Application of High-density Resistivity Method and Audio-frequency Magne-totelluric Method in the Detection of Associated Nb-Ta Ores in the Qidashan Iron Mine
A novel category of Nb-Ta-bearing greisenization rocks has been recently identified within the iron ore concentration district of the Anshan-Benxi area, located at the northeastern margin of the North China Craton. These rocks are predominantly found within the Qidashan open-pit mine, where traditional geological survey methods have proven inadequate for assessing the potential of associated strategic metal mineral resources. Consequently, the development and utilization of these Nb-Ta resources have been limited. Through a comprehensive study of the geological and geophysical characteristics of high-grade magnetite ore, greisenization rocks, chlorite schist, and granite, which host the associated Nb-Ta ore, particularly focusing on the distinct variations in electrical parameters among these rocks, a combined exploration strategy was employed. This strategy integrates the high-density resistivity method, utilizing small electrode spacing and multiple electrodes, with the audio-frequency magnetotelluric method, employing medium-to-high-frequency signals to effectively delineate the shape and scale of the Nb-Ta -bearing greisenization rocks. The findings demonstrate that both the high-density resistivity method and the audio-frequency magnetotelluric method are effective in precisely delineating the morphology and scale of Nb-Ta-bearing greisenization rocks, with thicknesses ranging from 40 to 60 meters and depths exceeding 150 meters. This indicates a significant potential for critical metal resources. Additionally, these geophysical techniques are capable of intricately detecting the geological structure of high-grade magnetite ore deposits and the demarcation between iron ores and various surrounding rocks. This provides essential data and empirical evidence for optimizing the design of safe and efficient mining operations, thereby facilitating the integrated development of iron ore and associated Nb-Ta resources.
关于铁矿中伴生铌钽矿资源的潜力评价,目前研究涉及较少且缺乏行之有效的技术评价方法,一般多采用基础地质调查方法进行评价,存在周期长和费用高的问题。尤其是对于正在开采利用的铁矿,在不影响安全生产的前提下,目前仍缺乏针对伴生矿的快速评价研究成果。与此同时,地球物理探测技术方法作为一种无损高效的探测技术手段,多用于不同赋存深度金属矿的快速探测评价(Christiansen et al,2018;何继善,2019;Kwan et al,2020)。其中,电阻率法可用于对金属矿体浅部产出地质特征的精细探测(Ishizu et al,2019;牛聪聪等,2021;景国庆等,2022);音频大地电磁法则可用于对中—深部地质体的定位探测(俞炳等,2021;孙浩等,2022;刘永亮等,2024)。但对于伴生铌钽矿的具体地球物理探测技术方法,目前仅有少量研究,且多集中于对单独产出铌钽矿间接地质找矿标志的地球物理异常识别(吴义布等,2023;余君鹏,2024)。综上所述,目前迫切需要研发一种便捷高效的综合地球物理探测技术方法来评价铁矿中潜在的伴生铌钽矿资源,从而支撑铁矿的开采优化设计,以实现铁矿资源与伴生铌钽矿资源的协同开发利用,并大幅降低采选成本。
长期以来,在矿产资源勘查领域,由于受到地质钻探工程“一孔之见”的制约和加密钻孔成本高的限制,对已知矿体的隐伏部分进行精确圈定一直是技术难题,往往需要采用多种调查技术方法联合解决,且多以破坏性的山地工程为主(史长义等,2022;毛景文等,2024)。地球物理探测技术手段作为一种无损的绿色探测技术方法,特别是高密度电阻率法,一次布设测量就可以在有限空间内采集千余个电阻率异常数据,加密显示地下电性结构,实现了对地下地质结构的精细探测(苏兆锋等,2012;Li et al,2018;李富等,2019;Barbosa et al,2020;Shin et al,2021;Olenchenko et al,2022),这为浅部金属矿产资源的准确评价提供了技术支撑。相比而言,音频大地电磁法采用中—高频信号采集数据,既可实现较高的地质体探测分辨率,也可达到较大的探测深度。在齐大山铁矿伴生铌钽矿的探测研究过程中,通过联合使用高密度电阻率法与音频大地电磁法,得到的浅部探测成果可以相互验证。同时,依据上述浅部验证成果,在深部可以通过音频大地电磁法准确识别伴生铌钽矿的蚀变岩形态特征和规模大小,从而准确评价伴生铌钽矿的资源潜力。
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