Orientation study of strategic deep penetration geochemical methods in the central Kyzylkum desert terrain, Uzbekistan

Abstract

Wide-spaced NAMEG (nanoscale metals in earthgas) and MOMEO (mobile forms of metals in overburden) orientation surveys were carried out in the central Kyzylkum desert terrain in the area of several giant gold deposits hosted in Paleozoic weakly metamorphosed black carbonaceous shales. The results demonstrate that gold is carried up through more than 200 m of post-ore sedimentary rocks and desert sand, and forms distinct anomalies on the surface, even with the wide-spaced sampling. The best results were obtained for Au in earthgas, and in water extractable and sorbed forms in sediment samples. The areal extent of anomalous Au values around the giant Au deposits of Muruntau, and Daughiztau is apparently more than 10,000 km 2. Newly discerned areas of Au potential occur at the south part of the shale dome. Further systematic sampling is still required for a better delineation of these anomalies.