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Correlation between geological units and mineralized zones using fractal modeling in Zarshuran gold deposit (NW Iran)

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Abstract

In this study, the relation between ore grade and geological characteristic has been studied as a principle and also important conceptual in Zarshuran gold deposit in NW Iran. The main subject in this study was identifying a correlation among the ore grade populations and rock types which could be used in other steps of local estimation in the deposit concentration–number (CN) fractal model and logratio matrix. The CN log–log plot reveals six geochemical zones defined by Au < 0.02 ppm as non-mineralized zone and Au > 0.02 ppm as mineralized zones. According to geological logging and field geology inspection, black gauge, jasperoid, fault gauge and breccia, and carbonaceous rocks are considered as main rock types which contain major Au mineralized zones. The correlation between geological and fractal modeling by logratio matrix shows that there is a good correlation between geological assumed host rocks and CN fractal modeling. Black gauge rock type with 93.48 % of overall accuracy shows a significant correlation with supergene zone of fractal model, and jasperoid with 92.5 % and carbonaceous rock type with 52.90 % have a decent correlation with highly and lowly mineralized zone of fractal model relatively. Black gauge, jasperoid, and fault gauge and breccia have an approximately near cooperation in this zone for mineralization.

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Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to Dr. Xavier Emery (University of Chile), Mr. Ghavanloo (Executive Manager of Zarshuran project), and Mr. Yeganli (Zarshuran gold project Supervisor) and to the anonymous reviewers for their comments on an earlier version of this paper.

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Correspondence to Shahrokh Paravarzar.

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Paravarzar, S., Maarefvand, P., Maghsoudi, A. et al. Correlation between geological units and mineralized zones using fractal modeling in Zarshuran gold deposit (NW Iran). Arab J Geosci 8, 3845–3854 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-014-1453-4

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