Applied Exploration

Geochemistry

4. Soil Formation & Case Histories

– Soil, Rock, Lag & RAB Sampling

with thanks to Simon Gatehouse (BHP)

All data in this presentation are the intellectual property of IMEx Consulting (except where
obtained from the public domain) and must not be reproduced, copied, shared or forwarded
in any form without the express permission of IMEx Consulting.
Sometimes interpretation is erratic….

IMEx Consulting 2
Sampling – Fit for purpose?

IMEx Consulting 3
Dispersion

IMEx Consulting 4
Processes of Soil Formation

What makes a soil?

IMEx Consulting 5
Landscape Lowering
Weathering and transportation in dynamic • Nature of weathering & soil development depends
on climate to the extent that it affects the rates of
equilibrium processes, not which processes operate
• Rates of chemical solution: fastest in hot-wet &
slowest in cold dry climates
• Ratio between rates of chemical removal from
different rock types influences local relief e.g.
limestones are relatively weak in cold humid areas
and resistant in arid areas
• Where soil forming weathering processes are in
equilibrium with mechanical removal the most
developed soils will occur in moist temperate
climates. The ratio of chemical to mechanical
removal is greater than in the humid tropics
• Soils locally tend to equilibrium forms that are
most strongly developed on shallower slopes
distal to the divides. There the ratio of chemical to
mechanical mechanisms is greatest
IMEx Consulting 6
Deep Weathering

IMEx Consulting 7
Regolith Profile - WA

IMEx Consulting 8
Regolith Profile - WA

IMEx Consulting 9
Calcrete Sampling

IMEx Consulting 10
Impact of weathering on element mobility
 Rainwater mildly acid (CO2, pH6-7) but decreased by rotting vegetation, oxidation of sulphides, Fe2+
 Hydrolysis - Ca Mg K Na dissolve first as ions in solution then progressively removed. Caliche, clays (Na
conserved)
 Al stabilises in clays, Fe in oxides unless extremely acid
 Kaolinite 2-Layers often in Si K rich terrains (“Granite”)
 Kaolinite in well drained terrains Low Metal Absorption Capacity
 Smectite & mixed layer clays, immature basic volcanic terrains (“Intermediate to Mafic”)
 Smectites in poorly drained or arid terrains High Metal Absorption Capacity
 Release of trace elements from sites of primary crystal substitution
 Reaction with ions to precipitate secondary minerals, colloids or substitute into secondary lattices
 Adsorption onto secondary sesqui-oxides, clays
 Weathered products often fine grained low density and therefore physically mobile
 BUT Fe oxides may indurate (dehydrate) and behave as a relatively heavy mineral
IMEx Consulting 11
Anion & Cation Absorption onto Goethite

Compilation of adsorption data for anions (SO 42-, Cl-, AsO43-, PO43-, SeO32-, SiO44- and MoO42-) and cations on to goethite as a function
of pH (Thornber 1985).

IMEx Consulting 12
Metal Absorption in Soils

IMEx Consulting 13
Causes of Variability in Soil Surveys
• Primary Geological Variation & dispersion
• Secondary Mobility & Profile Development pH Eh etc
• Horizon Sampled depends on Objectives, may be more than
one horizon
– Topsoil Contamination
• Mechanical movt.
• Solution movt.
– Deeper soil non-contaminated, minimal movt.
Organosol Podsol
• Sampling Design and Protocols
• Sample Treatment & Preparation
– Total Soil
– Sieving Fine Fraction (<0.15)
– Drying (Air-dry <40oC eg loss of Hg!)
• Residual moisture promotes anaerobic reactions,
including sulphate reduction… altering partial results
• Analyses
Calcarosol Kandosol IMEx Consulting 14
Chemical Mobility of Trace Elements in the
Surficial Environment

IMEx Consulting 15
Chemical Mobility of Trace Elements in the
Surficial Environment

IMEx Consulting 16
Crustal Abundances

Reedman, J. H., 1979.

“Techniques in Mineral Exploration”.
IMEx Consulting Applied Science Publishers, Essex. 17
Lag Sampling

IMEx Consulting 18
Lag Sampling

IMEx Consulting 19
#1 - Local Correlations

Au, Cu, Pb, Zn mineralisation - East. Aust.

Correlations different for different sample medium
Lag showed strong Mn correlation & strong Fe correlation
- LOCALLY!!!
RAB Fe correlations
Not all elements!

