scholarly journals Virtual Structural Analysis of Jokisivu Open Pit Using ‘Structure-from-Motion’ Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Photogrammetry: Implications for Structurally-Controlled Gold Deposits in Southwest Finland

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Sayab ◽  
Domingo Aerden ◽  
Markku Paananen ◽  
Petri Saarela

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are rapidly growing remote sensing platforms for capturing high-resolution images of exposed rock surfaces. We used a DJI Phantom 3 Professional (P3P) quadcopter to capture aerial images that were used to generate a high-resolution three-dimensional (3-D) model of the Jokisivu open-pit gold deposit that is located in southwestern Finland. 158 overlapping oblique and nadir images were taken and processed with Agisoft Photoscan Pro to generate textured 3-D surface models. In addition, 69 overlapping images were taken from the steep faces of the open pit. We assessed the precision of the 3-D model by deploying ground control points (GCPs) and the average errors were found minimal along X (2.0 cm), Y (1.2 cm), and Z (5.0 cm) axes. The steep faces of the open pit were used for virtual structural measurements and kinematic analyses in CloudCompare and ArcGIS to distinguish the orientation of different fracture sets and statistical categorization, respectively. Three distinct fracture sets were observed. The NW-SE and NE-SW striking fractures form a conjugate geometry, whereas the NNW-SSE striking fractures cut the conjugate fracture set. The orientation of conjugate fractures match well with the resource model of the deposit and NW- and NE-trending segments of regional-scale anastomosing shear zones. Based on the conjugate geometry of fracture sets I and II, and the regional pattern of anastomosing shear system lead us to interpret an origin of gold mineralization in two stages. An early N-S or NNW-SSE crustal shortening, corresponding to the regional D4 (ca. 1.83–1.81 Ga) or pre-D4 (ca. 1.87–1.86 Ga) Svecofennian tectonic event(s) that produced anastomosing shear zones. Subsequent E-W directed D5 contraction (ca. 1.79–1.77 Ga) partly reactivated the anastomosing shear zones with the formation of conjugate system, which controlled the migration of fluids and gold mineralization in SW Finland.

2020 ◽  
pp. 141-162
Author(s):  
Andrew Allibone ◽  
David Lawrence ◽  
John Scott ◽  
Mark Fanning ◽  
James Lambert-Smith ◽  
...  

Abstract Paleoproterozoic (Rhyacian) gold deposits of the Loulo district in western Mali contain >17 million ounces (Moz) Au and form part of the second most highly endowed region within West Africa. The deposits are located within siliciclastic, marble, and evaporitic rocks of the ca. 2110 Ma greenschist facies Kofi series, which were folded and inverted between ca. 2100 and 2070 Ma, prior to gold mineralization. Deposits at Yalea and Gounkoto are located along discontinuous, low-displacement, albite- and carbonate-altered shear zones, whereas Gara is confined to a tourmaline-altered quartz sandstone unit. Lodes typically plunge gently to moderately, reflecting the attitude of folds in the adjacent rocks and bends in the host shear zones, both of which influenced their location. Gold mineralization in the Loulo district was broadly synchronous with emplacement of the Falémé batholith and associated Fe skarn mineralization, which intrude and overprint the western margin of the Kofi series, respectively. However, hydrothermal fluids generated during metamorphic devolatilization of the Kofi series rocks appear responsible for gold mineralization, albeit within a district-wide thermal gradient associated with emplacement of the Falémé batholith. The regional-scale Senegal-Mali shear zone, commonly cited as an important control on the location of gold deposits in western Mali, is absent in the Loulo district.


1989 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.S. Webster ◽  
R.W. Henley

High resolution airborne geophysical data over broad areas have been found to optimize exploration for epithermal gold deposits in differing geological environments.Genetic exploration models may be tested in favourable sites by the recognition of geophysical signatures. These signatures reflect structural, lithological and alteration patterns arising from controls on ore deposits and can be applied at regional or detailed scales, using the same data set.At regional scale (e.g. 1:100,000) the magnetic data reflect the regional tectonics and divide the area into domains for the application of appropriate genetic models. At prospect scale (e.g. 1:25,000) the radiometric data allow the extrapolation of poorly outcropping geology to provide a cost-effective mapping technique. The magnetic data can be used to supplement this interpretation or can be used to target deeper sources for direct investigation by drilling.


