Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 21 (1984) 201--208 201

Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam - - P r i n t e d in The Netherlands

THE ROLE OF REGIONAL LITHOGEOCHEMISTRY IN MINERAL

EXPLORATION

PAVEL V. KOVAL
A.P. Vinogradov Institute of Geochemistry, Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of
Sciences, USSR, P.O.B. 701, 664033 Irkutsk (U.S.S.R.).
(Received December 30, 1983)

ABSTRACT

Koval, P.V., 1984. The role of regional lithogeochemistry in mineral exploration. J. Geo-
chem. Explor., 21: 201--208.

Regional lithogeochemical surveys can be used to determine the geochemical charac-

teristics of particular tectonic regions as well as mapping geochemistry in relation to
geology and ore deposits at a larger scale. Regional lithogeochemistry is of particular
value for assigning signatures to associations of igneous rocks which are related geo-
chemically and geologically.
The application of regional lithogeochemistry to mineral exploration is reviewed here
with particular reference to the Mesozoic magmatic province of Mongolia. Geochemical
data for granitoids are shown to have particular application to: (1) the classification
and grouping of rocks of similar petrochemical and mineral compositions; (2) the com-
pilation of tectonic and metaUogenic maps; (3) the identification of metallogenic prov-
inces and ore zones; and (4) predictive modelling to identify ore-bearing associations.
Moreover, such data can be used to estimate the probable types and sizes of ore bodies
associated with particular geochemical rock types. Regional lithogeochemistry thus
forms an essential basis for prospecting for mineral deposits.
pecting for mineral deposits.

INTRODUCTION

Regional lithogeochemistry provides a basis for geochemical research

whereby the geochemical characteristicsof particular magmatic associations
are related to their geological setting and associated ore deposits. Such an ap-
proach is also valuable for metallogenic studies and prospecting. In this paper
the applications of regional lithogeochemistry are evaluated with reference
to the Mesozoic magrnatic province of the Mongol-Okhotsky interconti-
nental mobile belt (Fig. 1). Mapping is generally at approximately 1:1
500 000 scale with some examples of more detailed investigations.Geo-
chemical rock classificationof granitoids is used (Kov~lenko et al., 1975,
1981; Tauson, 1977) whereby intrusions of similar chemistry and minera-
logy are related to similar conditions of tectonism and m a g m a genesis. For

0375-6742/84/$03.00 © 1984 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.

202

example, granitoids are thus divided by L. Tauson into at least 10 types

(Tauson, 1977, 1982; Tauson et al., 1982).
The main features of the granitoids used in the description and compara-
tive analysis of magmatic associations at the regional scale are: (1) their
geochemistry and petrography; (2) the depth of emplacement and sequence
of intrusion; and (3) the age and geological structure of the basement into
which the granitoids were emplaced. The geochemical and geological signa-
tures of the magmatic associations can be represented on simple variation
diagrams for petrogenetic and trace elements (Koval, 1979; Koval et al.,
1982).
#
• 4t .

g°4° U $ SR . " . ""

" - - ,.._,.I~,_:..
;~ 50 =

- . ~ ,,.:, ~~-";~ ~
,._,"..,,
": ' ..". ,_
~ . ~. _~_ ,...
->- . . . ~ / / / itO
r ° ~.-~> ~ " 7"i /
• ~ _ ~ - ~ . . . - t ,.---.,.

.*_,V .~- ~: . ~ ill~.-."

• AJ:~ -~ ~ i larly-Hesozoic:

\
\ So~'T~-( ~OCKS ~"
y
~" " i

........ tt0° I i one(l-t},South-Easf one(2-2)

OHI NA I/ F,o,,

Fig. 1. Location of investigated area of Mesozoic magmatism in Mongolia.