IMEx Consulting 20
Landsat TM & Lag samples

IMEx Consulting 21
Prospect Lag - “Subset”
Cdppm No Data(log)Agppm(log)

Asppm(log)

3
4 0 6 0 80

Auppb(log)

Bippm(log)
0 .3

10
 Link by East
0 .2

1
20

3
0 .1

0 .3

1
 Fe -> As, Bi, Pb, Sb, W
0 .1

0 .3
10 20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30

Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log)

60 801 00

3 004 00
 Co -> part Fe
Mnppm(log)
W ppm(log)Nippm No Data(log)Coppm(log)

Cuppm(log)
1.5

6
1

200
4

40
0 .5

1 00
20

 Also Cu, Mn, Zn

2

10 20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30

Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log)

 Mn correlation in PART
Snppm No Data(log)Moppm(log)
3

Pbppm(log)

Sbppm(log)
20
200
1.5
2

100

10

 SMALL grid (500m x 250m)

1

0 .5

10

Feper(log)
20 30 10

Feper(log)
20 30 10

Feper(log)
20 30 10

Feper(log)
20 30
has strong Fe and Mn
correlations spatially separate
1 00 1 50
Znppm(log)
1.5

3
1

50
0 .5

10 20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30

Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) IMEx Consulting 22

 Open Cut geology

Mn rich layer

Fe rich layer

IMEx Consulting 23
Snppm No Data(log)Moppm(log)
Cdppm No Data(log)Agppm(log)
0 .5 1 1.5 1 2 3 0 .5 1 1.5 0 .1 0 .2 0 .3

10
10
10
10

20
20
20
20

Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)

30
30
30
30
W ppm(log)Nippm No Data(log)Coppm(log) Asppm(log)
1 2 3 0 .5 1 1.5 2 4 6 20 4 0 6 0 80

10
10
10
10

20
20
20
20

Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)

30
30
30
30
Znppm(log) Pbppm(log) Cuppm(log) Auppb(log)
50 1 00 1 50 100 200 20 40 60 801 00 0 .1 0 .3 1 3

10
10
10
10

20
20
20
20

Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)

30
30
30
30

Sbppm(log) Mnppm(log) Bippm(log)

10 20 1 00 200 3 004 00 0 .3 1 3 10

10
10
10

20
20
20

Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)

30
30
30

IMEx Consulting
Fe
Prospect Lag - “Subset”

Mn

24
Lessons #1

Correlations change with regolith domain & depth

Treat sample medium separately
Ratios or regression may not be appropriate
Could it be “levelled”?
Would this be identified in a 5,000 sample dataset?

IMEx Consulting 25
Cobar, western NSW

IMEx Consulting 26
#2 Regional Surface Sampling

Au base metal area - Eastern Australia

Rock lag (“deflationary”) sampling completed over entire
tenement package
Aeolian sand – soils problematic
Depositional areas avoided
Initial analysis of background

IMEx Consulting 27
 Regional Lag Sampling
10km
Dataset 4.2 Lag
4.2a
• What elements are
correlated with Fe?
• Are the correlations
the same in each
area? 4.2b
• If different, why?
4.2c

IMEx Consulting 28
 Znppm(log)Nippm No Data(log)
Coppm No Data(log)Asppm(log) W ppm(log) Moppm(log)
Cdppm No Data(log)
Agppm(log)
1 2 1 .5 2 2 .5 0 .5 1 1 .5 0 .2 0 .4
50 1 00 0 .5 1 1 .5 0 .5 1 1 .5 20 30 40 50

1
1
1
1

20
20
20
20
3
3
3
3

30
30
30
30
10
10
10
10

40
40
40
40

Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)

30
30
30
30

Pbppm(log) Cuppm(log) Auppb(log) Znppm(log)

Nippm No Data(log)
Coppm(log) Asppm(log)
20 40 60 8 0 1 00 50 100 2 4 6 1 00 2 00 3 00 0 .5 1 1 .5 20 40 20 40 60

1
1
1
1

20
20
20
3
3
3
3

30
30
30
10
10
10
10

40
40
40

Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)

30
30
30
30

Sbppm(log) Mnppm(log) Bippm(log) Pbppm(log) Cuppm(log) Auppb(log)

5 10 15 100 150 2 00 10 20
30 1 00 3 00 1 00 0 50 1 00 1 50 0 .5 1 1 .5
1
1
1

20
20
20
3
3
3

30
30
30
10
10
10

40
40
40

Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)

30
30
30

Wppm No Data(log)Moppm(log) Cdppm(log)

