Classification of mineralized veins using concentration volume (C-V) fractal modeling: a case study from Chah-Mesi Cu-Au vein deposit, SE Iran

The aim of this study is to classify the different Cu-Au mineralized zones based on subsurface lithogeochemical data applying concentration-volume (C-V) model in the Chah-Mesi gold-copper vein deposit, SE Iran. C-V modeling identified four geochemical populations (barren host rocks, low, medium, and high mineralized zones) for Au and Cu based on log-log plot, which was correlated with the mineralized veins from geological data. High-mineralized veins are higher than 2.24 % in Cu grade, which contain a minor volume of Cu mineralization. Main mineralized population of Cu ranged from 0.16 to 2.24 % Cu and main mineralized population of Au ranged from 0.08 to 3.54 ppm Au. High-mineralized zone of Au has small extension and are considered to range higher than 3.54 ppm. The results were compared with a geological model, showing a strong positive correlation between mineralized zones and quartz veins and andesite-basalt rocks. To certify this, a log-ratio matrix was employed to validate the C-V fractal model for Cu and Au and two lithological units namely andesite--basalt rocks and quartz indicating high values of overall accuracies.