Synchronization theory and tungsten-polymetallic mineralization distribution in the Qianlishan-Qitianling area, southern Hunan

Abstract

Synchronization is an important frontier in contemporary nonlinear science. It has been developed and applied widely in the late 20th century. However, it has limited applications in geological science, especially in the study of mineralization. The ore formation of fluids is a problem of propagation of chemical waves and the generation of their spatiotemporal structures. Geological processes and spatiotemporal structures are the essence and core of all geological phenomena. Taking these ideas as guides, giving a new definition for “phase” in geochemical dynamics, and selecting the concentration data of 10 elements from stream-sediment samples on a 1: 50 000 scale, this article applies the synchronization theory to the study of the distribution of tungsten-polymetallic mineralization in the Qianlishan (千里山)-Qitianling (骑田岭) area in southern Hunan (湖南) which is one of the most important metallogenetic districts in the Nanling (南岭) region. The results show that there are large ore deposits in Shizhuyuan (柿竹园), Huangshaping (黄沙坪), Xianghualing (香花岭), Qitianling, and other areas, which verifies the present distribution of mineral resources in southern Hunan. Moreover, this article holds that the spatiotemporal synchronization of chemical waves plays an important role in the science of metallogenesis: it leads to the regional ore zoning centered at Qitianling, confirms that the Yanshan epoch is the chief ore-forming epoch in southern Hunan, and predicts other prospective areas of specific ores.