ASTER Data Processing by Discrete Wavelets Transform and Band Ratio Techniques for the Identification of Lineaments and Hydrothermal Alteration Zones in Poli, North Cameroon

The aim of this study is to carry out hydrothermal alteration mapping and structural mapping using ASTER images in order to identify indices that could guide mining exploration work in the Poli area and its surroundings. To achieve this, the ASTER images were first preprocessed to correct atmospheric effects and remove vegetation influence. Secondly, a lineament mapping was conducted by applying Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) algorithms to the First Principal Component Analysis (PCA1) of Visible Near-Infrared (VNIR) and Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) bands. Lastly, band ratio methods were applied to the VNIR, SWIR, and Thermal Infrared (TIR) bands to determine indices of iron oxides/hydroxides (hematite and limonite), hydroxyl-bearing minerals (chlorite, epidote, and muscovite), and the quartz index. The results obtained showed that the lineaments were mainly oriented NE-SW, ENE-WSW, and E-W, with NE-SW being the most predominant direction. Concerning hydrothermal alteration, the identified indices covered almost the entire study area and showed a strong correlation with lithological data. Overlaying the obtained lineaments with the hydrothermal alteration indices revealed a significant correlation between existing mining indices and those observed in the field. Mineralized zones generally coincided with areas of high lineament density exhibiting significant hydrothermal alteration. Based on the correlation between existing mining indices and the results of hydrothermal and structural mapping, the results obtained can then be used as a reference document for any mining exploration in the study area.

Application of Spectral Angle Mapper Classification to Discriminate Hydrothermal Alteration in Southwest Birjand, Iran, Using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Image Processing

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Spectral Angle Mapper （SAM） classification method for determining the optimum threshold （maximum spectral angle） to unveil the hydrothermal mineral assemblages related to mineral deposits. The study area indicates good potential for Cu-Au porphyry, epithermal gold deposits and hydrothermal alteration well developed in arid and semiarid climates, which makes this region significant for Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer （ASTER） image processing analysis. Given that achieving an acceptable mineral mapping requires knowing the alteration patterns, petrochemistry and petrogenesis of the igneous rocks while considering the effect of weathering, overprinting of supergene alteration, overprinting of hypogene alteration and host rock spectral mixing, SAM classification was implemented for argillic, sericitic, propylitic, alunitization, silicification and iron oxide zones of six previously known mineral deposits： Maherabad, a Cu-Au porphyry system; Sheikhabad, an upper part of Cu-Au porphyry system; Khoonik, an Intrusion related Au system; Barmazid, a low sulfidation epithermal system; Khopik, a Cu-Au porphyry system; and Hanish, an epithermal Au system. Thus, the investigation showed that although the whole alteration zones are affected by mixing, it is also possible to produce a favorable hydrothermal mineral map by such complementary data as petrology, petrochemistry and alteration patterns.

Application of Airborne Geophysical and ASTER Data for Hydrothermal Alteration Mapping in the Sar-Kuh Porphyry Copper Area, Kerman Province, Iran

Known deposits are appropriate sites for investigating significant exploratory keys that could be helpful in mineral exploration in corresponding regions or similar areas. This study was performed to delineate hydrothermal alteration model and some geophysical characteristics of the SarKuh porphyry copper deposit located within the southern part of the central Iranian Cenozoic magmatic belt (CICMB). Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) images have been used to produce hydrothermal alteration map using a fractal-aided spectral angle mapper (SAM) method. Airborne data were used to study magnetic-radiometric properties of the deposit. Image processing of ASTER images and laboratory studies proved the presence of two types of phyllic ale ration called intense and weak phyllic based on abundance of sericite mineral. It realized that radiometric anomalies of 40K, eTh and eU are limited to boundary of phyllic zone. Radiometric ratios e.g. eTh/40K were good enough to enhance phyllic zone.

