Delineation of geochemical anomalies based on stream sediment data utilizing fractal modeling and staged factor analysis

• Cr and Fe prospecting using C–N fractal modeling and staged factor analysis.
• Results correlated to geological particulars.
• Staged factor analysis helps to better separation by fractal modeling.
• The ilr-transformed data were used for geochemical interpretation.

Recognition of significant geochemical signatures and separation of geochemical anomalies from background are critical issues in interpretation of stream sediment data to define exploration targets. In this paper, we used staged factor analysis in conjunction with the concentration-number (C–N) fractal model to generate exploration targets for prospecting Cr and Fe mineralization in Balvard area, SE Iran. The results show coexistence of derived multi-element geochemical signatures of the deposit-type sought and ultramafic-mafic rocks in the NE and northern parts of the study area indicating significant chromite and iron ore prospects. In this regard, application of staged factor analysis and fractal modeling resulted in recognition of significant multi-element signatures that have a high spatial association with host lithological units of the deposit-type sought, and therefore, the generated targets are reliable for further prospecting of the deposit in the study area.