Deep mineral exploration using multi-scale electromagnetic geophysics: the Lalor massive sulphide deposit case study

Yang, Dikun1,2; Fournier, Dominique1; Kang, Seogi1; Oldenburg, Douglas W.1

2019-05

10.1139/cjes-2018-0069

CANADIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES   影响因子和分区

0008-4077

1480-3313

The Lalor deposit in Snow Lake, central Manitoba, is one of the most significant mineral discoveries in Canada in the past decade. Buried 600 m below the surface, the deposit remained undiscovered until a deep penetrating geophysical electromagnetic (EM) system was employed. Since then, the deposit has been a test site for many modern geophysical systems. This paper presents a comparative study of four EM data sets acquired at Lalor. We image the electrical conductivity structure of the subsurface by carrying out independent 3-D inversions of the data. The four data sets are acquired through airborne, surface, and borehole systems, including airborne natural source EM (ZTEM), airborne time-domain EM (HELITEM), surface large loop EM (SQUID), and borehole EM (PULSE-EM). ZTEM has good depth of penetration, but its inversion model may be biased if the background model is not properly chosen. The HELITEM system can complement ZTEM by validating the actual conductivity of the deposit. With the information provided by airborne surveys, surface EM can better define the geometry of the ore body at a local scale and help in defining drilling targets. Once boreholes are drilled, sensors can be sent downhole, possibly probing the ore lenses that are interbedded at a greater depth. Our 3-D imaging experiments demonstrate that modern geophysical technology is capable of linking deep exploration and assisting a more informed process throughout the entire workflow from reconnaissance to drilling and development.

SCI ; EI

英语

通讯

Geology

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

WOS:000467696400009

CANADIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING, NRC RESEARCH PRESS

20192006928516

Boreholes ; Boring ; Deposits ; Geophysics ; Infill drilling ; Ore deposits ; Sulfur compounds ; Surveys

Geophysics:481.3 ; Exploration and Prospecting Methods:501.1 ; Oil Field Production Operations:511.1 ; Machining Operations:604.2

GEOSCIENCES

Web of Science

1.Univ British Columbia, Dept Earth Ocean & Atmospher Sci, 2020-2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Earth & Space Sci, 1088 Xueyuan Blvd, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Yang, Dikun,Fournier, Dominique,Kang, Seogi,et al. Deep mineral exploration using multi-scale electromagnetic geophysics: the Lalor massive sulphide deposit case study[J]. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES,2019,56(5):544-555.

Yang, Dikun,Fournier, Dominique,Kang, Seogi,&Oldenburg, Douglas W..(2019).Deep mineral exploration using multi-scale electromagnetic geophysics: the Lalor massive sulphide deposit case study.CANADIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES,56(5),544-555.

Yang, Dikun,et al."Deep mineral exploration using multi-scale electromagnetic geophysics: the Lalor massive sulphide deposit case study".CANADIAN JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES 56.5(2019):544-555.