Three-dimensional geological modelling and direction of hydrothermal alteration of Horne deposit, Blake River Group, Quebec, Canada

The Horne deposit with rich Cu and Au in Noranda region of Black River Group in Quebec has high economic significance.Current researches on Horne deposit are mostly based on two-dimensional maps and statistical data.It is hard to reflect the spatial structure and characteristics of Horne orebody directly.In this paper,GIS was used to digitize the mining plan-view maps at different depths,stope maps,the boundary of the massive sulfide in drilling trajectories as well as the grade data of Au and Cu of Horne deposit.Meanwhile,the authors established the grade attribute database.Subsequently the three-dimensional(3D)geological model and grade attribute model of Horne orebody were established by Geological Object Computer Aided Design(GOCAD).Positions of two vents and directions of hydrothermal alteration in Horne deposit were inferred based on the property of the major fault,characteristics of hydrothermal alteration,the enrichment morphology and spatial distribution of high-grade Cu in the Cu attribute model.

The influence of silica on reaction rates and molecular hydrogen(H_(2))generation during olivine hydrothermal alteration

Hydrothermal alteration of olivine greatly influences geodynamics and the recycling of volatiles(such as water and carbon)in subduction zones.Silica is an important component of geological fluids,and its influence on the hydrothermal alteration of olivine remains poorly constrained.In this study,we performed experiments at 300–515℃ and 3.0 kbar(1 bar=10^(5)Pa)by reacting well homogenized mixtures of olivine and silica powders with saline solutions(0.5 mol L^(−1)NaCl).Silica greatly influences the reaction pathways,reaction rates,and molecular hydrogen(H_(2))formation during olivine hydrothermal alteration.In experiments at 300℃ and 3.0 kbar with mixtures of olivine and 10 wt%silica,olivine was replaced by serpentine and talc.The proportions of serpentine and talc were determined according to standard curves based on infrared spectroscopy analyses.Around 6.5%serpentine and 12%talc were produced after an experimental duration of 7 days,which had no change after a longer period(14 days).Compared to the kinetics in silica-free systems,the rates of olivine hydrothermal alteration in experiments with 10 wt%silica are much lower.The overall reaction is:4.5Forsterite+5.5SiO_(2),aq+4H_(2)O=Serpentine+2Talc.With the addition of more silica(20 wt%and 40 wt%),olivine was transformed into talc.The rates of reaction were much faster,e.g.,for experiments with olivine and 20 wt%silica,43%of talc was produced after 14 days,which increased to 77%for experiments with 40 wt%silica over the same period.The overall reaction is:3Forsterite+5SiO_(2),aq+2H_(2)O=2Talc.In experiments at 400–505℃ and 3.0 kbar,the promoting effect of silica on olivine hydrothermal alteration was also observed,which is closely associated with a decrease in Gibbs free energies of olivine hydrothermal alteration.At 300℃ and 3.0 kbar,silica decreased H_(2)formed during olivine hydrothermal alteration by around an order of magnitude,resulting in an increase in oxygen fugacity.Based on measured H_(2),we calibrated oxygen fugacities,ranging from 0.96 to 3.41 log units below FMQ(fayalite-magnetitequartz buffer assemblage).This study suggests that the infiltration of SiO_(2)-bearing fluids into peridotites greatly influences redox conditions and the rates of olivine hydrothermal alteration.

Petrophysical characteristics of rocks and sulfides from the SWIR hydrothermal field

Study of petrophysical properties of rocks in seafioor hydrothermal fields has great significance for inves- tigation of seafloor hydrothermal activities, especially for polymetallic sulfides prospecting. In the present study, based on the current experimental conditions, we conducted systematic experiments to measure the magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, porosity, density, as well as acoustic wave velocity of seafloor rocks and sulfides. Subsequently, we measured the physical characteristics of hydrothermal sulfides, basalts and peridotites which were collected from newly discovered seafloor hydrothermal fields at 49.6°E, 50.5°E, 5 1°E, 63.5°E, and 63.9°E of the Southwest Indian Ridge （SWIR）. Previously available and newly collected data were combined to characterize the physical differences between polymetallic sulfides and rocks. We also discussed the impact of hydrothermal alteration on the bedrock and demonstrated how these petrophysical properties of rocks can help in geophysical prospecting of seafloor hydrothermal fields as indicators.

