The existence of thermal storage will correspondingly increase the temperature of surrounding strata and promote the continuous expansion,volatilization,upward migration,and loss of gas in the strata.As a result,a low...The existence of thermal storage will correspondingly increase the temperature of surrounding strata and promote the continuous expansion,volatilization,upward migration,and loss of gas in the strata.As a result,a low-concentration gas field will be formed in the strata above geothermal reservoirs.Geothermal reservoirs could in turn heat formation water and increase the solubility of soluble inorganic salts in the surrounding rocks and the total dissolved solids(TDS)content in the formation water.Since water can strongly wet and permeate strata,the dissolved inorganic salts migrate into upper strata along with water,giving rise to the formation of a high-concentration inorganic salt field in the strata above geothermal reservoirs.A higher geothermal reservoir temperature corresponds to more significant characteristics mentioned above.Therefore,a medium-to-high temperature geothermal system has a surface geochemical anomaly pattern of high inorganic salt concentrations and low gas concentrations(also referred to as the high-salt and low-gas pattern).This pattern is applied to the surface geochemical exploration of the two geothermal fields in Guangdong Province,i.e.,the Huangshadong geothermal field in Huizhou City and the Xinzhou geothermal field in Yangjiang City,revealing low-concentration gas fields above both.The application results also show that the exposed thermal spring water in both geological fields has higher concentration of dissolved inorganic salt than the surface water and nearby seawater,forming high-amplitude anomalies on the surface above geothermal reservoirs.These characteristics,as well as the measured temperature at known geothermal wells,verify the validity of the high-salt and low-gas pattern of medium-to-high temperature geothermal systems proposed in this study.Moreover,the high-salt and low-gas pattern proposed predicts three favorable medium-to-high temperature geothermal zones in the surface geochemical exploration of the Shiba Basin near the Huangshadong geothermal field.展开更多
The greatest difficulties in recognizing geochemical hydrocarbon anomalies are: (1) how to objectively and accurately separate anomalies from background; (2) how to distinguish hydrocarbon pool related apical anomal...The greatest difficulties in recognizing geochemical hydrocarbon anomalies are: (1) how to objectively and accurately separate anomalies from background; (2) how to distinguish hydrocarbon pool related apical anomalies from lateral anomalies controlled by faults; and (3) how to eliminate interferences. These uncertainties are serious obstacles for the wide acceptance and use of geochemical techniques in hydrocarbon exploration. In this paper, the features of hydrocarbon anomalies were analyzed based on the micro migration mechanisms. In most cases, there are two anomalous populations or point groups, which are produced by two distinct mechanisms: (1) a population that directly reflects oil and gas fields, and (2) one that is related to structures such as faults. Statistical studies show that background anomalous populations and the boundaries between them can be described by the population means, prior probabilities, which are the proportions of population sizes, and covariance matrices, when background and anomalous populations have normal distributions. When this normality condition is met, a series of formulas can be derived. The method is designed on the basis of these allows: (1) univariate anomaly recognition, (2) elimination of interferences, (3) multivariate anomaly recognition, and (4) multivariate anomaly combination which depicts a more representative picture of morphology of the anomalous target than individual anomalies. The univariate and multivariate anomaly recognition can not only separate anomalies from background objectively, but also simultaneously distinguish the two types of anomalies objectively. This method was applied to the hydrocarbon data in Yangshuiwu region, Hebei Province. The interferences from regional variation of background were eliminated, and the interpretation uncertainty was reduced greatly as the anomalous populations were separated. The method was also used in Daxing region within the confines of Beijing City, and Aershan and Jiergalangtu regions in Inner Mongolia.展开更多
A recently developed method, on the bases of “multifractal spectrum” filters for mineral exploration, is introduced in this paper. The “multifractal spectrum” filters, a group of irregularly shaped filters that a...A recently developed method, on the bases of “multifractal spectrum” filters for mineral exploration, is introduced in this paper. The “multifractal spectrum” filters, a group of irregularly shaped filters that are constructed on each processed datum, can be used to separate various types of geochemical and geophysical anomalies. The basic model, with an emphasis on the GIS based implementation and the application to the geochemical and geophysical data processing for mineral exploration in southern Nova Scotia, Canada, indicates its advantage in the separation of multiple anomalies from the background.展开更多
