The geochemical multi-fractal characteristics and mineralization of the Dehelongwa copper-gold deposit

Abstract

The spatial distribution of ore-forming elements is the result of interaction and influence among multiple factors in the process of mineralization, and is the specific embodiment of non-linearity and coupling of mineralization. The fractal theory has such functions as to characterize non-lineariry and coupling, and can find out the deterministic law from the complicated coupling process. The primary geochemical fractal distribution of metallogenic elements such as Cu and Au possesses the characteristics of multi-fractal distribution in the Dehelongwa copper-gold deposit. Copper follows 2-d fractal distribution, and Au follows 3- or 4-d fractal distribution. The primary geochemical fractal distribution has a certain similarity on the same prospecting line, and this similarity is not obvious among different prospecting lines. The secondary geochemical fractal distribution of Cu and Au is higher in similarity, and simpler than the primary geochemical fractal distribution. These results show that the mineralization of Cu and Au is out of sync and also is inconsistent in this deposit, and the mineralization of Cu mainly experienced two mineralization stages, while the mineralization of Au experienced three to four mineralization stages. Besides the mineralization of Cu and Au shows a certain direction and along the strike of vertical orebodies it is relatively balanced. While along the strike of the ore bodies the mineralization of Cu and Au shows a significant difference. The hypergenic geologic process has a certain effect on the balance of spatial distribution of Cu and Au. From these it can be seen that the mineralization process of this deposit is well characterized by the geochemical fractal distribution of Cu and Au.