Base metal discoveries in Africa and Australia from VTEM data

Abstract

The conductive overburden found on the African and Australian continents are normally considered a challenge for airborne EM surveys, severely limiting the depth of investigation and reducing anomaly amplitudes of basement conductors. However, interpretation of airborne TDEM data acquired with the VTEM system has led to the discovery of a number of base metal deposits in Africa and Australia over the last three years. These successes are ascribed to a combination of the VTEM?s high signal to noise ratio and interpretation skills of experienced geophysicists. Examples of these discoveries include Bertram NiS and Sunchaser VMS (Fox Resources) and Balla Balla (Straits Whim Creek Copper) in Australia as well as a discovery in Zambia for Zambezi Resources Limited. These will be discussed in terms of their geological setting, TDEM response signatures and interpretation procedures which were followed.