Spatial Analysis on Gold Mineralization in Southwest Saqqez Using Point Pattern, Fry and Fractal Analyses

Abstract

The Baneh- Saqqez zone is part of the Sanandaj‒Sirjan Zone, northwest of Iran. Generally, this zone is recognized as a gold bearing zone, and the mineralization in it is controlled by faults. In this research, structural lineaments were extracted using Landsat 8 (OLI) image, in which the main lineaments trend NE‒SW, EW and NW‒SE. Spatial distributions of the mineralization are examined by using the point pattern, Fry and fractal analyses. The pattern of structural controls on the gold mineralization in southwest Saqqez, is almost regular, and the trend of gold mineralization and Fry points show NE‒SW and EW trends. Comparison of rose diagrams for the Fry analysis final translation points and faults in southwest Saqqez show that the orientations of mineralization are similar to NE‒SW and EW trending faults and that the mineralization intersects the NW‒SW trending faults. The results of fractal analysis suggest that gold occurrences in the area have higher fractal dimension. The deep regional faults cause a way for ore-bearing fluids to migrate and control the emplacement of the intrusive bodies and the position of ore mineralization in the Saqqez‒Baneh sub-zone. On that basis, a survey of spatial data and its relationship to structural features can be useful for future exploration and discovery of new occurrences of gold mineralization.