Interference in the data of geochemical hydrocarbon exploration is a large obstacle for anomaly recognition. The multiresolution analysis of wavelet analysis can extract the information at different scales so as to pr...Interference in the data of geochemical hydrocarbon exploration is a large obstacle for anomaly recognition. The multiresolution analysis of wavelet analysis can extract the information at different scales so as to provide a powerful tool for information analysis and processing. Based on the analysis of the geometric nature of hydrocarbon anomalies and background, Mallat wavelet and symmetric border treatment are selected and data pre-processing (logarithm-normalization) is established. This approach provide good results in Shandong and Inner Mongolia, China. It is demonstrated that this approach overcome the disadvantage of backgound variation in the window (interference in window), used in moving average, frame filtering and spatial and scaling modeling methods.展开更多
The Beishan rift zone in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was formed due to strong activities of faults on the basement of the Tarim continental crust.Despite the fact that many geological research results of the rift...The Beishan rift zone in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was formed due to strong activities of faults on the basement of the Tarim continental crust.Despite the fact that many geological research results of the rift zone have been achieved,only a few studies have been conducted on its regional geophysical characteristics.In this paper,the gravity and magnetic anomalies of the rift zone were highlighted through specific data processing of 1∶50000 high-precision aeromagnetic data and gravity data with a grid spacing of 2 km×2 km.Based on this,the geophysical evidence for the scope and internal structures of the Beishan rift zone was obtained for the first time.The distinct characteristics of magnetic and gravity fields in the areas to the north and south of the Beishan rift zone reveal that deep faults exist between the Beishan rift zone and the geological units on the southern and northern sides.Furthermore,the faults on the two areas contain the bidirectional thrusts and have flower-shaped structures according to the characteristics of the magnetic and gravity fields.The Beishan rift zone can be divided into two tectonomagmatic zones,namely the Zhongposhan-Bijiashan-Cihai-Baishanliang zone(the northern zone)and the Bayiquan-Qixin-Baishan zone(the southern zone).The northern zone can be further subdivided into three comet-shaped anomaly groups(tectonomagmatic areas),while the southern zone can be further subdivided into two tectonomagmatic areas.According to the characteristics of aeromagnetic anomalies and gravity field,19 mafic-ultramafic complexes were delineated.The known Pobei,Hongshishan,and Qixin complexes are all located within the inferred complexes,with estimates of total explored resources of Ni,Cu,and Au of 3×10^(6) t,10×10^(3) t and 10 t,respectively.The prospecting of high-grade copper-nickel deposits should focus on the periphery and deep parts of the known and inferred mafic-ultramafic complexes.Among them,the peripheral strata of the complexes specifically have great prospecting potential of large-scale high-grade copper-nickel deposits of magma injection type.Finally,this paper analyzed the application effects of the rapid airborne-ground-drilling synergetic exploration method in the prospecting of copper-nickel deposits in Qixin,Beishan,Xinjiang,which will provide references for further exploration of copper-nickel deposits in Beishan area,Xinjiang.展开更多
Due to the complexity of geological background and the adverseness of natural geographical environment in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,it is very difficult to carry out petroleum geological study in this region. The Qing...Due to the complexity of geological background and the adverseness of natural geographical environment in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,it is very difficult to carry out petroleum geological study in this region. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the only blank space of petroleum exploration on a large scale. The authors carried out the surface geochemical exploration of oil and gas in the Gangbatong-Ya'anxiang and Dongqiao-Nam Co of the Qinghai-Tibet region. Based on the data of actual detection and experiments in the studied area,the characteristics of concentration and profile distribution of the main geochemical exploration indicators(total adsorbed hydrocarbon,altered carbonate,thermal released mercury,etc.) were discussed. The origin of hydrocarbon was also discussed. Moreover,the oil and gas potential of different sections in the Qiangtang Basin and the Biru Basin were evaluated,which could provide references for the exploration and prediction of oil and gas in this region. The concentrations of total adsorbed hydrocarbons in the Ya'anxiang of Suoxian County-Zadong of Baqing County and the Jiecha-Dangxiong of Anduo County in the Qinghai-Tibet region are high,averaging 312.64 μL·kg-1 and 164.36 μL·kg-1. Their altered carbonate concentrations are relatively low,averaging 0.11% and 0.56%. Their concentrations of thermal released mercury are relatively high,averaging 13.09×10-9 and 1.94×10-9. Geochemical exploration results in fact reflect hydrocarbon information in the underground,which are mainly petroleum associated gas and over-matured cracking gas. The Jiecha-Charenluma and the Xiamaya'ertong-Suoba sections in the Qiangtang Basin are the most favorable ones for oil and gas and the Ekou-Zadong section is relatively favorable one,while the Nam Co and the Zigetangcuo-Dongqiao sections in the Biru Basin are the favorable ones for oil and gas,and the Jiang Co-Nading Co and the Ya'anxiang-Ya'ertong sections are relatively favorable ones.展开更多
