Abstract The Late Yanshanian granite belt in the Yidun Island Arc of western Sichuan constitutes a critical rare metal metallogenic zone along the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, yet its deep-seated resource distribution has remained poorly understood. Focusing on the northern contact zone of Hagala rock mass, this study innovatively integrates geological mapping, high-power induced polarization (IP) sounding (AB/2=1500m, MN=20m), and 3D modeling to systematically constrain the spatial architecture and resource potential of deep-seated ore bodies. Key fi ndings include: (1) Surface discovery of 12 NW-trending pegmatitetype Nb-Ta-Li-Be veins, with the No.3 principal vein exhibiting maximum dimensions (850m length ×5-15m width) and average grades of 0.031% Ta?O? and 0.017% Nb?O? - significantly exceeding industrial thresholds (0.012%), while Li?O (0.55%) and Rb?O (0.24%) reach cutoff grades; (2) IP sounding reveals spatial correlation between deep high-resistivity anomalies (4,684 Ω·m) and low polarization rates (1.28%), with 3D inversion demonstrating NE-dipping extensions exceeding 800m depth, establishing a geometrically constrained mineralization model of 2.28 million m3 volume; (3) Resource estimates for the No.3 vein yield 35,000 tonnes Li?O and 15,000 tonnes Rb?O, with 1,981 tonnes Ta?O? and 1,086 tonnes Nb?O? metal content, confi rming large-scale rare metal deposit potential. The developed geology-geophysics collaborative exploration framework establishes a paradigm for rare metal prospecting in collisional orogenic belts.
Fund: This study was supported by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology (Grant No.2024NSFSC0093); Sichuan Provincial Department of 1296
Natural Resources (Grants No. ZDKJ-2024-003 and KJ-2024-012); Sichuan Institute of Geological Survey (Grant No. SCIGS-CZDZX-2024001); the 2024 New Round of
Strategic Mineral Exploration Initiative (ZKKJ202412); and the Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Rare and Rare Earth Resource Evaluation and Utilization.
About author: Yang Rong, male, graduated with a bachelor's degree in Applied Geophysics from Chengdu University of Technology in 2000 and obtained a master's degree from Chengdu University of Technology in 2012. Currently, he works at Sichuan Institute of Comprehensive Geological Survey, mainly engaged in geophysical exploration, geochemical exploration, software and information technology. E-mail: 30376331@qq.com.
Cite this article:
. Integrated Geology-Geophysics Exploration of Rare Metal Deposits in the Yidun Island Arc Collisional Orogen[J]. APPLIED GEOPHYSICS, 2025, 22(4): 1284-1296.
2025, Vol. 22 
