Multifractal Detrended Cross-Correlation Analysis of Geochemical Element Concentration

Abstract

We use multifractal detrended cross -fluctuation analysis (MF-DXA) to investigate nonlinear behavior of geochemical element concentration, Au-Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag, in Shangzhuang Deposit, Shandong Province, China. We find that the generalized Hurst exponent h(q) and cross-correlation exponent h xy (q) decrease with the increase of q, which indicate that all element concentration series and their cross pairs exhibit multifractal phenomena. By comparing the variability of h(q) and h xy (q), we have found that the multifractal behavior is more obvious when q > 0 than q < 0 for the element Au- Cu-Pb-Zn and their cross pairs. These analyses, given quantitative information about the complexity of the element concentration, lead to a better understanding of the geochemical phenomena underlying mineralization process.