PME 722: EXPLORATION GEOCHEMISTRY

Course Contents
1. Introduction
2. Principles of Exploration Geochemistry
3. Field Methods
4. Primary and Secondary Dispersion
5. Regional and Detailed Surveys
7. Case Histories
a. Use of Lithogeochemistry
b. Use of Stream Sediments

Introduction

Generally ore deposits are sources as mineral deposits and minerals are made up of metals. During
the formation of ore deposits, these metals are dispersed around the deposition in various extent
and proportion. The extent and proportion of metal around the deposit is called anomalies.
Therefore, all ore deposits consist of anomalies, dispersed around them and such are called
Geochemical dispersion.

Dispersion around Anomalies may be formed by:

a. Weathering processes – here, mobile elements are transported and deposited in areas
adjacent to mineralization.
b. Hydrothermal fluid – movement of elements by fluid that deposited the mineralization.
These two processes often lead to dispersion haloes.

Types of dispersion
Primary dispersion: Dispersion distributed within the surrounding rock to the mineral deposit, at
the time the deposit was formed.

Secondary dispersion: Dispersion due to redistribution of primary concentration of metals either

as a result of oxidation, hydration or mechanical weathering.

Exploration Geochemistry therefore is use to locate dispersion around one deposits. With this
exploration geochemistry, helps to identify whether dispersion is syngeneic or epigenetic

Exploration Geochemistry is suitable for blind deposit, low grade larger teenage porphyritic
deposits (disseminated deposit).

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What geological materials can be used for exploration Geo-chemistry- even geochemical
analysis?

Several geological media – rocks, soil, stream sediments, water, vegetation etc. (air), PM10,
for example, has been sampled for geochemical analysis

Comparison of media used in geochemical exploration in Canada and the USA

Canada U.S. A
Soil (%) 56.7 19.0
Rocks (%) 14.6 44.0
Stream sediment (%) 23.4 23.0
Water (%) 2.7 8.3
Vegetation (%) 1.9 4.3
Air (%) 0.2 0.9
Others (%) 0.4 0.5

Exploration Geochemistry method adopted could be identified by

(a) Material sampled
(b) Scope of survey
(i) Reconnaissance
(ii) Detailed

(I) Reconnaissance:
(a) detect mineralized belt (Geochemical province) i.e. mineral deposit over large area
(b) eliminate barren areas and identify local areas of interest.
(c) Sampling density is usually around 1 sample per km2 or 1 samples per 100km2
stream sediments are the best for reconnaissance survey.

(II) Detailed Survey:

(i) restricted to area of interest
(ii) use several methods on the basis of geological setting, geophysical geochemical
characteristics
(iii) often pre-date trending and drilling
(iv) sampling density usually 1 sample per 100m2.
Residual soils are the best for detailed surveys

Exploration Geochemistry design is influenced by:

(i) Climate
(ii) Soil type and
(iii) Type and thickness of overburden materials

Exploration Geochemistry have been very successful in locating low grade deposits especially
porphyry type mineralization of Au, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn.

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However, the success rate of exploration Geochemistry have been low over the years, so it is often
use as part of a team of exploration tools.

Exploration geochemistry is best operated on the basis of elemental association, i.e. the presence
of one element may lead to the discovery of another.
Factors that often influence elemental association in ore deposits are:
(i) mineralising process (syngenetic or epigenetic)
(ii) ore bearing potential (elemental constituent or composition)

However, in exploration geochemistry elemental association are influenced by

(a) Geochemical affinity
(b) Geological processes

Examples of elemental association

Geochemical affinity: On the basis of relationship on the periodic table and the possibility
substituting for each other:

K / Rb / Sr
Zn / Cd
Ca / Sr

Geological Processes
(a) During the formation of rocks or
(b) Formation of ore deposits

(a) Formation of rocks

(i) Igneous Intrusion - Common elemental association are REE elements
(ii) Ultramafic: Frequently associated are Mg/Fe/Cr/ Ni/Co.
(iii) Mafic: Fe/Mg/Ta
(iv) Alkaline: Al / Na / Ta/ Niobium or Ta /Zr/F
(v) Granitic rock – Si /K / Na / Ba (Quartz, feldspar, mica) or Li / W/Mo/Sn/Zr/U
(ore deposit)
(vi) Pegmatite: Si / K / Li / Na
Li / Be / B
Rb/ Sr Quartz, feldspar mica
Rb / Cs, REE
Nb / Ta/ Sn Ore deposit

(vii) Sedimentary: A1, U, Cu

Pb / Zn
Si / Au
Mo / Ni / Sb

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b. Ore deposits
(i) Magmatic deposits: Ca/Ni/S (major ore element) in association with Pt/Co/As/Au
(ii) Rare metal pegmatite: Be /U/ Th
(iii) Hydrothermal deposit: - e.g. porphyry Cu deposit will have Cu/S with minor elemental
association of Mo /Au/ Sn / As/ Pb
(iv) Base metal mineralization: major deposit of Pb/Zn/S with associated elements such as
Ag/Au/As/ Antinomy
(v) Volcanogenic massive sulphides: ore of Zn/Cu/Pb/S with associated elements of
Sn/Au/As/Ba/Sr.
(vi) Mississippi Valley Type Deposit: major elements of the deposit are Pb/Zn/S with
associated minor elements such as Ba /F/Cd/Cu/Ni/Bi/Sb
(vii) Sandstone U deposit: major ore element is U with minor elements such as Se / Mo/ V
/ Cu/ Pb.

In exploration Geochemistry elements used are often indicator elements for mineralization (i.e.
economical valuable components of the ore). Therefore, association of elements is one important
criteria during geochemical exploration. The elements are used as “pathfinder” to ore deposits.

Pathfinder elements must have the following characteristics:

(a) Consistent relationship with mineralization
(b) Useable to determine the type of ore deposit or geochemical environment.
For examples
(i) Mo for porphyry Cu deposit
(ii) As for vein type Au or complex Au or complex Au/ Ag/ Cu / S
(iii) Cu/ Ni /Co/Cr as pathfinders for locating Pt in ultramafic rocks
(iv) Sandstone Uranium deposit have Si/V/Mo as pathfinder elements
(v) Complex Pb/Zn/S where Hg may be a pathfinder element.

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