There are three stages in metal exploration, namely reconnaissance survey, regional survey and detailed survey, among which there are not significant differences in the utilized geophysical methods. This means magnetics, gravity, DC resistivity and electromagnetics are the most considerable geophysical tools irrespective of mineralization types in metal exploration.
IOCG, porphyry copper, SEDEX and orthomagmatic deposits can be listed as the most important metal resources in the world mining industry.
IOCG is the large-scaled disseminated deposit which produces copper and gold accompanied by considerable amount of iron oxide minerals. Gravity and magnetic methods are the most effective tools for IOCG geophysics because iron oxide and copper minerals are typically much denser and magnetite has much larger magnetic susceptibility than the unaltered host rock minerals. Although the resistivity data by IP and electromagnetic method might have a difficulty in delineating disseminated IOCG-mineralized zones as low resistivity parts, these are capable of detecting massive sulphide parts and the second enrichment zones as low resistivities. However, the high chargeable feature of IOCG ores irrespective of the type of IOCG mineralization enables the chargeability data by IP to depict IOCG-mineralized zones as high chargeability parts.
Porphyry copper deposit has an extensive dimension with disseminated mineralization related to porphyry. Potassic alteration zone might be delineated as the potassic anomaly caused by its high potassium content by radiometoric method, and might be detected by the high magnetic anomaly if the potassic alteration includes abundant of magnetite. DC resistivity and electromagnetic methods might be able to outline the mineralized and hydrothermal-altered zones as low resistivities. IP is the most utilized tools in porphyry copper exploration because copper sulphide has high chargeability independently of mineralization characteristics.
SEDEX is the large-sized lead-zinc deposit hosted by the sedimentary horizons including shale and carbonate in which metal sulphate can be reduced in the mineralization process. Magnetic and gravity methods are instrumental tools to delineate the possible conduits associated with the hydrothermal activities. In the detailed survey, IP is an important tool to depict mineralized-zones as high chargeability parts. Electromagnetic method might be workable in delineating the massive mineralization.
Orthomagmatic deposit is formed by magmatic fractional crystallization, whose dominant metallic minerals are nickel sulphide, chalcopyrite and platinum metals. Because it is typically situated inside mafic rocks and/or at its contact with the adjacent rocks, magnetic methods might be a useful tool in delineating the mafic rock distribution. DC resistivity and electromagnetic methods are able to depict mineralized-zones because nickel sulphide mineralization typically takes on the massive-characteristics.
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