Double Convective Hydrothermal System beneath Massive Sulfide Orebody in Gacun Deposit,Southwestern China

The Gacun Kuroko-type deposit, Southwestern China, is hosted in rhyolitic rocks associated with the underlying mafic rocks occurred in the - 1000 m deep fault - bounded basin within the intra -arc rifting zone which formed on the Triassic Yidun island - arc. Two vertically separated alteration systems are recognized: one is conformable or semiconformable alteration zone developed in - 150 m thick mafic unit 1-1.5 km below the massive sulfide ore body; the other is discordant alteration pipe directly surrounded around stockwork ore within rhyolitic unit. The lower conformable alteration zone extending for several kilometers along strike is characterized by silicification and epidotization which result in the development of quartz vein and quartz-epidote vein systems in mafic lava flows and replacement of primary minerals and groundmass in spilitized mafic volcanics and dikes by quartz, epidote - group minerals and sodic plagioclase. Sulfides often occur in the vein system and altered mafic volcanics. Quartz solubility relation indicates that silicification is a consequence of interaction of Si- saturated fluids with mafic rocks in a higher temperature system (T>340℃), intensifying by intrusion of mafic dike or high-level acidic magma chamber. The alteration pipe of diameter about 2 km shows a similar mineralogical zoning to Kuroko deposits of Japan. The sequence is quartz + hyalophane; sericite + chlorite + quartz and zeolite-like zones from core to margins of the pipe. The chlorite core only occurs in the root part of the alteration pipe and downwards transfers into epidote - chlorite and epidote - quartz vein swarm extending 500 m downwards. The felsic rocks away from the orebody and alteration pipe took place district-scale alteration, which has typical low-temperature mineral association: illite + albite + quartz + calcite. Whole -rock and quartz δ18O values indicate that district - scale alteration is a result of interaction of seawater with rocks at lower temperature (T<200℃)under water-dominated condition. However, the altered rocks from the pipe show remarkably δ18O enrichment, and bulk -rock δ18O values decreased gradually toward stockwork orebody from 15.1‰-l5. 75‰ in zeolite-like zone and 12. 05‰-14. 2‰ in sericite - quartz zone to 11.3 ‰ - 14. 4‰ in quartz - hyalophane zone. The filled temperatures of fluid inclusions in quartz and sphalerite lie in the ranges of 280 -320 ℃ for quartz - hyalophane zone and 250 ℃ to 297 ℃ for sericite-quartz zone. The estimated δ18O values of hydrothermal fluids are 7. 98‰ and3.2‰, respectively, based on quartz δ18O data in the deposit. The lower conformable alteration is considered to be approximately coeval with the alteration pipe, based on the SiO2 concentration in the fluids, which restrict the main fluid - rock reaction zone to be located in mafic horizon by quartz barometer, and metal element flux calculation and sulfide - epidote vein system developed both in alteration systems. High - salinity fluid inclusions in gangue quartz (>8% eq. NaCl) from stockwork ore and in quartz phenocryst (>40% eq. NaCl) in footwall rhyolite strongly suggest the existence of hot-saline brine to react with mafic complex and leach metal components, which probably originates mainly from magmatic fluid derived from high-level acidic magma chamber. The brine layer located in mafic unit possibly heats and drives the overlying single -pass convective seawater reacting with felsic rocks. The 'density window' may be expected to occur on the interface between seawater and brine layer, when the brine becomes to be gravitationally instability by the turbulent entrainment of seawater during magmatic and/or tectonic activities. The sulfide mineralization and alteration pipe is inter preted as an effect of the 'density window' through which the mixed fluids of brine with seawater adiabatically discharges upwards.

A New Report of Serpentinites from Northern Central Indian Ridge(at 6°S)—An Implication for Hydrothermal Activity

Serpentinites from the inside corner high （6°38.5′S/68°19.34′E） from the Northern Central Indian Ridge （NCIR） are comprised mainly of high Mg-rich lizardite and chrysotile pseudomorphs with varying morphologies. ＇Mesh rim＇, ＇window＇, ＇hourglass＇ and ＇bastite＇ are the most common textures displayed by both chrysotile and lizardite. Numerous chrysotile veins in association with cross cutting magnetite veins indicate an advanced stage of serpentinisation. The relatively high abundance of chrysotile and lizardite suggest their close association and formation at a temperature below 250℃. Abundant ＇mesh rim＇ and ＇bastite＇ texture and variegated matrix reveal that the present serpentinites might have formed due to the interaction of harzburgite and seawater. Positive Eu anomaly （Eu/Eu^＊ up to ＋3.38）, higher La/Sm （up to 4.40） and Nb/La （up to 6.34） ratios suggest substantial hydrothermal influence during the formation of the serpentinites.

