Fractal Characteristics of Fault Structures and Their Use for Mapping Ore-prospecting Potential in the Qitianling Area, Southern Hunan Province, China

Quantitative analyses of the spatial distribution of fault structures can provide a theoretical basis for forecasting prospective ore deposits. Characteristics and complexity of fault structure distribution in the Qitianling area, Southern Hunan Province, China, were quantitatively calculated and appraised by fractal and multifractal methods to evaluate the relation between fault structures and ore-prospecting potential. The results show that the lengths of faults can be modeled as multifractals. Multifractal spectra evidently reflect the characteristics of the scaling of fault structures. The box- counting dimension value （D） of fault structures is equal to 1.656, as indicates complexity of the spatial distribution of faults and favorable structural conditions for the formation of ore deposits. Moreover, the D values of sub-regions were calculated and isopleths of their fractal dimension values were plotted accordingly. Overlay analyses of isopleths of fractal dimension values and distributions of known ore deposits show that areas with the larger fractal dimension values of fault structures have more ore deposits. This spatial coupling relationship between D values and ore deposits can be used to forecast and explore other ore deposits. On the basis of complexity theory for ore-forming systems, three exploration targets with high D values were delineated as prospective ore deposits.

Zircon U-Pb geochronological framework of Qitianling granite batholith, middle part of Nanling Range, South China

The Qitianling granite batholith (QGB) is located in the southern Hunan Province, middle part of the Nanling Range, South China. Its total exposure area is about 520 km2. Based on our 25 single grain zircon U-Pb age data and 7 published data as well as the geological, petrological, and space distribution characteristics, we conclude that QGB is an Early Yanshanian (Jurassic) multi-staged composite pluton. Its formation process can be subdivided into three major stages. The first stage, emplaced at 163―160 Ma with a peak at about 161 Ma, is mainly composed of hornblende-biotite monzonitic granites and locally biotite granites, and distributed in the eastern, northern, and western peripheral parts of the pluton. The second stage, emplaced at 157―153 Ma with a peak at 157―156 Ma, is mainly composed of biotite granites and locally containing hornblende, and distributed in the middle and southeastern parts of the pluton. The third stage, emplaced at 150―146 Ma with a peak at about 149 Ma, is mainly composed of fine-grained (locally porphyritic) biotite granites, and distributed in the middle-southern part of the pluton. Each stage can be further disintegrated into several granite bodies. The first two intrusive stages comprise the major phase of QGB, and the third intrusive stage comprises the additional phase. Many second stage fine-grained granite bosses and dykes intruded into the first stage host granites with clear chilling margin-baking phenomena at their intrusive contacts. They were emplaced in the open fracture space of the earlier stage consolidated rocks. Their isotopic ages are mostly 2―6 Ma younger than their hosts. Conceivably, the time interval from magma emplacement, through cooling, crystallization, solidification, up to fracturing of the earlier stage granites cannot exceed 2―6 Ma. During the Middle-Late Jurassic in the Qitianling area and neighboring Nanling Range, the coeval granitic and basic-intermediate magmatic activities were widely developed. It indicates that the Early Yanshanian period was the culmination time of magmatic activities in this region. The Nanling Range was under a post-orogenic, intracontinental geotectonic environment with an obvious lithospheric extension and thinning. The crust-mantle interaction played an important role in formation of granitic rocks in this region.

^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar isotopic ages of Qitianling granite and their geologic implications

This paper has reported the first application of 40Ar/39Ar dating to orthoclase from Qitianling granite. The resultant plateau ages yielded by three orthoclase specimens 2KL-17, 99LQ-2 and 2KL-31 (Note: The last one was taken from the part of granite which had been attributed to Cailing super-unit of the Indosinian Period by the former researchers) collected from the said granite are (139.57±2.79) Ma, (140.55±2.81) Ma and (144.91±2.90) Ma respectively. The above-mentioned ages represent the closed 40Ar/39Ar age of the orthoclase. The consistency in age dating results, the similarity in geochemical characteristics and rock textures, and the NW-SE orientation of orthoclase phenocrysts almost throughout the granite, provide evidence for the intimate relationship between the Furong super-unit and the Cailing super-unit that form the main part of the granite, suggesting that they are products of comagmatic conjugate differentiation during the Late Jurassic. This paper also makes a comparison between the Qitianling granite and the Qianlishan granite.