0 .5 1 1 .5 1 1.5 2 0 .5 1 1 .5 Sbppm(log) Mnppm(log) Bippm(log)
10 20 2 00 4 00 1 2 3
1
1
1

20
20
20
Lag Correlations

4.2c
3
3
3

30
30
30
10
10
10

40
40
40

Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)

30
30
30

4.2a

IMEx Consulting
Snppm No Data(log)
Moppm(log)
Cdppm No Data(log)
Agppm(log)
0 .5 1 1.5 2 3 4 0.5 1 1.5 0 .2 5 0 .3 0 .3 5
5
5
5
5

10
10
10
10

Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)

W ppm(log)Nippm No Data(log)Coppm(log) Asppm(log)

1 .2 1.4 1 .6 1.8 0.5 1 1.5 2 3 4 10 20
5
5
5
5

Fe with …
10
10
10
10

Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)

Znppm(log) Pbppm(log) Cuppm(log) Auppb(log)

20 30 40 20 30 20 40 0.5 1 1 .5
5
5
5
5

10
10
10
10

Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)

Sbppm(log) Mnppm(log) Bippm(log)

2 4 6 50 100 1 50 2 00 1 2 3
5
5
5

b) As, Bi, Sb, (Mn)

a) As, Bi, Pb, (Mn)
10
10
10

Feper(log)
Feper(log)
Feper(log)

4.2b

c) Bi, Cd, Mn, Mo, Pb, Sb

29
RAB drilling

In the same area as the lag sampling….

RAB drilling - point sampling
“Deep soil” rather than primary bedrock - upper saprolite
(2-3m)
First background analysis
Correlations different in different areas & different to lag

IMEx Consulting 30
Regional RAB Drilling

IMEx Consulting 31
Background RAB correlations
Agppm(log)

Asppm(log)
20 30

Bippm(log)
Auppb(log)

0.8
2

Agppm(log)

Asppm(log)

Mnppm No Data(log)Auppb(log)

Bippm(log)
40
0.4 0. 6 0.8
0.4

0.6

1.5
Fe with …

10
1
10

20

1
0 .4

3
0.2

0. 2

1
1. As, Co, Zn

0. 5
0. 3
0.1
5 10 5 10 5 10 5 10

Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log)

2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8

Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log)

2.

Mnppm(log)
Coppm(log)

Cuppm(log)

Pbppm(log)
400
20

100
100

100

Coppm(log)

Cuppm(log)

Pbppm(log)
1.5

100
200
10

30
50

1
30
3. As, Bi, Pb, Sb

50

10

50
0. 5
10
3
4. As, Cu, Mn

3
5 10 5 10 5 10 5 10 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8

Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log)

Sbppm(log)

Znppm(log)
Wppm(log)

100 150 200

Sbppm(log)

Znppm(log)
Wppm(log)
15
100 150
6 8

10
6

10
4

5
4

50
2

Correlation with Mn
50
2

2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8

are not as
5 10 5 10 5 10

Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log)

widespread as Lag.
Agppm(log)

Asppm(log)

Auppb(log)

Bippm(log)

Agppm(log)

Asppm(log)

Auppb(log)
1. 5

Bippm(log)
100

2
30
0. 4

10
0.4
10

1
Why?

30

3
10
0.2

0. 5

1
0.2
1

10
3

0.3
3

0.1
0. 1
1

10 20 10 20 10 20 10 20 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8

Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log)

10000
Mnppm(log)
Coppm(log)

Cuppm(log)

Mnppm(log)
Pbppm(log)

Coppm(log)

Cuppm(log)

Pbppm(log)
300

100 150

1000
100
60
100
6

200

40

300
30

1000
50

50
4

100

100
10
20

100

30
3
2

10
1

2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8
10 20 10 20 10 20 10 20

Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log)

Sbppm(log)

Znppm(log)
Sbppm(log)

Wppm(log)
Znppm(log)
Wppm(log)

15
40
10

200
6

8
10
4

6
30

100
5

4
5
20

32
10

10 20 10 20 10 20
IMEx Consulting 2

Feper(log)
4 6 8 2

Feper(log)
4 6 8 2 4

Feper(log)
6 8

Feper(log) Feper(log) Feper(log)

Lessons #2

Correlations different for different areas and different

sampling media
Analyse each media and each area separately OR
When levelling need to acutely aware of these local scale
effects

IMEx Consulting 33
#3 - Hiltaba Suite Geochem

Geoscience Australia: Budd et al (1998)

Roxby Downs and Kokatha types
Roxby Downs : more oxidised & fractionated
Correspond with known terrain boundaries
Gawler Gold - Hiltaba granites

IMEx Consulting 34
Hiltaba Suite Granites

Olympic Dam

Kokatha Suite

Roxby Downs

200km
Adelaide
IMEx Consulting 35
 What’s distinctive about OD?

