Identification and location of the altered rock-type Nb-Ta mineralization associated with iron deposits in the Anshan–Benxi area, China, using integrated geophysical techniques
摘要
The accurate detection of co-occurring metal resources in known deposits has long been a technical challenge. This is particularly true for the evaluation of a newly identified type of altered rock-type Nb-Ta mineralization within Banded Iron Formation (BIF)-type iron deposits, which represents a critical research gap that must be addressed. In view of this, this study selects the altered rock-type Nb-Ta mineralization in Qidashan iron deposit as the research object. The physical properties of the iron ore bodies, host rocks, greisenized altered rock-type Nb-Ta ore, and chloritized altered rock-type Nb-Ta ore were measured and analyzed. An integrated geophysical approach, combining ground high-precision magnetic and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) methods, was employed to identify and locate the altered rock-type Nb-Ta mineralization within the BIF-type iron deposits. The results demonstrate that the integrated geophysical method, combining magnetic and ERT methods, can not only accurately delineate the lateral extent of the altered rock-type Nb-Ta mineralization but also effectively characterize its vertical extension and variation at depth. The altered rock-type Nb-Ta mineralized zone in the Qidashan iron deposit measures over 200 m in length, approximately 150 m in thickness, and extends over 60 m in depth. This geophysical methodology establishes a viable strategy for detecting and assessing altered rock-type Nb-Ta mineralization in BIF-type iron deposits, thereby facilitating the concurrent exploitation of both the iron ore and the altered rock-type Nb-Ta ore.