Platinum has been one of the highly needed mineral resources in China.The geochemical exploration at two survey scales was applied in telescoping ore targets for the first time in Eastern Yunnan Pt geochemical provinc...Platinum has been one of the highly needed mineral resources in China.The geochemical exploration at two survey scales was applied in telescoping ore targets for the first time in Eastern Yunnan Pt geochemical province that was delineated using Pt data from flood plain sediments with extra-low sampling density.Our study was based on the delineations and assessments of both regional and local Pt anomalies using the Pt data by analyzing with C-OES the composite samples with two sampling densities.The composite samples were obtained by recomposing at two sampling densities the original stream sediment samples collected by the National Geochemical Mapping Project.Semivariograms were used to quantitatively describe the variability of Pt anomalies and further analyze the factors controlling the variability.Pt resource potentials of both the regional Pt anomalies and the local Pt anomalies in the study area were estimated based on the geochemical block methods,respectively.It comes to the conclusions as follows.(1) From the regional to local Pt anomaly,the factors controlling their variability from the deep seated faults-basalts turn into the basalts-branch faults,which suggest that Semivariograms could identify the geological factors controlling the variability of the Pt anomalies identified by the Pt data from the stream sediments with different sampling densities.(2) There exist two types of Pt anomalies in the study area.One is those displaying at sampling densities,and its average Pt concentration significantly increases with sampling density increasing.The other is getting weaker and/or disappears with sampling density increasing.This shows that TOTGEMS could gradu-ally eliminate non-ore anomalies and keep ore anomalies.(3) The average Pt concentration of the local Pt anomaly blocks delineated using Pt data from stream sediments with sampling density of one composite per 16 km2 is twice as much as that of the regional Pt anomaly blocks delineated using Pt data from stream sediments with sampling density of one composite per 64 km2.The Pt resource amount of the local Pt anomaly blocks is 60% of the regional anomaly blocks,but the area of the former is just 35% of the latter,which suggests that the Pt resource amount is mainly concentrated in its local anomalies,and that TOTGEMS has a good exploration function that efficiently approaches ore targets.展开更多
Cluster analysis is a well-known technique that is used to analyze various types of data. In this study, cluster analysis is applied to geochemical data that describe 1444 stream sediment samples collected in northwes...Cluster analysis is a well-known technique that is used to analyze various types of data. In this study, cluster analysis is applied to geochemical data that describe 1444 stream sediment samples collected in northwestern Xinjiang with a sample spacing of approximately 2 km. Three algorithms （the hierarchical, k-means, and fuzzy cmeans algorithms） and six data transformation methods （the z-score standardization, ZST; the logarithmic transformation, LT; the additive log-ratio transformation, ALT; the centered log-ratio transformation, CLT; the isometric log-ratio transformation, ILT; and no transformation, NT） are compared in terms of their effects on the cluster analysis of the geochemical compositional data. The study shows that, on the one hand, the ZST does not affect the results of columnor variable-based （R-type） cluster analysis, whereas the other methods, including the LT, the ALT, and the CLT, have substantial effects on the results. On the other hand, the results of the row- or observation-based （Q-type） cluster analysis obtained from the geochemical data after applying NT and the ZST are relatively poor. However, we derive some improved results from the geochemical data after applying the CLT, the ILT, the LT, and the ALT. Moreover, the k-means and fuzzy cmeans clustering algorithms are more reliable than the hierarchical algorithm when they are used to cluster the geochemical data. We apply cluster analysis to the geochemical data to explore for Au deposits within the study area, and we obtain a good correlation between the results retrieved by combining the CLT or the ILT with the k-means or fuzzy c-means algorithms and the potential zones of Au mineralization. Therefore, we suggest that the combination of the CLT or the ILT with the k-means or fuzzy c-means algorithms is an effective tool to identify potential zones of mineralization from geochemical data.展开更多
基金This study was funded by the project entitled Exploration Technology for Deep Geothermal Resources in Igneous Rock Areas in South China(2019YFC0604902),Chinathe Ministry of Science and Technology of China,China+1 种基金the project entitled Research and Application of Key Technologies for Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration of Deep Geothermal Resources in Southeastern China(P20041-2),Chinathe Science and Technology Department of SINOPEC,China.
