Abstract:

The study on supergene activity discipline of elements is precedent and basic for establishing method and technology of geochemical exploration. The supergene activities of elements from parent rocks and soils in Huitongshan copper mine of the Beishan region are studied, which includes the variation of elements’ contents and hereditability between soils and rocks. It can be concluded that some trace elements as Cu, Mo, Pb, Zn, Au, Ag, As, Bi, Ba and Sr show distinctive enrichment characteristics in soils derived from different rocks. In the mine, these elements show more strongly supergene enrichment in fine size than in the coarse soil. With the increasing of the distance from the sample to the ore body, the contents of Cu, Mo reduced gently; while the contents of Ba, Sr rose slightly. Moreover, based on contents of major elements, it is proved that material composition and chemical component between coarse soil and the fine one is obviously different. Compared to the fine soil, the coarse has more similar element contents to its source rock. In addition, the analysis of mineral composition of soils indicates there is a positive correlation between elements’ supergene enrichment and the contents of clay minerals, however, a negative correlation between elements’ supergene enrichment and the contents of major rockforming minerals. According to conclusions above, positive and negative geochemical anomalies are determined with sampling media from -4 to +40 meshes, in Huitongshan copper ore district.

Key words: Beishan region, skarn copper mine, supergene activity, enrichment coefficient, prospecting target optimization