Numerical Simulation Based Targeting of the Magushan Skarn Cu–Mo Deposit, Middle-Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt, China

Abstract

The Magushan Cu–Mo deposit is a skarn deposit within the Nanling–Xuancheng mining district of the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt (MLYRMB), China. This study presents the results of a new numerical simulation that models the ore-forming processes that generated the Magushan deposit and enables the identification of unexplored areas that have significant exploration potential under areas covered by thick sedimentary sequences that cannot be easily explored using traditional methods. This study outlines the practical value of numerical simulation in determining the processes that operate during mineral deposit formation and how this knowledge can be used to enhance exploration targeting in areas of known mineralization. Our simulation also links multiple subdisciplines such as heat transfer, pressure, fluid flow, chemical reactions, and material migration. Our simulation allows the modeling of the formation and distribution of garnet, a gangue mineral commonly found within skarn deposits (including within the Magushan deposit). The modeled distribution of garnet matches the distribution of known mineralization as well as delineating areas that may well contain high garnet abundances within and around a concealed intrusion, indicating this area should be considered a prospective target during future mineral exploration. Overall, our study indicates that this type of numerical simulation-based approach to prospectivity modeling is both effective and economical and should be considered an additional tool for future mineral exploration to reduce exploration risks when targeting mineralization in areas with thick and unprospective sedimentary cover sequences.

3D Numerical Simulation-Based Targeting of Skarn Type Mineralization within the Xuancheng-Magushan Orefield, Middle-Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt, China

“…15 Lithosphere consider target 2 to be the highest priority as this target is located in the same area and at the same depth as a target identified during the Comsol-based numerical modeling of ore-forming processes that focused on the area immediately surrounding the Magushan deposit [24]. This identification of the same target using very different mathematical methods and numerical simulation approaches strongly supports both the modeling approaches used in this study and the high prospectivity of this target.…”

“…These equations allow the transformation of the voxelbased Geomodeller block model for the Xuancheng-Magushan orefield into the block model system used by the Flac 3D software, with the resulting transformed model shown in Figure 11 (where each block is a 500 × 500 × 500 m cube). study area [24] suggests that the formation of the Magushan skarn deposit took place at a deeper location than the current depth of mineralization. This change in elevation is addressed in our model by the addition of a 1.3 km layer (actually 1.5 km due to the transformation of data) that represents Cretaceous sediments that were denuded and lost after the formation of the mineralization in this region (Figure 12).…”

“…This study used numerical simulation to identify areas for future exploration in a large area containing two known skarn deposits. The results of this study indicate that this approach, ideally when combined with modeling of mineralizing processes on a more localized scale [24], can be an effective and economical addition to traditional exploration approaches, ensuring that most can be made of the data available for an area. The Xuancheng-Magushan orefield is located within the southern part of the newly discovered Nanling-Xuancheng mining district, an area with high exploration potential.…”

“…This can be overcome by using the numerical simulation approaches utilized in this study, providing another approach for the identification of areas that are prospective for deeper exploration in regions with thick sedimentary cover sequences. This approach therefore acts as a complement to more traditional exploration methods and could potentially remove risks related to the verification of conditional independence involved in other types of modeling (e.g., Weights of Evidence; [21,[24][25][26]). This study uses Itasca Flac 3D , a professional numerical simulation software package that is typically used for the modeling of multiple physical processes in rock and soil engineering.…”

Three-Dimensional Mineral Prospectivity Modeling for Delineation of Deep-Seated Skarn-Type Mineralization in Xuancheng–Magushan Area, China

“…Neritic and littoral clastic rocks dominate the Silurian and Devonian strata, the Permian early and middle Triassic strata are dominated by carbonate rocks, and subsequent continental by clastic rock and pyroclastic rock series. The accumulated total thickness reaches more than 3000 m [39,40]. The structure of the study area is complex, and numerous faults have developed.…”