文摘The existence of thermal storage will correspondingly increase the temperature of surrounding strata and promote the continuous expansion,volatilization,upward migration,and loss of gas in the strata.As a result,a low-concentration gas field will be formed in the strata above geothermal reservoirs.Geothermal reservoirs could in turn heat formation water and increase the solubility of soluble inorganic salts in the surrounding rocks and the total dissolved solids(TDS)content in the formation water.Since water can strongly wet and permeate strata,the dissolved inorganic salts migrate into upper strata along with water,giving rise to the formation of a high-concentration inorganic salt field in the strata above geothermal reservoirs.A higher geothermal reservoir temperature corresponds to more significant characteristics mentioned above.Therefore,a medium-to-high temperature geothermal system has a surface geochemical anomaly pattern of high inorganic salt concentrations and low gas concentrations(also referred to as the high-salt and low-gas pattern).This pattern is applied to the surface geochemical exploration of the two geothermal fields in Guangdong Province,i.e.,the Huangshadong geothermal field in Huizhou City and the Xinzhou geothermal field in Yangjiang City,revealing low-concentration gas fields above both.The application results also show that the exposed thermal spring water in both geological fields has higher concentration of dissolved inorganic salt than the surface water and nearby seawater,forming high-amplitude anomalies on the surface above geothermal reservoirs.These characteristics,as well as the measured temperature at known geothermal wells,verify the validity of the high-salt and low-gas pattern of medium-to-high temperature geothermal systems proposed in this study.Moreover,the high-salt and low-gas pattern proposed predicts three favorable medium-to-high temperature geothermal zones in the surface geochemical exploration of the Shiba Basin near the Huangshadong geothermal field.
文摘The greatest difficulties in recognizing geochemical hydrocarbon anomalies are: (1) how to objectively and accurately separate anomalies from background; (2) how to distinguish hydrocarbon pool related apical anomalies from lateral anomalies controlled by faults; and (3) how to eliminate interferences. These uncertainties are serious obstacles for the wide acceptance and use of geochemical techniques in hydrocarbon exploration. In this paper, the features of hydrocarbon anomalies were analyzed based on the micro migration mechanisms. In most cases, there are two anomalous populations or point groups, which are produced by two distinct mechanisms: (1) a population that directly reflects oil and gas fields, and (2) one that is related to structures such as faults. Statistical studies show that background anomalous populations and the boundaries between them can be described by the population means, prior probabilities, which are the proportions of population sizes, and covariance matrices, when background and anomalous populations have normal distributions. When this normality condition is met, a series of formulas can be derived. The method is designed on the basis of these allows: (1) univariate anomaly recognition, (2) elimination of interferences, (3) multivariate anomaly recognition, and (4) multivariate anomaly combination which depicts a more representative picture of morphology of the anomalous target than individual anomalies. The univariate and multivariate anomaly recognition can not only separate anomalies from background objectively, but also simultaneously distinguish the two types of anomalies objectively. This method was applied to the hydrocarbon data in Yangshuiwu region, Hebei Province. The interferences from regional variation of background were eliminated, and the interpretation uncertainty was reduced greatly as the anomalous populations were separated. The method was also used in Daxing region within the confines of Beijing City, and Aershan and Jiergalangtu regions in Inner Mongolia.
文摘A recently developed method, on the bases of “multifractal spectrum” filters for mineral exploration, is introduced in this paper. The “multifractal spectrum” filters, a group of irregularly shaped filters that are constructed on each processed datum, can be used to separate various types of geochemical and geophysical anomalies. The basic model, with an emphasis on the GIS based implementation and the application to the geochemical and geophysical data processing for mineral exploration in southern Nova Scotia, Canada, indicates its advantage in the separation of multiple anomalies from the background.
