Geology, Geochemistry, Targeting

Mineral exploration is inherently risky, with only a few projects going into production. Given the potential risks involved, it is imperative that the proper tools are used to evaluate any project. The primary tools for identifying and ranking mineral exploration targets are geochemistry, geology, and geophysics. The objective of each exploration tool is then to provide specific discovery information upon which meaningful exploration decisions can be made, at minimum cost.

Geology

Geological mapping provides the foundation of any exploration program or mine plan. In order for mineral exploration to be effective, it requires an in-depth understanding of the lithology, structural controls, alteration and mineralization of the project.

The GeoGRAFX team can create quality geologic maps from field sheets, historical data, or publicly available data. Using our knowledge of mine-scale mapping, the surface geology can be integrated with drill hole lithology to generate cross sections and deposit models.

geochemistry

Geochemistry is an essential component for most exploration programs. Advances in the field include progressive improvements in mineral deposit models, conceptual models, ICP-ES and ICP-MS instrumentation and capabilities, and computer-based data analysis and visualization techniques. The current trend is to move from threshold determination to pattern recognition analysis to identify anomalous situations.

In the 1980s, GeoGRAFX pioneered the application of using multivariate analysis on geochemical data. These techniques have been improved with multi-element geochemical suites, updated software tools, as well as advanced classification procedures which allows a more in-depth interpretation for targeting, alteration modelling, or lithological classification.

 

 

mineral prospectivity analysis

Development of greater analytical capability with geographic information systems (GIS) permit a fuller assessment of all geoscience data. Objects and attributes in data sets can now be queried to quickly find (for example) ‘all Ag deposits within 5km of northwest trending faults in a favorable horizon’.

Spatial modeling techniques, including weights of evidence, logistic regression, and fuzzy logic, have been used in a mineral prospectivity analysis to test the utility of these methods in a target scale gold exploration. The classic case study is by the USGS for Carlin-type deposits in Central Nevada.  GeoGRAFX has been able to duplicate those results and successfully apply the techniques for clients to other areas in the southwest.

Related Projects

Van Deemen Au Project, AZ

The Van Deemen property is located in the Black Mountains, one of the most productive gold mining areas in Arizona. The deposit is a breccia-hosted gold deposit controlled by a detachment fault separating Tertiary age volcanic rocks from Precambrian granite.

Lisbon Valley Cu Mine Site, UT

Lisbon Valley Mining Company engages in mining copper in Lisbon Valley, Utah. Copper concentrations occur mostly as intergranular disseminations in sandstones and pebble conglomerates.

Kerrs Au Project, Ontario

The Kerrs gold property is situated in the Abitibi area of the Canadian Shield East of Timmins/Matheson Ontario. The quartz-carbonate breccia deposit is stratabound occurring at the contact of a thick, mafic pillow flow sequence overlying an ultramafic, magnetite-rich flow sequence.

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