Some aspects of the problem of geochemical methods of prospecting for concealed mineralization

Abstract

This paper describes a number of different geochemical approaches to the search for concealed ore deposits. The first approach discussed is a broad one that relates mineralization to the types of rock that may occur in a region. Attention is focussed on hydrothermal deposits and their association with specific types of igneous rocks and their differentiation trends. A second considers the control of the structure and physico-chemical properties of the host rocks on the localization of ore bodies. A number of factors, such as effective and total porosity and the brittleness of rocks also plays an important role in determining the nature and extent of dispersion haloes of the elements around ore deposits. In some instances it is possible to predict the presence of ore bodies at depth from the type of composition of metasomatized rocks that occur at the surface. The use of mercury and fluorine in the search for concealed deposits has been given detailed consideration. Methods based on fluorine may be effective in the discovery of skarn, greisen, hydrothermal and rare metal deposits. When using the fluorine content of waters from a taiga-permafrost terrain, it is important to consider the effect of the organic content of the water. In searching for Cu-Ni deposits of the Noril'sk type it is suggested that intrusive complexes characterized by high degrees of differentiation and containing picritic and taxitic facies enriched in Mg, Ni and Co and depleted in alkalis are the most prospective. Ore deposits of this type may have dispersion haloes of Ag, Bi, Zn and Pb which are associated with ore-controlling faults. Magnesian and calcareous skarns, feldspathic and serpentine-chlorite-prehnite rocks may form broad contact haloes with ore-bearing intrusions. The use of gases in prospecting for Cu-Mo deposits in Central Kazakhstan have been investigated with positive results. Gas surveys carried out in conjunction with geophysical methods makes it possible to distinguish zones of Cu-Mo mineralization from zones containing pyrite and carbonaceous material, all of which give similar geophysical responses. The occurrences of uranium in aquifers on the flanks of artesian basins within arid regions is used as an example of the use of geochemical zonation in prospecting. The same approach may be used in prospecting for copper-bearing sandstones.