Abstract
The drillhole information from the Lontzen–Poppelsberg site has demonstrated three orebodies and has allowed the estimation of the extension of the lodes, their dip, and the location at the ground surface. The localisation of the lodes makes them excellent targets for further exploration with geophysics. This deposit is classified as a Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) deposit. It consists mainly of Pb–Zn–Fe sulphides that display contrasting values in resistivity, chargeability, density, and magnetic susceptibility, with regards to the sedimentary host rocks. The dipole–dipole direct current (DC) resistivity and induce polarization (IP) profiles have been collected and inverted to successfully delineate the Pb–Zn mineralization and the geological structures. Short-spacing EM34 electromagnetic conductivity data were collected mainly on the top of Poppelsberg East lode and have revealed a conductive body matching with the geologically modelled mineralization. Gravity profiles have been carried out perpendicularly to the lode orientation; they show a strong structural anomaly. High resolution ground magnetic data were collected over the study area, but they showed no anomaly over the ore deposits. The geophysical inversion results are complementary to the model based on drill information, and allow us to refine the delineation of the mineralization. The identification of the geophysical signatures of this deposit permits targeting new possible mineralization in the area.
Highlights
Mississippi Valley Type ore deposits (MVT) are epigenetic ore deposits that are precipitated from dense brines at temperature between 75 and 200 ◦ C
No lateral or vertical extrapolation were made, which probably underestimated the volume of the Pb–Zn lodes, as shown when using geophysics
The vertical displacement of f2 was estimated as 35 m minimum on its Southern part, while this displacement of the f3 faults was estimated as 20 m, according to the information from the drillings crossing perpendicularly the extensional faults
Summary
Mississippi Valley Type ore deposits (MVT) are epigenetic ore deposits that are precipitated from dense brines at temperature between 75 and 200 ◦ C. MVT deposits are typically located in platform carbonate sequences, commonly in foreland thrust belt, and they lack genetic affinities to igneous activity [1]. They can be found on the five continents, but the largest and most widely studied deposits occur in North America [2]. The Zn mining production was estimated at 11.9 Mt in 2016 and the world reserves have been estimated to be 220 Mt [3]. The global production of Zn decreased last year because of the closure of major mines, such as Lisheen (Ireland), Brunswick 12 (Canada), Skorpion mine (Canada), and Century
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