Abstract
The identification and delineation of concealed mineralized zones in settings with weak or overlapping anomalies remains a critical challenge. Conventional geophysical methods provide limited resolution and reliability in such conditions. To overcome this limitation, this study introduces a systematic framework that integrates fractal clustering and geophysical inversion to enhance the accuracy of mineral exploration. Induced polarization (IP) chargeability data, acquired using a rectangular array at the Kabudan gold prospect in northeastern Iran—an area characterized by the Lack of outcrops and surface indications of mineralization—were analyzed using four well-established fractal models: Concentration–Area (C–A), Concentration–Perimeter (C–P), Concentration–Number (C–N), and Number–Size (N–S). To quantitatively evaluate the performance of each model, four statistical validation indices were employed: Silhouette, Davies–Bouldin, Calinski–Harabasz, and cluster stability. Among these models, The C–P fractal model exhibited the highest clustering quality, with the highest Silhouette index (closest to 1 among the models), the lowest Davies–Bouldin index, the highest Calinski–Harabasz index, and the lowest Silhouette index standard deviation (highest cluster stability). To verify the subsurface continuity of the identified anomalies, Four geoelectrical profiles were acquired over the anomalous zones, and two-dimensional (2D) inversion of the induced polarization (IP) and resistivity data was performed. The data were subsequently modeled, and the corresponding cross-sections were generated to illustrate the subsurface variations. The inverted sections revealed coherent chargeable structures that closely corresponded to the clusters derived from the fractal models. The results were further assessed and validated using borehole data, where the correspondence between a high-grade gold-bearing sulfide zone and the anomalies delineated in the profiles confirmed the reliability and accuracy of the interpretations. Overall, the proposed integration of fractal clustering, geophysical inversion, and statistical validation not only enhances the interpretability of subsurface data under complex geological conditions but also provides a scalable and transferable framework for next-generation mineral exploration.
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Data for this study is available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Faculty of Mining Engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology for providing essential research facilities and a supportive academic environment throughout this study. Special thanks are extended to Kharazmi University for their valuable support and collaboration. The constructive comments and suggestions provided by colleagues and technical staff involved in the fieldwork are gratefully acknowledged. The authors also thank the anonymous reviewers for their insightful remarks that helped to improve the quality of this manuscript. Finally, the authors wish to thank Komeh Ma’dan Pars Co. generously providing access to exploratory data, which greatly contributed to the advancement of this research.
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A.A. and H.R.R. developed the research concept and designed the methodology. S.M.S.J. and M.H. conducted the field surveys and processed the geophysical data. S.M.S.J., M.H., and A.A. performed the fractal clustering analyses and contributed to the development and validation of the algorithms. A.A. and S.M.S.J. prepared the figures and drafted the main text of the manuscript. H.R.R. provided critical insights into data interpretation and manuscript revision. S.A. assisted with field data acquisition and contributed to the interpretation of geophysical results. All authors discussed the results and reviewed the manuscript.
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Sadatian Jouybari, S.M., Afshar, A., Ramazi, H. et al. Integrated fractal clustering and inversion of induced polarization data for concealed gold exploration in Kabudan area NE Iran. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-38850-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-38850-8