MAPPING

The representation of geochemical rock types on maps provides an im-

portant basis for more detailed investigations including regional geological
mapping whereby rocks of similar petrochemical and mineralogical compo-
sition can be identified. There are, for example, five different types of leuco-
cratic subsolvus and hyper-solvus granites in Mongolia each of which has dif-
ferent levels of granitophile trace elements, Sr, Ba and volatile components
and a different ore mineral association (Table I). Geological mapping would
not be able to distinguish such granites {especially 1--6, 7--9, Table I) which
have similar petrochemical and mineralogical characteristics.
 203

R e g i o n a l l i t h o g e o c h e m i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n is p a r t i c u l a r l y u s e f u l f o r s p e c i a l -
ised mapping at reconnnaissance and regional scales (for example for tec-
tonic, formation, ore-bearing, ecological purposes). Examples of such maps
prepared for the Mesozoic intrusions of Mongolia include the "Tectonic Map
of the Mongol People's Republic" (Yanshin, 1978), "Map of Mesozoic and
Cenozoic tectonics of MPR" (Yanshin, 1979) and "Schemes of Mesozoic
g r a n i t o i d s d i s t r i b u t i o n a n d o r e - b e a r i n g s t r u c t u r e s " ( K o v a l e n k o e t al., 1 9 7 5 ) .

TABLE I

Trace- and some major-element content of leucocratic and alaskitic granites from different
geochemical t y p e massifs

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

SiO 2 (%) 74.27 74.32 74.36 75.3 74.17 75.59 75.61 74.66 75.74
Na20 (%) 3.52 3.41 3.67 3.91 3.91 3.91 3.82 4.10 3.95
K20 (%) 4.83 4.39 4.42 4.36 4.94 5.30 4.47 4.50 5.07
F (%) 0.03 0.03 0.06 0.20 0.30 0.36 0.07 0.39 0.05
Li (ppm) 22 40 48 84 136 195 20 90 6
Rb (ppm) 119 169 240 306 470 511 312 326 133
Ba (ppm) 840 390 270 200 50 n.d. 250 83 300
Sr (ppm) 200 60 26 30 10 n.d. 68 32 40
Sn (ppm) 1.9 8 5.4 9.6 14 12 5.0 37 3.2
Zr (ppm) 160 145 298 200 n.d. 260 580 3700 175
Hf (ppm) 2.7 3.5 5.6 10 n.d. 9.3 12 17 3.6
K/Rb 340 215 153 118 87 86 119 114 316
Rb/Sr 0.5 2.8 9.2 10 47 n.d. 4.6 10 3.3
Zr/Hf 59 41 53 20 n.d. 28 48 216 49
n 34 32 15 7 6 7 6 13 3

1--2: granodiorite-granite type (palingenetic calk-alkaline granites according to L. Tau-

son).
3--4 : "standard" type (plumasitic rare-metal leucogranites).
5--6: lithium-fluorine type (plumasitie rare-metal leucogranites).
7--9: type of heightened alkalinity (8 = rare-metal agpaitic granites according to L.
Tauson)
F o r localities see Fig. 2.
Analytical technique: SiO 2 = chemical and X R F analysis; Na20 , K20, Li, Rb = atomic ab-
sorption spectrometry; F, Ba, Sr, Sn = quantitative, emission spectrometry; Zr and Hf =
quantitative emission spectroscopy with previous chemical enrichment.
5--6 are eompiled from Koval et al. (1982), Kovalenko et al. (1971, 1975).
n = number of samples.

METALLOGENY

Regional metallogenic analysis aimed at the identification of metallogenic

provinces and belts and their zonation, and the prediction of ore-bearing
d i s t r i c t s is o n e o f t h e p r i n c i p a l a p p l i c a t i o n s o f r e g i o n a l l i t h o g e o c h e m i s t r y .
204

