The Relationship between High Conductive Layer in Upper Mantle and Endogenous Metallic Ore and Petroleum Reservoir

Abstract

AbstractBased on the 1° × 1° depth map of the high conductive layers in upper mantle of China (1996), with the addition of magnetotelluric data, we created the new map of the high conductive layer in upper mantle of China. The depth of the upper mantle high conductive layers vary widely in China, the shallowest depth is about 50∼60 km, the deepest place is about 230 km, and the average depth can be about 100∼120 km. Through further study on the interface depth of high conductive layer in upper mantle as well as contrasting with the distribution of endogenous metallic minerals of the continent of China, we have found that most of the endogenous metallic ore deposits are located at the top of high conductive layer in upper mantle uplift or the top of the steep gradient zone of high conductive layer in upper mantle. Therefore, the depth and shape of the high‐conductive layer in upper mantle can be very useful for the prediction of endogenous metal ores. We also found that the structures which have mirror relationship with the high conductive layer in upper mantle such as shallow basin and rift are the best area to detecting inorganic mantle reservoirs. The lithosphere are thinning and stretching while the uplift of high conductive layer in upper mantle, meanwhile a series of nearly parallel beam steep crack can be formed to become the passway for the mass upwelling of magma, liquid and gas from the deep mantle, finally all those materials from deep mantle are accumulated and become inorganic mantle reservoirs, gas reservoirs and endogenous metal ores under certain situations.