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Geoscience ›› 2023, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (03): 690-707.DOI: 10.19657/j.geoscience.1000-8527.2022.042

• Ore Deposits and Geochemical Prospecting • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Geochemical Characteristics of Stream Sediments and Prospecting in the Middle Reach of the Nalinggele River, Qinghai Province

ZHANG Wei1,2,3(), AN Maoguo1,2,3, WANG Zhipeng1, YANG Qi1, CHEN Huaixin1, MA Xiaofeng1(), ZHI Chenglong1,2,3, XING Qitao1, PEI Changshi4, WANG Na1, LIU Ming1   

  1. 1. Shandong Provincial Lunan Geology and Exploration Institute (Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources No.2 Geological Brigade), Jining, Shandong 272100, China
    2. Technical Innovation Center for Comprehensive Treatment of Coal Mining Subsidence Area, Ministry of Natural Resources, Jining, Shandong 272100, China
    3. Jining Engineering Research Center for Exploration and Comprehensive Utilization of Three Rare minerals, Jining, Shandong 272100, China
    4. Qinghai Jinxing Mining Co., Ltd., Xining, Qinghai 810008, China
  • Received:2022-03-15 Revised:2023-05-15 Online:2023-06-10 Published:2023-07-20

Abstract:

The middle reach of the Nalinggele River in Qinghai Province is located in the Qin-Qi-Kun ore domain and the Variscan Qimantag Dulan Fe-Co-Cu-Pb-Zn-Sn-W ore belt in the eastern Kunlun mineral province. Over ten metal deposits/prospects have been discovered in/around this area, with good prospects for gold, iron, lead, zinc, copper, and nickel exploration. This study is based on the new 20-element analysis on stream sediment samples, and statistical analysis of element distribution and characteristic parameters to summarize the enrichment and dispersion regularities, element assemblage characteristics, and their relationship with metallogenic conditions. The results show that Pb, Bi, and Zn are significantly enriched in the Baishahe Formation, with a high mineralization index. Cu, Cr, Ni, Co, and V are significantly enriched in the Tanjianshan Group. The high-temperature Indosinian felsic magmatic activity could provide sufficient heat for the metal remobilization (e.g., Cu, Pb, Zn)in the formation. The skarn belt formed by contact metamorphism and metasomatism between the strata and the Indosinian felsic magma represents a favorable site for skarn-type Cu, Pb, Zn polymetallic mineral exploration. In combination with the geological conditions and geochemical characteristics of mineralization, a total of 39 geochemical comprehensive anomalies have been delineated, and 5 prospects have been defined. Among them, the Yemaquan-Niukutou-Heishan Cu-Au-Sb and the Ketihar-Hongweishan Cu-Co-Ni-V polymetallic prospects can be regarded as the key Cu polymetallic metallogenic prospect zone in the region with relatively high metallogenic potential. This study provides a reference for the optimization of multiple non-ferrous metal mineral target areas in the region, resource potential evaluation, and further geological exploration work.

Key words: stream sediment, geochemical characteristic, integrated anomaly, ore prospect, middle reach of the Nalinggele River, Qinghai Province

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