150
10
4000

Cs (ppm)
Asi Alumi

400
400
Al2o3

100
Cao
20

Ba

Ce

Cr
5
2000

200
200

50
2
10

60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80

Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2

Fe2o3 Tota
Fe2o3 Calc

Fe2o3 Feo

30
Eu (ppm)

40
15

15
4

OD Suite - RED
2000

4
Feo

Ga
Cu

10

10

20
20
1000

K, U, Th, Rb, Nb
2

2
5

10
60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80

Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2

FeO, Zr, TiO2, Ce..
10

0.6
30

3
Hf (ppm)

Lu (ppm)
200
8

Na2o
0.4
4
Mgo

Mno

4
K2o
20

2
La
6

100
4

0.2
2
10

2
1
2

60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80

Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2

Sm (ppm)
800
1

100
80

100

20
P2o5
100

600
60

Pb
Nb

Nd

Rb
Ni

400
0.5

50
40

50

10
50

200
20

60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80

Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2

200
2000

1.5

300
Tb (ppm)3

150

100
40
Tio2

200
1
Th
Sr

Y
2

V
100
1000

20

50
0.5

100
50
1

60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80

Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2 Sio2

20

800
Yb (ppm)

1000

600
Zn

Zr
10

400
500

200

60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80
IMEx Consulting 36
Sio2 Sio2 Sio2
What’s distinctive about OD?

200
10

150
8

40
K2o

Th
6

100
20
4

50
2

60 70 80 60 70 80 60 70 80

Sio2 Sio2 Sio2

800

80

High U
600

High U/Th
60
Rb

Nb

High Th
400

40

High K
200

High K/U/Th
20

High K/U
60 70 80 60 70
IMEx Consulting
80 High K/Th 37
Sio2 Sio2 OD Intrusions
Where are the right rocks?
Christie OLYMIC DAM
Wilgena
INTRUSIONS

Fowler

Nuyts
Prospective

Less prospective
GRV

Cleve

200km Coulta

Moonta
IMEx Consulting Lincoln 38
What’s distinctive about OD?
Bradman
Birthday
Lake Barry OLYMIC DAM
INTRUSIONS
Labyrinth
Cooladding

Childara
Coppadurba

Kondoolka

?Parla Burkitt
Cultana
Tyringa Gilles
Wudinna
Charleston
200km
Arthurton
Tickera

IMEx Consulting
Spilsby
39
Lessons #3

Important geochemical patterns may not be “linear”

Interpretations need to be flexible
Domain boundaries are not rigid
Follow the geochem!!

IMEx Consulting 40
#4 Granite Geochemistry

Cobar/Nymagee, Central NSW

Whole rock geochemistry collected as part of mapping
project
Mostly granites - S/I type discrimination
Metallogenic approach

IMEx Consulting 41
Nymagee 250K
COBAR

NYMAGEE

50km

IMEx Consulting 42
 Rock chemistry 16
4

4
4

3
Fe203
15
6

Al203

4
Na20

Mg0
Ca0

Fe0
K20

2
U, Cs, Li, Sn, F, Cs
14

•
3

2
2
4

1
13
2

65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75

Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02

1.5
• Na2O, Sn, W, Rb, Nb, P2O5

1.5
1
0.6

30
0.1

20
P205

C02

H20

H20
Mn0

Ti02

As
1

1
0.4

20

0.5
0.05

10
0.2

10

Zn
0.5

0.5
65 70

Si02
75 65 70

Si02
75 65 70

Si02
75 65 70

Si02
75 65 70

Si02
75 65 70

Si02
75 65 70

Si02
75

•
60
150
1000

300
20

40

Ni,Sc,Y,V,Nd,Co,Zr,Ga,MgO

4000
•
Ba

Cs40
Ce

Co

Cu
Cr
100

200

F
500

10

20

2000
20

100
50

Cu, Sc, MgO, CaO, Al2O3, Fe2O3

65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75

Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02

•
600

60

80
8

200
100
20

60
6

400
Ga

40
Nb

Nd
Mn
La
Hf

Li

• Pb
100

40
4

50
10

20
200

20
2

65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75

Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02

• F, Li
60

1000

80
20

600
300
40

60
40
Pb

Sn
Sc
Rb

Sr
Ni

400
40
500

200

10
20

20

200

• As
20
100

65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75

Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02

200
100
40

40
300

400
150
20
Th

Zn

Zr
W
200
U

100
20

50
20

200
10

100

50

65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75 65 70 75
IMEx Consulting
65 70 75 43
Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02 Si02
 Rock type
Monzodiorite
 High Ni with MZDR
Tonalite
 Sn, W with Pegmatite
 Cu with “mafic” GR
Lithology

