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Identification of REE mineralization-related geochemical anomalies using fractal/multifractal methods in the Nanling belt, South China

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Abstract

Singularity analysis in the multifractal context adds new tools to conventional approaches in dealing with geochemical data, which can be applied to characterize how the statistical behavior varies as measuring scale changes. Hybrid frequency distribution patterns can be detected by singularity analysis because of the regularity of enrichment and dispersion of geochemical elements in the Earth’s crust. In the present study, a case study of anomaly identification of REE mineralization-related La and Y concentration values from 1,617 stream sediment samples in the Nanling belt, South China, has been used to demonstrate the application of two-fractal/multifractal methods, singularity analysis and concentration–area (C-A) fractal method. First, singularity analysis was used to identify weak anomalies hidden within geochemical background for the prediction of the present of REE mineralization. And then, the C-A fractal method was applied to determine threshold values of singularity indices for separating anomalies from background. The results indicate that nonlinear models and methods related to fractal/multifractal (singularity analysis and C-A method) can provide powerful tools for the quantification of geochemical anomaly characteristics, and hybrid frequency distribution patterns can be identified by combining singularity analysis and C-A method due to different distribution patterns of background and anomaly of geochemical data.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Prof. Pablo Gumiel (University of Alcalá, Spain) and two anonymous reviewers for reviewing and improving the manuscript. This research has been supported by a Basic Research and Public Service Special Fund project from the Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration CAGS (WHS201208), a Program of Integrated Prediction of Mineral Resources in Covered Areas (No. 1212011085468), and a research project on “Quantitative models for prediction of strategic mineral resources in China” (201211022) by China Geological Survey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Y. Liu & Q. Cheng

  2. Faculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Y. Liu, Q. Xia & X. Wang

  3. Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering, York University, Toronto, M3J1P3, Canada

    Q. Cheng

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  1. Y. Liu
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Correspondence to Y. Liu.

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Liu, Y., Cheng, Q., Xia, Q. et al. Identification of REE mineralization-related geochemical anomalies using fractal/multifractal methods in the Nanling belt, South China. Environ Earth Sci 72, 5159–5169 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3385-4

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