Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Earth Sci.
Sec. Economic Geology
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/feart.2024.1347243

Porosity-Permeability Characteristics and Mineralization-Alteration Zones of the Maoping Germanium-Rich Lead-Zinc Deposit in SW China

Provisionally accepted
Jianbiao Wu Jianbiao Wu Runsheng Han Runsheng Han *Yan Zhang Yan Zhang *Peng Wu Peng Wu *Hongsheng Gong Hongsheng Gong *Lei Wang Lei Wang *Gong Cheng Gong Cheng *Xiaodong Li Xiaodong Li *Yixuan Yang Yixuan Yang *Yaya Mi Yaya Mi *
  • Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The Maoping superlarge germanium-rich lead-zinc deposit is a typical nonmagmatic hydrothermal deposit that is structurally controlled in the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou lead-zinc polymetallic metallogenic area. The orebodies are distributed in several formations. This paper is based on large-scale alteration mapping combined with porosity and permeability measurements. We delineated the mineralization-alteration zones of different ore-bearing formations, explored the geological significance of porosity and permeability, and proposed prospecting directions. The research results indicate that during the mineralization period, the ore-forming metal fluids migrated from the deep part of the SSW region to the shallow part of the NNE region along the ore-guiding structure (Maoping Fault). Through the ore distribution structure, depressurization boiling occurred in the open space of the NE-trending interlayered sinistral compressive-torsional faults in several ore-bearing formations, resulting in fluid precipitation and the formation of different brecciated hot-melt dolomite lead-zinc mineralization zones. From the orebody to the wallrock, the C2w Formation and D3zg Formation are divided into four different mineralization-alteration zones. Tectonic activity affects the properties, migration, and precipitation of fluids, thereby controlling the alteration characteristics generated during fluid migration and thus changing the porosity and permeability. The porosity and permeability of strata on the NW flank of the anticline are greater than those of strata on the SE flank. On the NW flank, the greater the degree of mineralization-alteration is, the greater the porosity and permeability are, and the porosity of the orebody is lower than that during dolomitization. Finally, we believe that the NW flank of the anticline is an important area for prospecting. The pyrite + striped altered dolomite zone (Zones II-III) in the C2w limestone and the pyrite + strong dolomite zone (Zones II-III) in the D3zg dolomite are important prospecting indicators.

    Keywords: Porosity and permeability, Mineralization-alteration zones, Metallogenic patterns, Prospecting directions, Maoping superlarge germanium-rich lead-zinc deposit, Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou lead-zinc polymetallic metallogenic area

    Received: 30 Nov 2023; Accepted: 24 Jun 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wu, Han, Zhang, Wu, Gong, Wang, Cheng, Li, Yang and Mi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Runsheng Han, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
    Yan Zhang, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
    Peng Wu, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
    Hongsheng Gong, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
    Lei Wang, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
    Gong Cheng, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
    Xiaodong Li, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
    Yixuan Yang, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
    Yaya Mi, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.