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Isotopes as Pathfinders for Blind and Deeply Weathered Mineralisation in Complex Regolith Terrains Wider application of isotopes in exploration for buried or blind mineral deposits needs to be considered by the mineral exploration sector. Careful and thoughtful use of a range of isotopes such as S, O, C, Pb, Sr and others can be used at all stages through an exploration program to assist with interpretation of geochemical anomalism, highlight ore body relationships within their local and regional geological or structural setting as well as assisting with interpretation of the genetic character of a body of mineralisation. Isotopic signatures have generally been used in exploration to differentiate mineralisation styles and their alteration signature as well as relative ages of formation of the host rocks, mineralisation and alteration events. The determination of isotopic signatures should not be thought of just in these terms however, as their practical application is much wider than this. Isotopes can also used to discriminate subtle ore signatures from background signatures in complex regolith environments with deep weathering, a feature typical of many parts of Australia, South America and Africa. Most importantly, from an exploration perspective, isotopes can be used in early phase exploration in deeply weathered and covered terrains to actually locate an ore body in a similar manner as using routine geochemistry or geophysics. In this situation isotopes can offer effective and unique support for anomaly discrimination for hidden bodies of mineralisation. As the number of samples required to determine characteristic isotopic signatures for a project area is generally small the cost of utilising isotopes is low in comparison to the overall cost of an exploration program. Samples may be of soils, rocks, sediments, drill cuttings, groundwater or other media. Examples of the use of isotopes in early phase exploration are given in the following summary research articles: Click on titles to link to articles: SULPHUR
ISOTOPE VALUES OF SURFICIAL SULPHATES:
A
NEW EXPLORATION TOOL?
Anita S. Andrew1, Allan R. Chivas2
and Andrew J. Bryce1 1CSIRO
Division of Exploration Geoscience, 2Research
School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University Extracted from: Centre for Isotope Studies Research Report 1991-1992 (pp1-4).
ISOTOPE
HYDROGEOCHEMISTRY IN EXPLORATION FOR
BURIED
AND BLIND MINERALIZATION
Anita S. Andrew1,2, Graham R. Carr2,
Angela M. Giblin2 and 1CSIRO
Division of Petroleum Resources, 2CSIRO
Division of Exploration and Mining Extracted from: Centre for Isotope Studies Research Report 1995-2000 (pp77-81)
Pb
ISOTOPES IN REGIONAL EXPLORATION FOR URANIUM MINERALIZATION
Neil F. Rutherford1, Graham R. Carr2. 1Rutherford
Mineral Resource Consultants, 2CSIRO
Division of Exploration and Mining |
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