Resolving impact volatilization and condensation from target rock mixing and hydrothermal overprinting within the Chicxulub impact structure

This work presents isotopic data for the non-traditional isotope systems Fe,Cu,and Zn on a set of Chicxulub impactites and target lithologies with the aim of better documenting the dynamic processes taking place during hypervelocity impact events,as well as those affecting impact structures during the post-impact phase.The focus lies on material from the recent IODP-ICDP Expedition 364 Hole M0077A drill core obtained from the offshore Chicxulub peak ring.Two ejecta blanket samples from the UNAM 5 and 7 cores were used to compare the crater lithologies with those outside of the impact structure.The datasets of bulk Fe,Cu,and Zn isotope ratios are coupled with petrographic observations and bulk major and trace element compositions to disentangle equilibrium isotope fractionation effects from kinetic processes.The observed Fe and Cu isotopic signatures,with δ^(56/54)Fe ranging from0.95‰to 0.58‰and δ^(65/63)Cu from0.73‰to 0.14‰,mostly reflect felsic,mafic,and carbonate target lithology mixing and secondary sulfide mineral formation,the latter associated to the extensive and long-lived(>105 years)hydrothermal system within Chicxulub structure.On the other hand,the stable Zn isotope ratios provide evidence for volatility-governed isotopic fractionation.The heavier Zn isotopic compositions observed for the uppermost part of the impactite sequence and a metamorphic clast(δ^(66/64)Zn of up to 0.80‰and 0.87‰,respectively)relative to most basement lithologies and impact melt rock units indicate partial vaporization of Zn,comparable to what has been observed for Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary layer sediments around the world,as well as for tektites from various strewn fields.In contrast to previous work,our data indicate that an isotopically light Zn reservoir(δ^(66/64)Zn down to0.49‰),of which the existence has previously been suggested based on mass balance considerations,may reside within the upper impact melt rock(UIM)unit.This observation is restricted to a few UIM samples only and cannot be extended to other target or impact melt rock units.Light isotopic signatures of moderately volatile elements in tektites and microtektites have previously been linked to(back-)condensation under distinct kinetic regimes.Although some of the signatures observed may have been partially overprinted during post-impact processes,our bulk data confirm impact volatilization and condensation of Zn,which may be even more pronounced at the microscale,with variable degrees of mixing between isotopically distinct reservoirs,not only at proximal to distal ejecta sites,but also within the lithologies associated with the Chicxulub impact crater.

Genesis of anhydrite in hydrothermally altered basalt from the East Pacific Rise near 13°N

This study reports the occurrence of anhydrite in hydrothermally altered pillow basalt （12°50.55＇N, 103°57.62＇W, water depth 2 480 m）, which may have been produced in the basalt during seawater-basalt interaction in the laboratory. The existence of anhydrite in the altered basalt indicates extensive high- temperature hydrothermal alteration at the surface of seafloor pillow basalt. Microprobe analysis shows significant chemical zoning in the hydrothermally altered pillow basalt, in which Ca, Si and A1 contents de- crease and P, Fe, Mn, Cr and S contents increase from fresh basalt to altered basalt. The negative correlation between Rb-Sr and Li-Sr, and negative correlation between Li-Ca and Rb-Ca in the high-temperature vent fuids show that these fluids underwent anhydrite precipitation before fluid jetting due to mixing with sea- water in the sub-seafloor. Based on these observations, we show that not all Ca in the anhydrite comes from basalt in the reaction zone, and that the basalts on the seafloor or in the upflow zone may also provide Ca for anhydrite.

Significant Mercury Isotope Anomalies in Hydrothermal Altered Coals from the Huaibei Coalfield,China

Igneous intrusion into coal-bearing strata can cause an abrupt increase of temperature-pressure and trigger hydrothermal circulation at the igneous rock-coal contact zone. The conductive heat of intruded lnagma and convective migration of secondary hydrothermal fluids have been observed to significantly alter the concentrations and modes of occurrence of mercury （Hg） in thermally-intruded coals.