Investigations of Mesozoic granitoids in Mongolia for example indicate that

they generally have a higher silica content and are more alkaline than those
of the same age in eastern Asia (Koval et al., 1982). The identification of
suites of rare metal and highly alkaline granitoids led to the identification of
the South Gobi belt of alkaline magmatic rocks with REE-Zr mineralization
(Kovalenko et al., 1975, 1981) and the East Mongolia provinces of rare-
metal mineralization (Kovalenko et al., 1975, 1977).
As a result of regional geochemical analysis several metallogenic provinces
with rare-metal ores have been identified in Mongolia, corresponding to mag-
matic areas of defined age (Kovalenko et al., 1975; Koval and Yakimov,
1983}. The geochemical zonation of such areas has a mosaic-like structure
whereby magmatic associations of different alkalinity occur in separate tec-
tonic blocks, which correspond to the geological structure of the region.
Thus, the zonation of the northeast early Mesozoic magmatic area is clearly
defined (Fig. 1), and the zone of calc-alkaline magmas is shown to coincide
with the Mesozoic Khentay uplift, while the zone of increased alkalinity
corresponds to an area of volcanic depressions {Fig. 2). The general increase
in alkalinity of the Mesozoic magmas reflects the increasing age, from Her-
cynian to Early-Caledonian and Proterozoic, of the Pre-Mesozoic basement
into which the granitoids were emplaced (Koval et al., 1982).

-5oo DEPTH PHASES

~ ~ . ~ . ,,o ° ./ OF INTRUSIONS
,Hesoabissal
~-.__.-- o

- - .:... :'..;:. j/y

•l ~,~/. and Wh'

'1111,11111'

ZONESOF ALKALINITY;
(1)NORNAL ALKALINITY
..-~. SubT-one of
normal alkalinity
Subzone,of higi'~,r'
"";'~J alkalinity
GHEOCHEMICAL TYPES OF MASSIFS (2)HEIGHTENED
F ~ Height"enecl ~ Granodior'itic- ALKALINITy
alkalinity qran i t i c
~7 Lithium- I~l Gabbro- subzone
fluori ne dior;¢ic ~ Alkatine
"Standard" (~) Localities(see Table) / Fault subzone

Fig. 2. S c h e m e of structural-magmatic zonation of the northeast Early Mesozoic mag-

matic area in Mongolia. T h e part of Early Mesozoic intrusions (preferably large ones) are
shown.
 205

The distribution of metallogenic units is in good agreement with the geo-

chemical zonation of the magmatic districts (Figs. 2, 3). F o r example, the
Khentay gold-rare-metal belt coincides with hypabyssal rocks of "standard",
Li-F and granodioritic-granitic geochemistry (Kovalenko et al., 1981). The
plumasitic rare-metal leucogranites ("standard" and lithium-fluorine massifs)
are associated with 8n-W and raremetals. Where granodioritic-granitic and
gabbro-dioritic intrusion types also occur they are associated with Au min-
eralization.

tilt " zZ
North-East rnefaUogen;c province
Khentay CJOld-rarernetal belt
Cu,Mo Ore rnineralizafl~n
~ Prognosis / / Fault

Fig. 3. Metallogenic scheme of the northeast area of Early Mesozoic magmatism in Mon-
golia.

As part of the metallogenic analysis areas of potential economic im-

portance are predicted on the basis of the k n o w n geochemical and metal-
logenic zonation. Hence using the model o f Early Mesozoic magmatic zona-
tion in Mongolia, the zone of heightened alkalinity should end in the south-
west of Khentay. This predicts the discovery (along with rocks of increased
alkalinity) of subalkaline porphyric intrusions and trachy-andesites, and it
has recently been established that such porphyry-style mineralization occurs
in the region (Koval et al., 1982, Fig. 3).
The prediction of missing ore-bearing members of magmatic associations is
based on understanding the geochemical rock types and mineralization in
known examples. Hence models of formation of hypabyssal differentiated
"standard" and Li-F types of granitoids bearing Ta and other rare-metal
mineralization were used to predict some new occurrences of raremetal min-
eralization in southwest Khentay.
In general, the mineralization potential of magmas is determined by the
combination of geochemical rock types and geological conditions of their
occurrences (Tauson, 1977; Kovalenko et al., 1981). For example, granitoids
favourable for Sn-W and rare-metal mineralization (except pegmatites) are
highly differentiated, with a variety of intrusive phases and facies, and they
have "standard" or Li-F types of geochemistry (plumasitic raremetal leuco-
granites; Table I) with a hypabyssal or near-surface depth of emplacement;
206

