A study of metal-bearing nanoparticles from the Kangjiawan Pb-Zn deposit and their prospecting significance

•Characteristics of nanoparticles detected in diverse media were studied via TEM.•A relationship between multimedia metal-bearing nanoparticles and deep-seated ore bodies was demonstrated.•The mineralization-related nanoparticles included four main categories.•Classification of the nanoparticles enriched the migration forms of ore-forming elements.