Fe-bearing minerals and implications for gold mineralization for the Wangu deposit in Central Jiangnan Orogen

Hydrothermal alteration with bleaching of host rocks is the most important prospecting indicator for gold deposits in the Jiangnan Orogen Belt.The alteration has been identified as pre-ore carbonate(siderite)-sericitization and the Fe of siderite in the alteration zone is derived from the host rocks rather than fluids.In addition,such alteration decreases in intensity and width with depth and gold mineralization also occur in the non-bleached rocks,casting doubt on the reliability of the prospecting indicator.Detailed petrographic work and SEM analysis on the Wangu deposit indicate that there are two types of siderites,i.e.,Sd1 and Sd2.Among them,Sd1 grains are relatively small and distributed along the planes of unaltered host rocks,while Sd2 grains,only occurring in the altered slates,are commonly larger.Both types of siderites were altered by auriferous fluids,producing porous cores and minerals such as pyrite,quartz,and ankerite.Compared with unaltered parts,the altered parts have lower Fe,but higher U,Pb,and REE.In addition,Sd1 and Sd2 are similar in Mn,Na,V,and Sr concentrations but different in Fe and Mg.The occurrence and geochemical compositions of both siderites indicate that Sd1 could be transformed into Sd2 by pre-mineralization alteration through dissolution-reprecipitation.Chlorite is another important Fe-bearing mineral in the host rocks,and EPMA analysis suggests that it is ripidolite with relatively high Fe contents.Consequently,chlorite can also provide Fe to form the pre-ore carbonate(siderite)-sericitization.Geochemical modeling demonstrates that both ripidolite and siderite can result in sulfidation and therefore gold precipitation.As a result,this study demonstrates that pre-ore alteration with characterized bleaching is not a prerequisite for gold mineralization despite of its prominent features.Due to the presence of Fe-bearing Sd1 and chlorite,gold mineralization could still occur through sulfidation in the unaltered rocks.

On the Genesis of the Super-large Baguamiao Gold Deposit in Fengxian County, Shaanxi Province

The Baguamiao gold deposit in Fengxian County, Shaanxi Province, is a recentlyexplored super-large gold ore deposit. A comprehensive and deep-going study has revealedthat it is a polygenetic deposit: early-stage mineralization due to shearing, middle-stagemineralization due to hydrothermal alteration, and late-stage mineralization due toweathering, leaching and concentration at shallow depths. Shearing played a dominant role inthe formation of gold orebodies.

Multi-stage rodingitization of ophiolitic bodies from Northern Apennines(Italy): Constraints from petrography, geochemistry and thermodynamic modelling

The investigated mantle bodies from the External Ligurians(Groppo di Gorro and Mt.Rocchetta)show evidences of a complex evolution determined by an early high temperature metasomatism,due to percolating melts of asthenospheric origin,and a later metasomatism at relatively high temperature by hydrothermal fluids,with formation of rodingites.At Groppo di Gorro,the serpentinization and chloritization processes obliterated totally the pyroxenite protolith,whereas at Mt.Rocchetta relics of peridotite and pyroxenite protoliths were preserved from serpentinization.The rodingite parageneses consist of diopside+vesuvianite+garnet+calcite+chlorite at Groppo di Gorro and garnet+diopside+serpentine±vesuvianite±prehnite±chlorite±pumpellyite at Mt.Rocchetta.Fluid inclusion measurements show that rodingitization occurred at relatively high temperatures(264-334℃ at 500 bar and 300-380℃ at 1 kbar).Garnet,the first phase of rodingite to form,consists of abundant hydrogarnet component at Groppo di Gorro,whereas it is mainly composed of grossular and andradite at Mt.Rocchetta.The last stage of rodingitization is characterized by the vesuvianite formation.Hydrogarnet nucleation requires high Ca and low silica fluids,whereas the formation of vesuvianite does not need CO2-poor fluids.The formation of calcite at Groppo di Gorro points to mildly oxidizing conditions compatible with hydrothermal fluids;the presence of andradite associated with serpentine and magnetite at Mt.Rocchetta suggests Fe^3+-bearing fluids with fO2 slightly higher than iron-magnetite buffer.We propose that the formation of the studied rodingite could be related to different pulses of hydrothermal fluids mainly occurring in an oceancontinent transitional setting and,locally,in an accretionary prism associated with intra-oceanic subduction.

