Abstract:
The mineralization element zoning analysis and deep prospecting prediction of the hidden explosion breccia-type ore deposits have long been constrained by the inefficiency and high cost of traditional chemical analysis. However, P-XRF technology, with its efficient in-situ analytical capabilities, offers a significant advantage in microscopic study on mineralization elements. This study took the Huangtun hidden explosion breccia-type gold-copper ore deposit in Anhui Province as an example, through comparing P-XRF data with chemical analysis data obtained by solution-based methods, constructed linear calibration equations for key elements such as Fe, Cu, S, Mn, and As (
R2>0.8), and significantly improved the in-situ quantitative accuracy. The results reveal that the shallow ore-forming fluids (at depths of −173 to −272 m) are characterized by the enrichment of Fe, S, and As, while deeper fluids (at depths of −498 to −570 m) show a trend of Cu-Mn enrichment and As depletion, indicating an apparent change of the fluid composition from shallow to deep. The strong correlation between Fe and S (
R2≈0.85) confirms that pyrite predominantly precipitates as sulfide, and localized Cu anomalies (>6 000 g/t) are coupled with the formation of breccia. The vertical zonation of As indirectly marks the Au mineralized zone. P-XRF technology successfully identified Cu anomalies and optimized deep prospecting targets (such as the intersection of the northeast fault), enhancing the economical efficiency of mineral exploration. This study provides a new tool for the genesis analysis and exploration optimization of hidden explosion breccia-type ore deposits. The results indicate that P-XRF can be applied in the green exploration of similar ore deposits, thereby improving the efficiency of deep resource prediction.