The Geological Characteristics and Structural Constraints of Xiaozhaigou Silver Deposit in South Qinling

Qinling orogen is a multi-cycle composite continental collision orogenic belt. Comprehensive study shows that faulting and folding in the orogen have a good control on the ore body.This paper selects Xiaozhaigou silver deposit in Qinling orogen as the research object.The authors put forward some new understanding to the ore-controlling structure through multi-approaches including the macro-characteristic of silver ore body, the distribution characteristic of geochemical comprehensive anomaly, and the regional structural analysis.The regional tectonic analysis shows that the Xunyangba-Shiwengzi detachment nappe had dextral strike-slip mechanism.The NW-SE extensional faults controlled the silver ore bodies,the silver mineralization alteration zone and the geochemical comprehensive anomaly.In the adjacent area of similar structural system, some ores or alteration zones were developed along the NW-SE faults.It is suggested that further structural analysis should be conducted in this area, which has certain guiding significance to the prospecting achievement.