Authors / CoAuthors
de Caritat, P. | McPhail, D.C.
Abstract
Groundwater can interact with mineralisation at depth and, under appropriate circumstances, retain and transport a chemical signature in the form of major, trace element and isotopic fingerprints. These can be used to vector back to their source and hence help locate ore bodies under regolith or rock cover. As part of mineral exploration campaigns carried out by Anglo American in Chile and India, groundwater samples were collected from bores and wells to evaluate the usefulness of hydrogeochemistry in mineral exploration. Comprehensive and high quality chemical and isotopic analyses were carried out and thermodynamic and reaction path modelling was undertaken. Major element concentrations, ratios and isotopes reflect evaporation, water-regolith-rock interaction and mixing processes. Gradients in (1) concentration of ore and related elements, and (2) saturation index of ore and alteration minerals may reflect proximity to mineralisation and be useful to vector toward mineralisation.
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nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
65108
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
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2601
Australia
Keywords
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- External PublicationAbstract
- ( Theme )
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- groundwater
- ( Theme )
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- geochemistry
- ( Theme )
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- mineral exploration
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_Internal
Publication Date
2007-01-01T00:00:00
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