Spatiotemporal Distribution of Global Porphyry Copper Deposits Revealed by Network Analysis

Inspired by empirical research on network systems such as the Internet, social networks and bionetworks, researchers have recently developed techniques and models to predict the behavior of complex earth systems. The porphyry copper system supports approximately 75% of the world's copper supply. They form above subduction zones, but previous studies have not well explained the coupling pattern of porphyry copper system and plate motion of subduction zone. In this study, Complex networks, a method that reveals complex and hidden high-dimensional models between complex systems, are applied to porphyry copper deposits to explore the relationship between the temporal and spatial distribution of porphyry copper deposits and global plate dynamics. The obvious advantage of complex network technology is that it can make incomprehensible data clear and structured. We used complex network to perform spatiotemporal distribution and cluster analysis of global porphyry copper deposits from the two global converging belts Pacific zone and Tethys zone. The network representations of deposits, hydrothermal alteration, ore minerals, gangue minerals and other attributes versus distance from subduction zones and age of formation for the past 100 Myrs was constructed and analyzed from the perspective of statistical mechanics. The centrality measures and community detection method are proposed on different networks emphatically to quantify mineralization mineral assemblages and evolution through time since 100 Myrs. Typical patterns and differences of porphyry copper deposits from the eastern Pacific and Tethys Orogens are further explored. Deposit networks facilitate the analysis of coexistence patterns simultaneously among mineral phase and their localities through time evolution, and investigation of changing patterns of deposits occurrence in difference state of subducting slab. The results show spatiotemporal clustering distributions of porphyry copper deposits closely associated with the singularity of dynamic motion of plate tectonics and local discontinuity of plate subducting slabs.