Application of Audio-Magnetotelluric Method for Exploration the Concealed Ore-Bodies in Yuele Lead-Zinc Ore Feild, Daguan County, NE Yunnan Province, China

Abstract

The results of recent mineral exploration in the Yuele lead-zinc mining area of Daguan County, northeastern Yunnan province, showed that there are much early Paleozoic strata under thick late Paleozoic strata in northeastern Yunnan province, where developed some hidden salt structures (SSs), often with lead-zinc polymetallic mineralization varying degrees along the tension torsional fault (belts) or fracture (joint). The ore-bodies belong to the epigenetic hydrothermal filling vein-type deposit, and the prospecting potential is great. In this area, the superficial mineralization information displayed clear, but the deep mineralization is unknown, so the exploration work is restricted. The audio-megnetotelluric (AMT) surveying is an advantageous method to characterize the size, resistivity and skin depth of the polarizable mineral deposit concealed beneath thick overburden. This paper presents the surveying results using AMT method to evaluate the concealed lead-zinc mineralization in Yuele lead-zinc ore field, Daguancounty, NE Yunnan province, China. After comparing the interpretation result of AMT surveying data with the geological data and the drilling data, it is found that there is some distinct difference in resistivity and polarizable between ore-bodies hosted strata, upper strata and gypsum strata. The results show that AMT method is helpful to identify lead-zinc mineralization under this geological condition.

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Lap, T. , Xue, C. , Wei, A. , Liu, L. , Li, W. , Hu, Q. , Li, J. , Luo, D. , Zhu, S. and Zhang, T. (2014) Application of Audio-Magnetotelluric Method for Exploration the Concealed Ore-Bodies in Yuele Lead-Zinc Ore Feild, Daguan County, NE Yunnan Province, China. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 2, 35-45. doi: 10.4236/gep.2014.23005.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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