Quartz Diorite
 Sn, W, F – high SiO2 GR
Pegmatite
 Elevated Zn with Porphyry
Granodiorite

Granite

Porphyry
65 70 75
IMEx Consulting 44
Si02
Gilgunnia Area

MZDR - Ni

May Day
High Li, U

High Li, F

5km

IMEx Consulting 45
Nymagee Area

High Cu, U

Hera

High Pb

IMEx Consulting 46
Lessons #4

Prospective areas immediately identified from

Government dataset
Discriminate “right” granites for style of mineralisation
sort
Geology integrated -> targets identified
Needs refinement (NB. Data is unclean!) – Dataset 4.4
Cobar

IMEx Consulting 47
Useful Trace Elements

IMEx Consulting 48
#5 - Soils Interpretation

Ni/Cu prospect - Northern Australia

Reconnaissance Soil Sampling (~1km Traverses)
Elevated Ni and Cu in soil samples
Drilled and no mineralisation intersected
 Dataset 4.5 Birrundudu
Load data, select all elements, Data Doctor
Plot Fe v all elements – Glink by east then interpret.

IMEx Consulting 49
 Copper in Soils
Birrundudu Cu
1km
16 - 35
35 - 65
65 - 103
103 - 141
141 - 280

IMEx Consulting 50
Nickel in Soils
1km

Birrundudu Ni
16 - 50
50 - 92
92 - 131
131 - 173
173 - 270

IMEx Consulting 51
Copper & Nickel v Iron

200
200
Cu Ppm(log)

Ni Ppm(log)
100
100

50000 100000150000 50000 100000150000

Fe Ppm(log) Fe Ppm(log)
IMEx Consulting 52
Copper & Nickel v Iron

200
200
Cu Ppm(log)

Ni Ppm(log)
100
100

50000 100000150000 50000 100000150000

Fe Ppm(log) Fe Ppm(log)
IMEx Consulting 53
 Not just Ni & Cu! Cr Ppm(log) Ars Ppm(log)

Pb Ppm(log) Mn Ppm(log) Cd Ppm(log)

Mo Ppm(log) Co Ppm(log) Ag Ppm(log)

Cu Ppm(log) Bi Ppm(log)
30
0 .4

3
3
1
 Elevated Zinc
10

1
0 .2

0 .3

0 .3
3

0 .1

0 .1
 Two Zn - Mn, Cd, Ag
0 .0 3
1

500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0 500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0 500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0 500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0

Fe Ppm(log) Fe Ppm(log) Fe Ppm(log) Fe Ppm(log)

1 00 00
60

2 00
4 00
40

3 00 0
1 00
20

2 00

1 00 0
3 00

500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0 500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0 500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0 500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0

Fe Ppm(log) Fe Ppm(log) Fe Ppm(log) Fe Ppm(log)

Zn Ppm(log) Ni Ppm(log)

P Ppm(log)
1 00 0

60 80
6

2 00
4

40
5 00
2

1 00

20

500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0 500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0 500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0 500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0

Fe Ppm(log) Fe Ppm(log) Fe Ppm(log) Fe Ppm(log)

V Ppm(log)

4 00 6 00
4 00
2 00

2 00

500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0 500 00 100 00 0 150 00 0

Fe Ppm(log) Fe Ppm(log) IMEx Consulting 54

Interpretation

1km Original Cu/Ni anomaly

Cu anomaly

Zn anomaly

IMEx Consulting 55
Geology with soils interp

Metasediments Mafic Dyke

1km

Granite
Cu anomaly

Zn anomaly

Limestone
Slate IMEx Consulting 56
Lessons #5

“Elevated” geochemistry may not represent

mineralisation
High absolute values may represent lithological variation
only
Filter “false” anomalism; focus targeting
Mineralisation hidden by rigid interpretation (MVT Zn)

IMEx Consulting 57
#6 - Yilgarn Au

Au prospect adjacent to Ni deposit

Follow up to soil sampling program
Separated samples on litho types
Two RC drillholes failed to intersect significant Au
Was there anything else in the data?

