Geochemical distribution and metallogenic potential of Pb-Zn in Pakistan and its implications for mineral prospecting in sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits in the Tethys belt

Huishan ZHANG, Yucai SONG, Wenchang LI, Zhongping MA, Jing ZHANG, Jun HONG, Lei LIU, Pengrui LÜ, Zhihua WANG, Haidi ZHANG, Bo YANG, HAIDER Naghmah, Shaheen KHALIL Yasir, Ali NAREJO Asad

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Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2025, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (1) : 105-126. DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.10.44

Geochemical distribution and metallogenic potential of Pb-Zn in Pakistan and its implications for mineral prospecting in sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits in the Tethys belt

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Pakistan, which is located between the Tibetan and Iranian Plateaus, is an important part of the Tethys Domain, where some lead-zinc deposits and ore occurrences have been revealed. The metallogenic pattern and the extend of lead-zinc mineralization zones, however, are unclear due to lack of systematic geological investigation, and the metallogenic potential of lead and zinc in Pakinstan remains undetermined. The low-density geochemical survey is an effective method to address the above issues. Based on the results of the 1∶1000000 low-density geochemical survey in Pakistan, this paper describes the geochemical background and geochemical anomaly distribution characteristics of lead and zinc in Pakistan. Combined with the regional geology and metallogeny, types, and key ore-controlling factors of lead-zinc deposits, favorable prospective areas are delineated and potential ore deposit types are proposed, providing the foundation for lead and zinc prospecting and exploration. The results show that the content of lead in stream sediments in the bedrock outcrop area of Pakistan ranged between 0.37-155.90 μg/g, with an average value of 13.44 μg/g, which is higher than the Clark value of the crust. The content of zinc varied from 1.78 to 288.70 μg/g, with an average value of 52.10 μg/g, which is lower than the Clark value of the crust. According to 92% cumulative frequency as the lower limit of anomaly (Pb = 18.4 μg/g, Zn = 76.0 μg/g), a total of 18 lead geochemical anomalies, 24 zinc geochemical anomalies, nine lead-zinc prospective areas were delineated, and three main metallogenic series were identified. It is suggested that the Khuzdar-Rasbela and Quetta areas of south-central Pakistan have great prospecting potential for SEDEX and MVT lead-zinc deposits. This region—connecting with the Sanandagi-Sirjan lead-zinc metallogenic belt of Iran to the west, extending to the Tianshuihai-Sanjiang lead-zinc metallogenic belt of China to the east—is an important component of the giant metallogenic belt of the Tethys hosting sedimentary lead-zinc deposits, and this type of lead-zinc deposits may also be found in other metallogenic belts and areas of the Tethys belt.

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Tethy / metallogenic potential / geochemical survey / sedimentary lead-zinc deposits / SEDEX and MVT / Pakistan

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Huishan ZHANG , Yucai SONG , Wenchang LI , et al . Geochemical distribution and metallogenic potential of Pb-Zn in Pakistan and its implications for mineral prospecting in sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits in the Tethys belt. Earth Science Frontiers. 2025, 32(1): 105-126 https://doi.org/10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.10.44

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