Page 18 - Geochemical Anomaly and Mineral Prospectivity Mapping in GIS

Predictive Modeling of Mineral Exploration Targets 13

Fig. 1-2. Concept of modeling mineral prospectivity by integration of evidential features (in grey)
like stream sediment catchment basin geochemical anomalies, proximity to faults/fractures, etc.
The degree of mineral prospectivity is related to the degree of spatial coincidence of evidential
features. Locations with the same or similar degree of prospectivity as most known locations
(triangles) of mineral deposits of the type sought are considered new exploration targets.

geologic processes or controls in terms of how and especially where mineral deposits of
the type sought are likely to occur. Defining a conceptual model of prospectivity for
mineral deposits of the sought in a study area requires support of published knowledge
of the various geological processes relevant to the formation of mineral deposits of the
type sought. It is important to review mineral deposit models (e.g., Cox and Singer,
1986; Roberts et al., 1988; Berger and Drew, 2002), which describe the geological
characteristics of specific types of mineral deposits, especially the type of mineral
deposits sought in a study area, and their regional geological environments. Because the
occurrence of several, if not all, types of mineral deposits is related to plate tectonics
(e.g., Mitchell and Garson, 1981; Sawkins, 1989; Pirajno, 1992; Robb, 2004), it is
imperative to review the geotectonic setting of a study area. Moreover, it is useful to
review knowledge about certain geological systems (e.g., faults/fractures) that could act
as controls for mineralisation at geological scales relevant to the stage of target