Application of fractal content-gradient method for delineating geochemical anomalies associated with copper occurrences in the Yangla ore field, China

Fractal and multi-fractal content area method finds application in a wide variety of geological, geochemical and geophysical fields. In this study, the fractal content-gradient method was used on 1:10,000 scale to delineate geochemical anomalies associated with copper mineralization. Analysis of geochemical data from the Yangla super large Cu-Pb-Zn polymetallic ore district using the fractal content-gradient method, combined with other geological data from this area, indicates that ore-prospecting in the ore district should focus on Cu as the main metal and Pb-Zn and Au as the auxiliary metals. The types of deposits include (in chronological order) re-formed sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX), skarns, porphyries, and hydrothermal vein-type deposits. Three ore-prospecting targets are divided on a S–N basis: (1) the Qulong exploration area, in which the targets are porphyry-type Cu deposits; (2) the Zongya exploration area, where the targets are porphyry-type Cu and hydrothermal vein-type Cu-Pb polymetallic deposits; and (3) the Zarelongma exploration area, characterized mainly skarn-type “Yangla-style” massive sulfide Cu-Pb deposits. Our study demonstrates that the fractal content-gradient method is convenient, simple, rapid, and direct for delineating geochemical anomalies and for outlining potential exploration targets.