Comparison of efficiency of techniques for delineating uni-element anomalies from stream sediment geochemical landscapes

Abstract

This paper compares analyses of raw geochemical data and processed stream sediment geochemical data (i.e., background-corrected and dilution-corrected via the sample catchment basin approach (SCBA)). Both sets of analyses, based on multifractal approach, aimed to identify geochemical anomalies in three study regions in Iran with different geological characteristics and mineralization styles. The results of both analyses were validated for robustness by using the concept of normalized density (ND), which simultaneously considers both mineralized locations and area of anomalous zones. The comparison of the results emphasizes the efficiency of background and dilution correction procedures, which deal with stream sediment geochemical landscapes in the search for mineral deposits. This paper also presents results of discrete (catchment-based) and continuous (interpolation-based) field modelling of stream sediment geochemical dataset per region study. Although interpolation-based field modelling is rapid, time efficient and simple for delineation of geochemical anomalies, the results of discrete-based field modelling of geochemical anomalies are more superior. Therefore, regardless of the mineralization styles and geological settings, the SCBA to identify geochemical anomalies for mineral exploration is efficient.