Fractal dimension of fault systems and its constranits on the formation of gold deposit in Kalamaili area, Eastern Junggar

Kalamaili area is located in the northeastern margin of Junggar Basin, which recognized as the richest gold deposit area of China. The fault systems and the fractal dimension of the area are complex and play a significant control on the deposits of the gold mine. However, the fractal dimension of the study area has not been carried out, and the previous studies lack of the analysis on the relationship between the fractal dimension of fault systems and the distribution of the gold deposit. Therefore, further studies on the fractal dimension of fault systems and its constranits on the formation of gold deposit in Kalamaili area are needed. In our study, we used the box-counting method to analyze the fractal dimension of fault systems, and correlate the relationship between the fractal dimension of fault systems and the formation of gold deposit. The results show that: (1) The fractal dimension of all faults is 1.421, and faults with different strike have various fractal dimension. In detail, the fractal dimension of NW-striking faults is 1.382, fractal dimension of NWW-striking faults is 1.223, fractal dimension of the EW-striking faults is 0.998, and the fractal dimension of the NE-striking faults is 0.960. The fractal dimension values of NW-striking faults are greater than the standard value of fractal dimension (1.22-1.38). (2) Based on the fractal dimension analysis of the fault systems, the geological bodies distributed along the NW-striking faults should have good connectivity, which improve the migration and accumulation of the gold mineralization hydrothermal fluid. The supposed relationship between the NW-striking faults and the gold deposit distribution of our study is coincided with the nature examples of the study area. Based on the exploration of the gold deposit in the study area, most of the gold deposit is distributed along the NW-striking Kalamaili fault, Qingshui-Sujiquan fault, and the associated secondary faults of the two faults.