文摘Interference in the data of geochemical hydrocarbon exploration is a large obstacle for anomaly recognition. The multiresolution analysis of wavelet analysis can extract the information at different scales so as to provide a powerful tool for information analysis and processing. Based on the analysis of the geometric nature of hydrocarbon anomalies and background, Mallat wavelet and symmetric border treatment are selected and data pre-processing (logarithm-normalization) is established. This approach provide good results in Shandong and Inner Mongolia, China. It is demonstrated that this approach overcome the disadvantage of backgound variation in the window (interference in window), used in moving average, frame filtering and spatial and scaling modeling methods.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFC0602206)the projects of the China Geological Survey(DD20160066,DD20190551).
文摘The Beishan rift zone in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was formed due to strong activities of faults on the basement of the Tarim continental crust.Despite the fact that many geological research results of the rift zone have been achieved,only a few studies have been conducted on its regional geophysical characteristics.In this paper,the gravity and magnetic anomalies of the rift zone were highlighted through specific data processing of 1∶50000 high-precision aeromagnetic data and gravity data with a grid spacing of 2 km×2 km.Based on this,the geophysical evidence for the scope and internal structures of the Beishan rift zone was obtained for the first time.The distinct characteristics of magnetic and gravity fields in the areas to the north and south of the Beishan rift zone reveal that deep faults exist between the Beishan rift zone and the geological units on the southern and northern sides.Furthermore,the faults on the two areas contain the bidirectional thrusts and have flower-shaped structures according to the characteristics of the magnetic and gravity fields.The Beishan rift zone can be divided into two tectonomagmatic zones,namely the Zhongposhan-Bijiashan-Cihai-Baishanliang zone(the northern zone)and the Bayiquan-Qixin-Baishan zone(the southern zone).The northern zone can be further subdivided into three comet-shaped anomaly groups(tectonomagmatic areas),while the southern zone can be further subdivided into two tectonomagmatic areas.According to the characteristics of aeromagnetic anomalies and gravity field,19 mafic-ultramafic complexes were delineated.The known Pobei,Hongshishan,and Qixin complexes are all located within the inferred complexes,with estimates of total explored resources of Ni,Cu,and Au of 3×10^(6) t,10×10^(3) t and 10 t,respectively.The prospecting of high-grade copper-nickel deposits should focus on the periphery and deep parts of the known and inferred mafic-ultramafic complexes.Among them,the peripheral strata of the complexes specifically have great prospecting potential of large-scale high-grade copper-nickel deposits of magma injection type.Finally,this paper analyzed the application effects of the rapid airborne-ground-drilling synergetic exploration method in the prospecting of copper-nickel deposits in Qixin,Beishan,Xinjiang,which will provide references for further exploration of copper-nickel deposits in Beishan area,Xinjiang.
基金Supported by New-century Excellent Talent Program of Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. NCET-06-0204)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.40572085)"the 9th Five-Year Plan" of Scientific and Technological Program of CNPC (Grant No. BR95YZ2-02)
文摘Due to the complexity of geological background and the adverseness of natural geographical environment in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,it is very difficult to carry out petroleum geological study in this region. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the only blank space of petroleum exploration on a large scale. The authors carried out the surface geochemical exploration of oil and gas in the Gangbatong-Ya'anxiang and Dongqiao-Nam Co of the Qinghai-Tibet region. Based on the data of actual detection and experiments in the studied area,the characteristics of concentration and profile distribution of the main geochemical exploration indicators(total adsorbed hydrocarbon,altered carbonate,thermal released mercury,etc.) were discussed. The origin of hydrocarbon was also discussed. Moreover,the oil and gas potential of different sections in the Qiangtang Basin and the Biru Basin were evaluated,which could provide references for the exploration and prediction of oil and gas in this region. The concentrations of total adsorbed hydrocarbons in the Ya'anxiang of Suoxian County-Zadong of Baqing County and the Jiecha-Dangxiong of Anduo County in the Qinghai-Tibet region are high,averaging 312.64 μL·kg-1 and 164.36 μL·kg-1. Their altered carbonate concentrations are relatively low,averaging 0.11% and 0.56%. Their concentrations of thermal released mercury are relatively high,averaging 13.09×10-9 and 1.94×10-9. Geochemical exploration results in fact reflect hydrocarbon information in the underground,which are mainly petroleum associated gas and over-matured cracking gas. The Jiecha-Charenluma and the Xiamaya'ertong-Suoba sections in the Qiangtang Basin are the most favorable ones for oil and gas and the Ekou-Zadong section is relatively favorable one,while the Nam Co and the Zigetangcuo-Dongqiao sections in the Biru Basin are the favorable ones for oil and gas,and the Jiang Co-Nading Co and the Ya'anxiang-Ya'ertong sections are relatively favorable ones.
