Fractal modeling and relationship between thrust faults and carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn mineralization in Alborz Mountains, Northern Iran

Abstract Central Alborz Metallogenic Belt is a major mineral province of northern Iran placed at the northern margin of the Arabia-Eurasia collision zone. This study aimed to at recognition the affiliation between reverse/thrust faults and Pb-Zn carbonate-hosted mineral deposition using fractal modeling. Thrusting is the major mechanism of faulting in this region in terms of length, frequency and density. The carbonate-hosted Pb and Zn occurrence/deposit were classified using the concentration-number fractal method. All faults then are categorized based on fault density, and concentration-area fractal methods are utilized for the thrust faults. According to our analysis, main fault density zones are situated at the central and western parts of the Alborz Mountains. Relationship among the major fault density zones and the Pb-Zn carbonate-hosted occurrences/deposits using logratio matrix reveals that there is a proper connection between reverse/thrust faults and the Zn-Pb carbonate-hosted occurrences/deposits. Moreover, the results were controlled by four ore deposits/prospects in this region which shows high-grade ores directly relate to faults especially reverse/thrust faults based on their distribution. This research indicates that this method can be used for other various ore deposit types that have been distributed by faulting.