Advances in Structural Geology for Mineral Exploration and Deposit Prediction

Structural geology has become a cornerstone discipline in deciphering continental tectonics and understanding mineralization processes. The current landscape is marked by rapid advancements in analytical tectonics, employing sophisticated principles to interpret fault systems, folding mechanisms, and deformation patterns at various scales. Despite this progress, challenges persist in directly bridging structural analyses with practical applications in mineral exploration. Ongoing debates focus on the efficacy of different structural models in predicting ore loci, the role of tectonic inheritance, and the integration of micro- to regional-scale deformation in guiding exploration campaigns. While recent studies have employed advances in remote sensing, geochronology, and modeling to highlight the spatial relationship between tectonics and mineral deposits, a unified framework for their application at the prospecting scale remains underdeveloped.This Research Topic aims to synthesize current knowledge at the interface of structural geology and mineral deposit studies. By elucidating basic principles alongside innovative methodologies, the objective is to identify how tectonic frameworks influence ore formation, transformation, and distribution. Central questions include how mid- and small-scale tectonic features can be leveraged for regional deposit targeting, the predictive power of analytical tectonics in mineral prospecting, and how integrative structural models can aid in uncovering hidden or unconventional ore deposits. This initiative seeks to cement the theoretical foundations necessary for practitioners to translate structural insights into tangible exploratory outcomes.Within these boundaries, the scope of this Research Topic prioritizes contributions that emphasize the application of analytical and standard tectonic methods to mineral exploration, while recognizing limitations in scale and regional variability. To gather further insights in the cross-disciplinary space of mineral deposits and structural geology, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Principles and advances in analytical tectonics relevant to ore localization• Structural controls on the emplacement, transformation, and preservation of mineral deposits• Development and validation of tectonic models for deposit prediction• Integration of large- and small-scale structural data in mineral prospecting workflows• Methodological innovations in structural analysis for mineral exploration• Case studies demonstrating successful linkages between structural geology and ore discovery• Theoretical approaches to understanding the interplay between tectonics and mineralization processes Topic editors: Huan Li, Chang-Hao Xiao, Han Zheng, Mohamed Faisal Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79073/advances-in-structural-geology-for-mineral-exploration-and-deposit-prediction