IMEx Consulting 58
Landsat TM & soils
Yilgarn Soils Au ppb
0.2 - 5
5 - 10
10 - 50
50 - 100
100 - 740

1km
IMEx Consulting 59
Gold is correlated with….?

100

100
Au1 Ppb(log)

Au1 Ppb(log)
30

30
10

10
3

3
1

1
20 40 60 80 200 400
Cu Ppm(log) Ni Ppm(log)
100

100
Au1 Ppb(log)

Au1 Ppb(log)
30

30
10

10
3

3
1

5 10 15Consulting
IMEx 50 100 150 60
Pb Ppm(log) Zn Ppm(log)
Zinc is correlated with

100

80
Au1 Ppb(log)

60
Cu Ppm(log)
30

40
10
3

20
1

50 100 150 50 100 150

Zn Ppm(log) Zn Ppm(log)

15
400

Pb Ppm(log)
10
Ni Ppm(log)
200

50 100 IMEx
150Consulting 50 100 150 61
Zn Ppm(log) Zn Ppm(log)
Geology & Soils
Geology gole project structure.shp
Geological contact
D2 fault and shear
D1 thrust fault

“Ultramafic”
Bedding trend
Younging direction
No Data
Geology gole project.shp

“Intermediate”
Quartz vein
Spinifex-textured komatiite
Olivine orthocumulate
Olivine mesocumulate and adcumulate
Basalt, basaltic komatiite, dolerite, minor gabbro and sedimentary rocks
Chert
Intermediate to minor felsic volcanoclastic and volcanic rocks
Basalt, minor gabbro
Gabbro
Basaltic komatiite
Jones Creek Conglomerate
Granitoid
No Data

IMEx Consulting 62
Geology & Geochem

100

80
Au1 Ppb(log)

60
Cu Ppm(log)
30

40
10
3

20
1

50 100 150 50 100 150

Zn Ppm(log) Zn Ppm(log)

15
400

10
Pb Ppm(log)
Ni Ppm(log)
200

50 100 150Consulting 50 100 150

IMEx 63
Zn Ppm(log) Zn Ppm(log)
Geochem Interpretation
Copper

100

80
Au1 Ppb(log)

Cu Ppm(log)
60
30

40
10
3

20
1

50 100 150 50 100 150

Zn Ppm(log) Zn Ppm(log)
UM?

15
400

Pb Ppm(log)
10
Ni Ppm(log)
200

5
Zinc

50 100 150 Consulting

IMEx 50 100 150 64
Zn Ppm(log) Zn Ppm(log)
Final Interpretation
Geology gole project structure.shp
Geological contact
D2 fault and shear
D1 thrust fault
Bedding trend
Younging direction
No Data
Geology gole project.shp

Cu
Quartz vein
Spinifex-textured komatiite

Zn
Olivine orthocumulate
Olivine mesocumulate and adcumulate
Basalt, basaltic komatiite, dolerite, minor gabbro and sedimentary rocks
Chert
Intermediate to minor felsic volcanoclastic and volcanic rocks
Basalt, minor gabbro
Gabbro
Basaltic komatiite
Jones Creek Conglomerate
Granitoid
No Data

More Mafic - UM? Cu

500m

IMEx Consulting 65
Lessons #6

Au prospect
Cu associated with interpreted fold closures
Cu associated with unmapped structure – remobilised?
“non mag geochem structure”
Cyprus style VHMS Cu prospect ?
?Recessive ultramafics present in intermediate sequence!

IMEx Consulting 66
#7 – Fraser Range

GSWA sampling
Morris et al, “Geochemical mapping of the Fraser Range
region”, April 2000
1 per 16km2
Sheetwash, lake sediments, sandplain & streams
 Dataset 4.7 Fraser
Load data, select all elements, Data Doctor
Plot Fe v Cu, Ni first – Glink by east then interpret.

IMEx Consulting 67
Fraser Range
UM?

Ni & Cu

IMEx Consulting 68
Fraser Range

Nova

IMEx Consulting 69
#7 – Fraser Range

GSWA sampling (~27 x

250,000 sheets)

Not the biggest number!

High Ni – Jimberlana Norite
Mod. Ni/Cu, not high Cr
High Cu?

IMEx Consulting 70