基金Supported by National High-Tech Research & Development Program of China (863 Program) (Grant No. 2006AA06Z113)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40772197)
文摘Platinum has been one of the highly needed mineral resources in China.The geochemical exploration at two survey scales was applied in telescoping ore targets for the first time in Eastern Yunnan Pt geochemical province that was delineated using Pt data from flood plain sediments with extra-low sampling density.Our study was based on the delineations and assessments of both regional and local Pt anomalies using the Pt data by analyzing with C-OES the composite samples with two sampling densities.The composite samples were obtained by recomposing at two sampling densities the original stream sediment samples collected by the National Geochemical Mapping Project.Semivariograms were used to quantitatively describe the variability of Pt anomalies and further analyze the factors controlling the variability.Pt resource potentials of both the regional Pt anomalies and the local Pt anomalies in the study area were estimated based on the geochemical block methods,respectively.It comes to the conclusions as follows.(1) From the regional to local Pt anomaly,the factors controlling their variability from the deep seated faults-basalts turn into the basalts-branch faults,which suggest that Semivariograms could identify the geological factors controlling the variability of the Pt anomalies identified by the Pt data from the stream sediments with different sampling densities.(2) There exist two types of Pt anomalies in the study area.One is those displaying at sampling densities,and its average Pt concentration significantly increases with sampling density increasing.The other is getting weaker and/or disappears with sampling density increasing.This shows that TOTGEMS could gradu-ally eliminate non-ore anomalies and keep ore anomalies.(3) The average Pt concentration of the local Pt anomaly blocks delineated using Pt data from stream sediments with sampling density of one composite per 16 km2 is twice as much as that of the regional Pt anomaly blocks delineated using Pt data from stream sediments with sampling density of one composite per 64 km2.The Pt resource amount of the local Pt anomaly blocks is 60% of the regional anomaly blocks,but the area of the former is just 35% of the latter,which suggests that the Pt resource amount is mainly concentrated in its local anomalies,and that TOTGEMS has a good exploration function that efficiently approaches ore targets.
基金The authors thank Ratheesh Kumar R.T, Rustam Orozbaev for their assistance to revise the language before we submit the manuscript and the authors are grateful for the anonymous reviewers＇ constructive comments and suggestions. This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant Nos. U1503291 and 41402296）, and a Major Project in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region （201330121-3）.
文摘Cluster analysis is a well-known technique that is used to analyze various types of data. In this study, cluster analysis is applied to geochemical data that describe 1444 stream sediment samples collected in northwestern Xinjiang with a sample spacing of approximately 2 km. Three algorithms （the hierarchical, k-means, and fuzzy cmeans algorithms） and six data transformation methods （the z-score standardization, ZST; the logarithmic transformation, LT; the additive log-ratio transformation, ALT; the centered log-ratio transformation, CLT; the isometric log-ratio transformation, ILT; and no transformation, NT） are compared in terms of their effects on the cluster analysis of the geochemical compositional data. The study shows that, on the one hand, the ZST does not affect the results of columnor variable-based （R-type） cluster analysis, whereas the other methods, including the LT, the ALT, and the CLT, have substantial effects on the results. On the other hand, the results of the row- or observation-based （Q-type） cluster analysis obtained from the geochemical data after applying NT and the ZST are relatively poor. However, we derive some improved results from the geochemical data after applying the CLT, the ILT, the LT, and the ALT. Moreover, the k-means and fuzzy cmeans clustering algorithms are more reliable than the hierarchical algorithm when they are used to cluster the geochemical data. We apply cluster analysis to the geochemical data to explore for Au deposits within the study area, and we obtain a good correlation between the results retrieved by combining the CLT or the ILT with the k-means or fuzzy c-means algorithms and the potential zones of Au mineralization. Therefore, we suggest that the combination of the CLT or the ILT with the k-means or fuzzy c-means algorithms is an effective tool to identify potential zones of mineralization from geochemical data.
