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Porphyry Copper Deposit Prognosis in the Middle Region of the Bangonghu–Nujiang Metallogenic Belt, Tibet, Using ASTER Remote Sensing Data
Author(s) -
Dai Jingjing,
Qu Xiaoming,
Song Yang
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
resource geology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1751-3928
pISSN - 1344-1698
DOI - 10.1111/rge.12154
Subject(s) - prospecting , geology , outcrop , porphyry copper deposit , geochemistry , argillic alteration , copper , advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer , geologic map , mineralogy , mining engineering , geomorphology , remote sensing , fluid inclusions , seismology , digital elevation model , volcanic rock , hydrothermal circulation , volcano , chemistry , organic chemistry
The B angonghu– N ujiang metallogenic belt is considered to be T ibet’s third copper belt after the Y ulong and G angdese copper belts. The D uolong gold‐rich porphyry copper deposit, located in the western part of the B angonghu– N ujiang belt was recently recognized as a superlarge prospect. The A dvanced S paceborne T hermal E mission and R eflection R adiometer ( ASTER ) was used to characterize the D uolong porphyry deposit alteration area, and three methods, color enhancement, band ratio transformation, and spectral angle mapping, were utilized to extract the phyllic and argillic alteration zones, which are typically considered the most important predictors of porphyry copper. Seven prospecting areas, which match mapped alteration zones, were delineated in the D uolong deposit. In addition, an ASTER image of the eastern region of the B angonghu– N ujiang belt in the X iongmei area was used to extract alteration information, and an area with image characteristics similar to the D uobuza and B olong ore deposits was identified as a prospecting area. Numerous malachite outcrops were identified in the field, and both laboratory analysis and isotopic dating confirmed that the deposit had formed concurrently with the D uobuza deposit (119 M a). Geologic mapping at the 1:5000 scale was conducted in the area, and three types of ore‐bearing rocks were identified, indicating that this area has significant potential to host ore deposits. The discovery of the X iongmei copper mining area is significant for the B angonghu– N ujiang belt.