Determination of the elemental associations in the stream sediment copper geochemical exploration using factor analysis in Mesgaran area, east Iran

The association of elements in a regional stream-sediment geochemical exploration was investigated by using R-mode factor analysis on 102 samples in the arid environment of the Mesgaran area, east of Iran. A four-factor model with a cumulative variance of 75.90% clearly indicated the group associations of the elements, which coincide precisely with the lithology and the mineralization present in the study area. Factor scores were calculated and mapped in order to delineate the anomalous locations of the relevant association across the whole area. This multivariate statistical method can be used in arid environments, despite the occurrence of some drawbacks in such climate condition.

Keywords:

Stream sediment , geochemical exploration , factor analysis