of HACD were used in one‐level prediction of undiscovered mineral endowment, which yielded estimates of 79 to 112 undiscovered prospects of HACD. Application of radial‐density fractal analysis of the spatial pattern of known prospects of HACD results in an estimate of 113 undiscovered prospects of HACD. Thus, the results of the study support the proposition that PMMP can be a part of QMRA if the spatial pattern of discovered prospects of the deposit‐type sought is considered in both PMMP and QMRA.

Abstract: In the arc (basin)–back area of the Yidun arc belt in the north segment of the Sanjiang tectonic zone, southwestern China, there occurs a post‐orogenic granite belt extending for more than 300 km in NNW direction. It strides across two different tectonic units of the arc (basin)–back area and the subduction area, and is accompanied by extensive Ag‐Sn polymetal–lic mineralizations. More than ten granite bodies have very similar geochemical characteristics: high SiO₂ (73.8–76.3 wt%) and K₂O+Na₂O (7.16‐8.41 %), and low Al₂O₃ (11.9–13.6 %), CaO (0.46‐1.54 %) and MgO (0.16‐0.61 %), as well as high enrichment of Nb, Ta, Ga and Y, and strong depletion of Sr and Eu. Most of these features are peculiar to A‐type granite. Rb‐Sr and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar isotopic dating results indicate that the formation ages of the granites decrease from 103.7 Ma of the north end to 75.2 Ma near the south end, and that the magmatism became younger from north to south. The tectonic environment analysis clearly reveals that they were formed in post‐orogenic within–plate extension settings. The magma genesis was controlled by a united crustal extension regime after the arc‐continent collision. The granites have low _Nd values ranging from –4.96 to –8.40, whereas the _Sr values vary greatly ranging from –31.7 to 296, reflecting that the source composition transited from mantle – differentiated igneous rocks in the north to basement – dominated metamorphosed sedimentary rocks in the south. Under high temperature and water‐absent conditions, the anatexes of the crustal rocks made a great amount of plagioclase separated from melts and left in magma sources. Through this mechanism, the post‐orogenic granites took geo‐chemical characteristics such as low Al₂O₃ and CaO, and strong depletion of Sr and Eu.

An exploration targeting model for Gangdese porphyry copper deposit in Tibet, China, is constructed based on (i) the age of porphyry intrusions within Gangdese magmatic arc; (ii) the regional‐scale normal E–W, N–S and N–E striking faults; and (iii) comprehensive anomalously high concentrations of Cu‐Mo‐Au‐Ag‐Pb‐Zn. These targeting elements are derived from geological map and geochemical dataset, and are integrated by weights of evidence with the aid of geographic information system (GIS). The resulting prospectivity for porphyry copper deposits delineated by posterior probability demonstrates that the target areas extend along the Yaluzangbujiang River and contain the two large deposits, Qulong and Chongjiang, located in the eastern and central part of the Gangdese belt, respectively. These results indicate that the proposed exploration targeting model is a potential tool to map regional‐scale mineral prospectivity. The target areas with high values of favorability, especially where high concentrations of Cu‐Mo‐Au‐Ag‐Pb‐Zn are present, are the potential areas for finding undiscovered porphyry copper deposits.