Application of Finite Difference Method in Multifractal Techniques to Identify Pb–Zn Anomalies: a Case Study from Khomein, Iran

Abstract

Separation of geochemical anomalies from background is an important and essential issue in the exploration of mineral deposits. Statistical methods are used to separation of anomaly from background. Fractal/multifractal and singularity methods are very suitable for the separation of weak anomalies. For interpolation, various methods could be used such as most distance-weighting methods, kriging, spline interpolation, interpolating polynomials, and finite difference methods. This paper addressed application of multifractal techniques together with finite difference procedure to detect the anomalous regions. Fractal models such as concentration-area, spectrum-area, and singularity index model were selected to identify Pb-Zn anomalies. In this research, 170 samples from 33 boreholes were taken in the Haft-Savaran area and analyzed for determination of Pb-Zn anomaly. Singularity method was a suitable method for separating Pb and Zn anomalies. Also, the results showed that the geochemical anomaly has occurred along NE-SW trend and is consistent with the sulfide mineralization process and the faults of the region.