Reactions between olivine and CO2-rich seawater at 300℃:Implications for H2 generation and CO2 sequestration on the early Earth

To understand the influence of fluid CO2 on ultramafic rock-hosted seafloor hydrothermal systems on the early Earth,we monitored the reaction between San Carlos olivine and a CO2-rich NaCl fluid at 300 C and 500 bars.During the experiments,the total carbonic acid concentration（∑XO2） in the fluid decreased from approximately 65 to 9 mmol/kg.Carbonate minerals,magnesite,and subordinate amount of dolomite were formed via the water-rock interaction.The H2 concentration in the fluid reached approximately 39 mmol/kg within 2736 h,which is relatively lower than the concentration generated by the reaction between olivine and a CO2-free NaCl solution at the same temperature.As seen in previous hydrothermal experiments using komatiite,ferrous iron incorporation into Mg-bearing carbonate minerals likely limited iron oxidation in the fluids and the resulting H2 generation during the olivine alteration.Considering carbonate mineralogy over the temperature range of natural hydrothermal fields,H2 generation is likely suppressed at temperatures below approximately 300℃ due to the formation of the Mg-bearing carbonates.Nevertheless,H_2 concentration in fluid at 300℃ could be still high due to the temperature dependency of magnetite stability in ultramafic systems.Moreover,the Mg-bearing carbonates may play a key role in the ocean-atmosphere system on the early Earth.Recent studies suggest that the subduction of carbonated ultramafic rocks may transport surface CO2 species into the deep mantle.This process may have reduced the huge initial amount of CO2 on the surface of the early Earth.Our approximate calculations demonstrate that the subduction of the Mg-bearing carbonates formed in komatiite likely played a crucial role as one of the CO2 carriers from the surface to the deep mantle,even in hot subduction zones.

Metallotectic Context of the Mineralization of the Tondabo Gold Prospect(Brobo,Center of Cote d’Ivoire,West Africa)

The gold mineralization of the Tondabo prospect, located in the northern part of the Oumé-Toumodi-Fettêkro greenstone belt, is mainly hosted in the rhyodacite and to a lesser extent in the mafic volcanics (volcanic lavas and volcanoclastites). These rocks were affected by a hydrothermal alteration marked by quartz veins and veinlets associated with crystals of carbonates, sericite, epidote and sulfides. This hydrothermal alteration induced a pervasive alteration of the surrounding bodies with silicification, chloritization, carbonation and sericitization of the feldspars. The metalliferous paragenesis contains an abundant pyrite, with rare pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite. This mineralization indicates that the Tondabo gold prospect exhibits lithological control. The mineralized deposits are generally affected by a S1 schistosity oriented mainly N000-010° and minority N040-050° with a general dip of 60°-80°to the West;however with rare N-S orientations with a dip of 60°-80° to the East. The drilling intervals show that the highest gold contents are linked to the quartz-carbonates veins and veinlets, which are located in the highly deformed zones, characterizing local shear zones.

Types and Ore-forming Conditions of Gold Deposits in the Jinsha River-Lancang River-Nujiang River Area

The Jinsha River-Lancang River-Nujiang River area is one of the important prospect areas for noble metal and nonferous metal deposits of China. Of a great variety of gold deposits present in this area, the following types seem to be economically most valuable and promising: tectonic alteration type in ophiolitic melange; polymetallic quartz vein type related to intermediate-acid intrusions; finely disseminated type in fracture zones; mixed hydrothermal type in tectonic fractures of carbonate rocks; hydrothermal type related to subvolcanic rocks; volcanic-hot spring type; submarine volcano exhalation-sedimentary-hydrothermal reformation type. Metallogenic epochs are exclusively Mesozoic and Cenozoic, and ore deposits and orebodies are controlled by linear structures. Magmatic activity has affected gold mineralization in varying degrees, and gold deposits are basically of mesothermal-epithermal type with ubiquitous and intense alterations. Ore-forming materials and hydrothermal solutions show multi-source character.

