Interactive computer graphics for a more open exploration of stream sediment geochemical data

Abstract

The advantages of using interactive computer graphics with linked windows to investigate data from exploration geochemical stream sediment surveys are demonstrated using a data set from the central Wales ore field. The data may be displayed in a variety of plots and maps; data points selected in one window will be highlighted automatically in all other windows. Thus the interrelationships of data properties and their spatial characteristics may be rapidly evaluated. The flexibility of the method encourages an open, intuitive, and innovative exploration of the data. New methods of near-neighbor comparisons down streams made possible by the new technology are shown to be a potentially powerful technique for the identification of anomalies.