Beyond the Obvious Limits of Ore Deposits: The Use of Mineralogical, Geochemical, and Biological Features for the Remote Detection of Mineralization

Kelley, David L.; Kelley, Karen D.; Coker, W B; Caughlin, Brenda; Doherty, Mary Ellen

doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.101.4.729

Cited by 93 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 120 publications

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“…Bajc 1998;Cameron et al 2004;Kelley et al 2004Kelley et al , 2006. The results of the AA5 leach suggest that it is effective in showing the anomalies of kimberlite pathfinder elements, including REE, Y, and Ni.…”

Section: Partial Leachmentioning

confidence: 97%

Soil geochemical survey over concealed kimberlites in the Attawapiskat area in northern Canada

Hattori

Hamilton

Kong

et al. 2009

GEEA

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A soil geochemical survey was conducted over kimberlites in a discontinuous permafrost zone in the James Bay Lowlands, southeastern Hudson Bay Lowlands. The kimberlites are concealed by 10 to 30 m of tills and Tyrell Sea clay sediments. Samples of humus and B-horizon soil were collected at 25-50-m intervals over traverses with the total lengths of 562 m over the Whiskey kimberlite and 740 m over the Yankee kimberlite pipe. B-horizon soil samples, sieved to <80 mesh and dried at 60 C, have high carbonate contents above the margins of the kimberlite pipes. Ammonium acetate leach at pH 5 (AA5) dissolves most of these carbonates, and shows anomalies of REE, Y and Ni above the margins instead of the centres of kimberlites. Since the leach dissolves not only carbonates but also amorphous Al-O-OH originating from the clastic component, the ratios of metals to Al are effective to display geochemical anomalies associated with kimberlites. The concentrations of high field strength elements, such as Nb and Ta, are low in AA5 relative to their detection limits, whereas these elements show anomalies in the Enzyme leach. The ratios of these metals to Mn in the Enzyme leach are useful to display the anomalies associated with kimberlites because soil samples over kimberlites contain high contents of these metals and low contents of Mn. Our data suggest that a soil geochemical survey may be used to assist in discriminating kimberlites from other targets during diamond exploration in sub-Arctic settings.

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Section: Partial Leachmentioning

confidence: 97%

Soil geochemical survey over concealed kimberlites in the Attawapiskat area in northern Canada

Hattori

Hamilton

Kong

et al. 2009

GEEA

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“…Various types of geochemical survey are employed depending on the type of ore deposit target and its geological setting, using the most appropriate media -e.g., drainage (stream sediment), soil or talus, rock, vegetation and ground water -for the environment (see Appendix). Increasingly, geochemical methods are being tested for use in terrain where ore deposits may be covered (Kelley et al, 2006).…”

Section: Geochemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this situation, orebody models are crucial adjuncts to identifying drilling targets, in conjunction with supportive geological and/or geophysical indications. It is expected that in the future very low-level geochemical anomalism that reflects the outermost halo of a deposit may become increasingly useful in providing support for drilling (Kelley et al, 2006).…”

Section: Prospect Explorationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Future Global Mineral Resources

Arndt¹,

Fontboté²,

Hedenquist³

et al. 2017

Geochem. Persp.

127

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“…The existence of such geochemical haloes at or near the surface is well established in a variety of environments, although the exact formation mechanisms are still debated and most likely specific to individual conditions (e.g. Cameron, Hamilton, Leybourne, Hall, & McClenaghan, 2004;Kelley, Kelley, Coker, Caughlin, & Doherty, 2006). It is clear that geochemical anomalies can propagate through (even transported) regolith cover via pore water (e.g.…”

Section: Geochemical Footprints Of Mineral Systems In the Regolithmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recognition of geochemical footprints of mineral systems in the regolith at regional to continental scales

Caritat

Main

Grunsky

et al. 2016

Australian Journal of Earth Sciences

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Understanding the character of Australia's extensive regolith cover is crucial to the continuing success of mineral exploration. We hypothesise that the regolith contains geochemical fingerprints of processes related to the development and preservation of mineral systems at a range of scales. We test this hypothesis by analysing the composition of surface sediments within greenfield regionalscale (southern Thomson Orogen) and continental-scale (Australia) study areas. In the southern Thomson Orogen area, the first principal component (PC1) derived in our study [Ca, Sr, Cu, Mg, Au and Mo at one end; rare earth elements (REEs) and Th at the other] is very similar to the empirical vector used by a local company (enrichment in Sr, Ca and Au concomitant with depletion in REEs) to successfully site exploration drill holes for Cu-Au mineralisation. Mapping of the spatial distribution of PC1 in the region reveals several areas of elevated values and possible mineralisation potential. One of the strongest targets in the PC1 map is located between Brewarrina and Bourke in northern New South Wales. Here, exploration drilling has intersected porphyry Cu-Au mineralisation with up to 1 wt% Cu, 0.1 g/t Au, and 717 ppm Zn. The analysis of a comparable geochemical dataset at the continental scale yields a compositionally similar PC1 (Ca, Sr, Mg, Cu, Au and Mo at one end; REEs and Th at the other) to that of the regional study. Mapping PC1 at the continental scale shows patterns that (1) are spatially compatible with the regional study and (2) reveal several geological regions of elevated values, possibly suggesting an enhanced potential for porphyry Cu-Au mineralisation. These include well-endowed mineral provinces such as the Curnamona and Capricorn regions, but also some greenfield regions such as the Albany-Fraser/western Eucla, western Murray and Eromanga geological regions. We conclude that the geochemical composition of Australia's regolith may hold critical information pertaining to mineralisation within/beneath it.

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Beyond the Obvious Limits of Ore Deposits: The Use of Mineralogical, Geochemical, and Biological Features for the Remote Detection of Mineralization

Cited by 93 publications

References 120 publications

Soil geochemical survey over concealed kimberlites in the Attawapiskat area in northern Canada

Soil geochemical survey over concealed kimberlites in the Attawapiskat area in northern Canada

Future Global Mineral Resources

Recognition of geochemical footprints of mineral systems in the regolith at regional to continental scales

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