Geological and geochemical specialization of ore-bearing formations

Abstract

The geochemical and metallogenic specialization and zoning of structural-material complexes are analyzed. In the general systematic operational circuit of metallogenic forecasting and geological prospecting, processing the data on the geochemical specialization of geological formations and their constituents make it possible to perform a formational interpretation of anomalous geochemical fields revealed in the course of multipurpose geological and geochemical mapping; to subdivide the explored areas by the types of geological formations differing by their ore-bearing potential, with allocation of the most productive subformations, phases, and facies; and to provide quantitative estimates of the forecasted resources. Geochemical criteria of the ore-bearing potential of geological formations consist, first of all, in stable correlations between petrochemical features of ore-bearing rocks and their corresponding fluctuations of the ore composition (for example, the correlation of the potassium content of ore-hosting silicic volcanic rocks of the ore-bearing volcanogenic geological formations with the Cu/Pb ratio in ores of various types of deposits of the VMSD formational family). These criteria are to be taken into account in regional and local assessments of the perspective ore-bearing potential of geological formations.