7- Geochemical Techniques for Undercover Exploration: The 'New Geophysics'?- James Cleverley, 2013

Using geochemical data and geophysical data to explore for minerals.
Presented by James Cleverley (CSIRO Earth Sciences & Resource Engineering) at the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG) Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 2013.
Video reproduced with presenters' consent.
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Full Series List:
AMA 2017- "Application of Airborne Geophysics to Minerals Exploration in Alaska" Workshop: • AMA 2017- "Application...
AEGC 2018- "AI/Machine Learning Opportunities and Challenges for Minerals Exploration" Workshop: • AEGC 2018- "AI/Machine...
ASEG 2015- "More Than Bumps" Workshop: • ASEG 2015- "More Than ...
ASEG 2013- "Workshop in Exploration Under Cover" Workshop: • ASEG 2013- "Workshop i...
BCGS 2016- "Geophysics & Geological Case Studies" Symposium: • BCGS 2016- "Geophysics...
BCGS 2014- "The Laylor Deposit" Symposium: • BCGS 2014- "The Laylor...
DMEC 2017- "What is the Question?" Symposium: • DMEC 2017- "What is th...
DMEC 2017- "The Value of Regional Data in Terrane Scale Assessments" Workshop: • DMEC 2017- "The Value ...
DMEC 2016- "Making Technology Work - The Importance of Time and Patience" Workshop: • DMEC 2016- "Making Tec...
DMEC 2015- "Developing the tools an techniques to explore undercover: a global initiative" Workshop: • DMEC 2015- "Developing...
GB & WC 2013- "Sed-hosted Deposits"; "Inversion and Application"; "Porphyry Deposits"; "Epithermal Deposits" Symposium: • GB & WC 2013- "Sed-hos...
GSN 2015- "New Concepts and Discoveries" Symposium: • GSN 2015- "New Concept...
SGS 2017- Open House: • SGS 2017- Open House
SEG 2018- "Porphyry Copper" Workshop: • SEG 2018- "Porphyry Co...
ARB 2004- "Salute to Tony Barringer": • ARB 2004- "Salute to T...
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[@alexandredebastiani1966]

I am working in my Master's Degree project in Advanced Product Design, in Sweden, and I am tackling exactly these exploration challenges.
I am hoping to present a new vision, in the form of a robot, of mineral exploration soon.

[@HamdollahRezazade]

Highlights:
✦Geochemical data sets are becoming the new geophysics in exploration, as new techniques and thinking are needed to locate small targets in complicated basement geology.
•Geochemical data sets are becoming the new geophysics in exploration.
•New techniques and thinking are needed to locate small targets in complicated basement geology.
•The challenge is to locate small targets in complicated basement geology overlain by complicated stratigraphy, weathering, and regolith.
• Sheet-washed gravels can hide the underlying geology through them.
✦Lithology, metamorphism, metasomatism, and structure all influence the petrophysical response of rocks.
•Sensing hardware and technology evolution have an impact on geophysics.
•The anatomy of a mineral system includes lithology, metamorphism, metasomatism, and structure.
•Interfacing geochemistry and mineralogy with petrophysics is key.
•Teasing apart geophysical data sets to tell us separately about each component is useful.
✦Geochemical techniques become limited in undercover exploration due to the thickness of the cover, but large geochemical databases can help map out new aspects of the system.
•Hydro GaN techniques are too broad and not fine-scale for thick covers.
•Limited techniques available for exploration once into those environments.
•Large geochemical databases in brownfield environments can help map out new aspects of the system.
•Example of a large geochemical database at the Ranger mine site helped map out architecture related to fluid flow and mineralization.
✦Geochemical prospecting has not evolved much from the 1850s and we haven't taken advantage of where technology has gone.
•The cost of routinely collecting geochemical information is around $50-$110.
•Despite advancements in technology, geochemical prospecting has remained similar to 1850 methods.
•There is a need for more innovation and use of technology in geochemical prospecting.
✦Portable XRD and XRF systems are new technologies that can measure mineralogy, but processing the data is a challenge.
•Portable XRD system is a game changer for measuring mineralogy.
•Processing algorithms are outdated for the new hardware capabilities.
•The challenge is to process and present the data to exploration geologists beyond just wiggly lines.
•The development of efforts in deep exploration technologies is focused on these new technologies.
✦Geochemistry and geophysics datasets need to be seamlessly put together in order to better constrain the kinds of inversions.
•Visualizing datasets together can drive a whole conversation around what it really means.
•Routine geochemistry can lead to fancy analytics to better understand the probability of finding gold.
•Producing a probability shell requires taking into account various criteria such as structure, alteration, mineralogy, and multi-element geochemical signal.
✦The relationship between geochemistry and petrophysics in rock exploration
•Geochemistry and mineralogy are recorded as point data with limited sphere of influence
•Downhole petrophysics samples a bigger volume and still has an edge in rock exploration
•The goal is to use geophysics to extrapolate geochemistry and mineralogy to a broader volume
•The question is what aspects of petrophysics measurement are still needed if mineralogy and geochemistry can be fully characterized.
✦Geochemical techniques should be used in combination to get the right answers, and data density is important for effective exploration.
•The combination of geochemical techniques can provide the right answers for different projects.
•The use of drilling is still necessary despite advancements in exploration technology.
•Data density is critical for effective exploration, and regional soil surveys can reveal areas where more samples should be taken.

[@karhukivi]

At 21:38 a geologist is talking to a geophysicist sitting at a computer!