Mapping spatial distribution characteristics of lineaments extracted from remote sensing image using fractal and multifractal models

Abstract

Mapping mineral prospectivity in vegetated areas is a challenge. For this reason, we aimed to map spatial distribution characteristics of linear structures detected in remote sensing images using fractal and multifractal models. The selected study area was the Pinghe District of the Fujian Province (China), located in the Shanghang-Yunxiao polymetallic and alunite ore belt (within the Wuyishan polymetallic belt), where mineral resources such as copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, iron, lead, zinc, alunite and pyrophyllite have been discovered. The results of our study showed that: (1) the values of fractal dimension for all lineaments, NW-trending lineaments, and NE-trending lineaments, are 1.36, 1.32, and 1.23, respectively, indicating that these lineaments are statistically self-similar; (2) the fractal dimensions of the spatial distribution of the linear structures in the four selected hydrothermal-type ore deposits of the Pinghe District, named Zhongteng, Panchi, Xiaofanshan and Fanshan, are 1.43, 1.52, 1.37 and 1.37, respectively, which are higher than the mean value in South China; (3) the spatial distribution of the linear structures extracted from the remote sensing image and displayed by the contour map of fractal dimensions, correlates well with the known hydrothermal ore deposits; and (4) the results of the anomaly map decomposed by the spectrum-area (S-A) multifractal model is much better than the original fractal dimension contour map, which showed most of the known hydrothermal-type deposits occur in the high anomalous area. It is suggested that a high step tendency possibly matches with the boundary of the volcanic edifice and the deep fault controlling the development of the rock mass and the volcanic edifice. The complexity of the spatial distribution of mapped lineations (faults) in the Pinghe District, characterized by high values in the anomaly map, may be associated with the hydrothermal polymetallic ore mineralization in the study area.