Analysis of the potential application of geophysical survey (induced polarization and DC resistivity) to a long-term mine planning in a sulfide deposit

Abstract

Medium- and long-term mine planning depends on a large series of probes to determine the continuity and content of mineralized zones and the development direction of the exploration. In addition to being logistically complex and onerous, this process is financially wasteful. In this way, Geophysics is an alternative and indirect investigative tool traditionally used in various phases of mineral exploration. This project proposes to assess the possible continuity of a gold and sulfide quartz lode deposit related to an adjacent abandoned open-pit mine by applying DC resistivity and induced polarization methods through electrical tomography. The most promising results indicated a zone of high chargeability (> 20 mV/V) with high potential of mineralization but not coincident to the high resistivity zones. This specific zone was characterized by a vertical tubular stockwork related to vertical fracture joints generated by the stress inversion of the 3rd (NE) and 4th (NW) phases of regional deformation. The integrated analysis resulted in a potential target for future exploration, in addition to the optimization of application of financial resources in probing procedures.