they are also voluminous with little surface erosion. The mineral paragenesis
includes muscovite, albite, amazonite, Li micas and topaz; they contain in-
creased levels of the lithophile trace elements (Li, Rb, F, Sn, Nb, Ta, Hf) and
in some cases of Be, W, with low Sr, Ba, REE contents and Nb/Ta, Zr/Hf
ratios; there is also a high content of lithophile trace elements in micas.
Geochemical differences within granitoid types are useful for estimating
the type of ore associated with them. Thus, it has been shown that "stan-
dard" granites with similar chemical and mineral compositions but contain-
ing Sn-W and Mo-W mineralization differ in several important respects. These
include some features of their geochemistry (Fig. 4), and the composition of
their mica and magnetite minerals (Fig. 5) (Koval and Yakimov, 1983). The
increase of Mg in biotites is generally related to an increase of Mn in wolf-
ramites in associated ore deposits (Fig. 6) and is independent of the Fe/Mg
ratio of the rock.
These distinctions suggest that intrusions associated with Sn-W mineraliza-
tion are less alkaline (or f o r m e d in conditions of lower fo~) in comparison
with massifs of the Mo-W group (Koval et al., 1981).

Sn-W formation Mo-W formation

Magnetic fraction
I

~ 40t N=56 I N=~3 5001

I
t I Sn-W f o r m a t i o n

30ot 0 Mo-W formation

I0O~) •
65 ?5 69 75
%SiOz TI,%

Fig. 4. Histograms of Si for W-bearing granites of Mongolia (according to Koval and Yaki-
mov, 1983).

Fig. 5. Tin and Ti in the magnetic fraction of W-bearing granites of Mongolia (according
to Koval et al., 1981).

0 .

~70t o _~c/~#"°

._c304 /.o~

!,o
0.5 1.o
ivlgin formula unit of bioti÷es

Fig. 6. Correlation of the average MnWO, content of wolframites (according to Ivanova,

1976) and minimal Mg content of biotites of W-bearing intrusions.
 207

PROSPECTING

In districts identified as prospective for mineral deposits by regional

metallogenic analysis, petrographical-geochemical bedrock surveys using
higher-density sampling of 1 sample per km 2 on maps from 1:100 000 to
1:25 000 scale may be performed; thin sections of samples are prepared. The
data are processed to produce summary statistics for each of the elements
determined, including estimates of regional and local backgrounds and maps
of individual elements. Maps of multi-element geochemical associations are
also plotted. The preparation of a petrographical map showing the main
metamorphic and metasomatic facies facilitates the understanding and inter-
pretation of the geochemical information. Anomalies related to ore fields
and (in some cases) separate deposits can be detected.

CONCLUSION

The lithogeochemical investigation of igneous rocks in relation to their

ore-bearing potential has a wide range of applications in mineral exploration.
The approach can be used at all stages of metallogenic analysis beginning
with the identification of geochemical profiles of entire regions and of metal-
logenic provinces to the identification of geochemical and metallogenic zona-
tion and the prediction of mineralised districts. Finally, lithogeochemistry
may be used for prospecting of target areas and the estimation of the size of
ore deposits. A fundamental knowledge of the regional bedrock geochem-
istry also provides a foundation on which primary and secondary haloes as-
sociated with deposits can be understood. Regional lithogeochemistry is con-
sidered to be essential for the rational planning and conduct of geochemical
exploration.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The work forms part of a geochemical study carried o u t by the Vino-

gradov Institute of Geochemistry on behalf of the Joint Soviet-Mongolian
Scientific-Research Geological Expedition. I thank my colleagues and the
Director of both organisations for their support and encouragement.

REFERENCES

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Mongolii. Trudy sovmestnoi Sovetsko-Mongolskoi nauchno-issledovatelskoi geologi-
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Mongolii i ego sviaz s magmatizrnom. Izv. akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Geol., 7 : 8 2 - - 9 1 (in
Russian).
208

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