Efficiency of singularity and PCA mapping of mineralization-related geochemical anomalies: a comparative study using BLEG and <180μm stream sediment geochemical data

Indexed In

Volume 168 / 2022

Authors:

Fatma Nuran SÖNMEZ, Simay KOÇKAR, Hüseyin YILMAZ

Keywords:

Singularity Mapping, C-A, N-S, PCA, Multi- Fractal Models, Eskişehir.

Abstract:

In gold (Au) exploration, the analysis of both bulk leach extractable gold (BLEG) and acid-extractable Au in the <180μm stream sediment fraction are the two most common approaches. The Eskişehir- Sivrihisar region in Western Türkiye hosts several orogenic type mineral deposits. The purpose of this study is to delineate geochemical anomalies of ore-related elements and track their dispersion, which may lead to discovery of unknown ore deposits. This research also compares the capability of conventional statistical and principal component analysis (PCA), with concentration area (C-A) and number-size/concentration (N-S/C) fractal methods as well as singularity index method to differentiate anomalous and background Au distributions. Known Au mineralization in the region of interest is strongly reflected in stream sediment BLEG Au patterns, which have robust singularity indices with C-A and N-S multifractal modeling and PCA. A hundred % of the Au deposits were detected using either BLEG Au and Ag singularity index mapping with C-A fractal analysis whereas the factor analysis of which revealed 85% efficiency. Several strong Au-Ag anomalies defined by the singularity index and factor analysis in this study requires further follow up for the discovery of new deposits.

DOI:

10.19111/bulletinofmre.955280