Mineral Prospecting for Copper-Molybdene Ores in Northern Kazakhstan Using Electromagnetic Sensing and Induced Polarization Technology (EMS-IP)

Abstract

Summary Geoelectric techniques are applied to identify geobodies in the shallow subsurface (<1km) that correspond to commercial ore deposits (copper-molybdene) in Kazakhstan. A combined CSEM and Induced Polarisation method is chosen to delineate anomalies in the underground. Resistivity and polarisation effects prove diagnostic. The workflow comprises steps like: EM acquisition, quality control and data preconditioning, inversion, interpretation and Principle Component Analysis. Inversion processing is done via a finite elements method solving the Cole-Cole formula simulating Maxwell’s equations. 1D inversion results serve as input for the 3D inversion. Principle Component Analysis (n-dimensional clustering and distance weighting) and computation of composite geoelectric parameters enhance the discrimination power. EM anomalies are circular (hydrothermal injection feature) and/or elongate in shape. Fracture zones and faults provide conduits/barriers and govern hydrothermal processes. Faulting in part controls the outline of the segmented IP anomalies. Three shallow well locations were proposed based on the EMS-IP data. Two of these boreholes demonstrate elevated polarisation phenomena: copper-molybdene metal ore in MN17 and pyrite enrichment in MN16. The mapped geobodies based on EM anomalies give complementary information on volume and distribution of the mineral resources. EMS-IP is a cost-effective investigation tool that deserves more attention in geoscience projects.