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STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES APPLIED TO BOREHOLE GEOPHYSICAL DATA IN GOLD EXPLORATION 1
Author(s) -
URBANCIC T. I.,
BAILEY R. C.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
geophysical prospecting
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.735
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1365-2478
pISSN - 0016-8025
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2478.1988.tb02191.x
Subject(s) - induced polarization , geology , geophysics , borehole , mineral exploration , mineralogy , economic geology , mineralization (soil science) , well logging , exploration geophysics , hydrogeology , electrical resistivity and conductivity , soil science , geotechnical engineering , metamorphic petrology , engineering , electrical engineering , soil water
Gold, as a trace element, is not directly detectable by geophysical borehole logging techniques. Geophysical logging methods have therefore been used to infer the presence of structural features and alteration processes associated with gold. Since these features and processes differ with the style of gold mineralization, a unique relation between geophysical anomalies and gold cannot be established. However, in a particular environment, such an association can be established. We examined geophysical log data (self potential, induced polarization, resistivity, gamma, temperature, and temperature gradient) and drill core from the Barber‐Larder property in NE Ontario. The geophysically detectable alteration processes associated with gold were identified as sericitization and pyritization, by means of factor analysis. A linear discriminant function was constructed which allowed the zones of economic mineralization (nominally 0.05 oz/ton or 1.5 ppm) to be identified with a 75% success rate based on geophysical log data alone. This rate was achieved without sophisticated non‐linear data transformations.