Mineralogical and Geochemical Evidence of Fluid-rock Interaction at the Shallow Crustal Level in Koyna Seismogenic Region, Maharashtra, India: Impact and Implications

The Koyna region of Maharashtra located in the western part of the~65 Myr old Deccan traps province,overlying the Neoarchean cratonic granitoid basement of peninsular India,has been experiencing recurring seismicity since 1962 after the impoundment of the Shivajisagar Reservoir behind the Koyna Dam.

Dolomitization of the Ordovician subsalt Majiagou Formation in the central Ordos Basin,China:fluid origins and dolomites evolution

The Middle Ordovician subsalt Majiagou Formation in the Ordos Basin comprises pervasively dolomitized shallow marine limestone and is a major reservoir rich in natural gas resources.Four types of dolomite matrix and cement were identified based on petrographic textures:(very)finely crystalline,non-planar to planar-s matrix dolomite(Md1);finely to medium crystalline,planar-s to planar-e matrix dolomite(Md2);microbialites comprising dolomite microcrystals(Md3);and finely to coarsely crystalline dolomite cement(Cd).The Md1 and Md2 dolomites were controlled by alternating lagoon-shoal facies and haveδ13C values(−1.89 to+1.45‰VPDB for Md1,−1.35 to+0.42‰VPDB for Md2)that fall within or are slightly higher than the coeval seawater,suggesting the dolomitizing fluid of evaporated seawater.Md2 dolomite was then subjected to penecontemporaneous karstification by meteoric water and burial recrystallization by sealed brines during diagenesis,as indicated by its relatively lowerδ18O values(−8.89 to−5.73‰VPDB)and higher 87Sr/86Sr ratios(0.708920–0.710199).Md3 dolomite comprises thrombolite and stromatolite and is interpreted to form by a combination of initial microbial mediation and later replacive dolomitization related to evaporated seawater.Cd dolomite was associated with early-formed karst system in the Md2 host dolomite.The lowestδ18O values(−11.78 to−10.18‰VPDB)and 87Sr/86Sr ratios(0.708688–0.708725)and fluid inclusion data(Th:123–175°C)indicate involvement of hydrothermal fluid from which the Cd dolomite precipitated during deep burial.These results reveal the multi-stage dolomitization history of the Majiagou Formation and provide new constraints on fluid origins and dolomites evolution during deep burial in old superimposed basins,such as the Ordos Basin and elsewhere.

Gold Minerogenetic Prognosis Using Satellite Data:Case Study of Paishanlou Gold Mine, Liaoning Province, China

The major scientific goal of using satellite data for mineral prospecting in the study area was two-fold： （a） mapping geology, faults and fractures that localize ore deposits; （b） recognizing hydrothermally altered rocks by interpreting their spectral signatures. The lithology, properties, and geological relations of the rocks were key to understanding such varied phenomena as convection, melting and transport mechanisms, rock deformation and alteration, the sources of magnetic anomalies, and the hydrothermal circulation and formation of gold deposits. Satellite data were enhanced using the following techniques： band combinations, ratios, directional sharpening filtering, Laplacian transform, spatial convolution, and density slicing. By mapping a larger area, the Paishanlou Gold Mine was discovered to be located within an accommodation zone, with three significant populations of faults having bearings of 95, 145, and 180 degrees. Faults bearing 145 degrees make up the faults of the main shear zone. The faults bearing 180 degrees have large sinistral offsets, typically 1.5 km, and form a synthetic-antithetic set with the faults bearing 145 degrees, which have dextral displacements of tens of meters. In the Landsat ETM＋ image composed of bands 7-4-2 RGB, gneiss rocks were clearly seen as red purple, and granitic and plagioclase bodies in pale brown/pink. The strongest alteration signature in the image was found along the detachment fault antiform located closest to the mine and the plutons responsible for the Paishanlou gold mineralization. Satellite image interpretation coupled with field surveys led to the identification of iron mineral composites, hydrothermally altered areas, fractures, and an accommodation zone. These anomalies finally resulted in the discovery of three new gold-mineralized sites.