Sensitivity Analysis of a Feedforward Neural Network for Considering Genetic Mechanisms of Kuroko Deposits

Abstract

Exploration for volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits of the kuroko-type is underway in many places. Clarifying the spatial patterns of the metals in kuroko deposits will be useful for understanding their genetic mechanisms and for future exploration of such types of deposits. This study represents a spatial distribution analysis on the contents of principal metals of kuroko deposits: Cu, Pb, and Zn, in the Hokuroku district, northern Japan, by a feedforward neural network and 1917 sample data at 143 drillhole sites. The network, which consists of three layers, was trained by the principle of SLANS in which the numbers of neurons in the middle layer and training data are changed to improve estimation accuracy. Using the weight coefficients connecting adjacent neurons, sensitivity analysis of the neural network was carried out to identify factors influencing spatial distributions of the three metals. The coordinates depth (z) direction, Bouguer gravity, and specific lithology such as dacite were determined to be influencing factors. The high frequency of the z coordinate signifies that the metal contents differ to a large extent by depth. The sensitivity vector was defined using sensitivity coefficients for x, y, and z coordinates of an estimation point. We determined that the directions of large vectors were different inside and outside of the Hanawa-Ohdate area. This characteristic is considered to originate from the differences in the permeability of fractures that became the paths for rising ore solutions, and the depths that the solutions mixed with sea water.