2008 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 953-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Oberthür ◽  
T. W. Weiser

AbstractGold mineralization at the Viceroy Mine is hosted in extensional veins in steep shear zones that transect metabasalts of the Archaean Arcturus Formation. The gold mineralization is generally made up of banded or massive quartz carrying abundant coarse arsenopyrite. However, most striking is a distinct suite of Au-Bi-Te-S minerals, namely joseite-A (Bi4TeS2), joseite-B (Bi4Te2S), hedleyite (Bi7Te3), ikunolite (Bi4S3), ‘protojoseite’ (Bi3TeS), an unnamed mineral (Bi6Te2S), bismuthinite (Bi2S3), native Bi, native gold, maldonite (Au2Bi), and jonassonite (AuBi5S4). The majority of the Bi-Te-S phases is characterized by Bi/(Se+Te) ratios of >1. Accordingly, this assemblage formed at reduced conditions at relatively low fS2 and fTe2. Fluid-inclusion thermometry indicates depositional temperatures of the main stage of mineralization of up to 342°C, in the normal range of mesothermal, orogenic gold deposits worldwide. However, melting temperatures of Au-Bi-Te phases down to at least 235°C (assemblage (Au2Bi + Bi + Bi7Te3)) imply that the Au-Bi-Te phases have been present as liquids or melt droplets. Furthermore, the close association of native gold, native bismuth and other Bi-Te-S phases suggests that gold was scavenged from the hydrothermal fluids by Bi-Te-S liquids or melts. It is concluded that a liquid/melt-collecting mechanism was probably active at Viceroy Mine, where the distinct Au-Bi-Te-S assemblage either formed late as part of the main, arsenopyrite-dominated mineralization, or it represents a different mineralization event, related to rejuvenation of the shear system. In either case, some of the gold may have been extracted from pre-existing, gold-bearing arsenopyrite by Bi-Te-S melts, thus leading to an upgrade of the gold ores at Viceroy. The Au-Bi-Te-S assemblage represents an epithermal-style mineralization overprinted on an otherwise mesothermal (orogenic) gold mineralization.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
S. Mantey

Cadastral surveys in Ghana often employ well known surveying equipment such as Total Station andGNSSreceivers or a combination of both. These survey techniques are well-established and widely accepted. However, there are limitations in certain areas. In situations where difficult terrain and inaccessible areas and dense vegetation are encountered or when surveyor’s life may be at risk, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) could be used to overcome the limitations of these well-established survey instruments. This research used high resolution images from UAV (DJI Phantom 4) to survey plots within the University of Mines and Technology land area. Coordinates of the boundary points were extracted using Agisoft Photoscan.GNSSreceivers were also used to survey the land and the same boundary point coordinates obtained and compared. This enabled the establishment of accurate ground control points for georeferencing. The coordinates obtained from both UAV andGNSSSurveys were used to prepare cadastral plans and compared. The difference in Northings and Eastings from UAV andGNSSsurveys were +0.380 cmand +0.351 cmrespectively. These differences are well within tolerance of +/-0.9114 m(+/-3 ft) set by the Survey and Mapping Division (SMD) of the Lands Commission for cadastral plans production. This research therefore concludes that high resolution images from UAVs are suitable for cadastral surveying. Keywords: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Drones, Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Cadastral Surveys


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ned Horning ◽  
Erica Fleishman ◽  
Peter J. Ersts ◽  
Frank A. Fogarty ◽  
Martha Wohlfeil Zillig

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek W. Ewertowski ◽  
Aleksandra M. Tomczyk ◽  
David J. A. Evans ◽  
David H. Roberts ◽  
Wojciech Ewertowski

This study presents the operational framework for rapid, very-high resolution mapping of glacial geomorphology, with the use of budget Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and a structure-from-motion approach. The proposed workflow comprises seven stages: (1) Preparation and selection of the appropriate platform; (2) transport; (3) preliminary on-site activities (including optional ground-control-point collection); (4) pre-flight setup and checks; (5) conducting the mission; (6) data processing; and (7) mapping and change detection. The application of the proposed framework has been illustrated by a mapping case study on the glacial foreland of Hørbyebreen, Svalbard, Norway. A consumer-grade quadcopter (DJI Phantom) was used to collect the data, while images were processed using the structure-from-motion approach. The resultant orthomosaic (1.9 cm ground sampling distance—GSD) and digital elevation model (7.9 cm GSD) were used to map the glacial-related landforms in detail. It demonstrated the applicability of the proposed framework to map and potentially monitor detailed changes in a rapidly evolving proglacial environment, using a low-cost approach. Its coverage of multiple aspects ensures that the proposed framework is universal and can be applied in a broader range of settings.


1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 706-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet F. Taner ◽  
Pierre Trudel

Recent lithogeochemical studies by accurate analytical techniques (e.g., instrumental and radiochemical neutron-activation analyses) have been used to explore the possibility of using gold distribution in the research for new gold deposits; these show that anomalous gold distribution occurs in some parts of the Val-d'Or Formation in the Val-d'Or mining district of Quebec. Gold lithogeochemistry in the Val-d'Or Formation has shown that it is possible to distinguish: (i) background values (1.4–3.5 ppb Au); (ii) zones of primarily anomalous gold values around the Lamaque–Sigma mines (median: 15 ppb Au); (iii) enrichment halos around gold orebodies (median: 70 ppb Au); and (iv) secondary gold enrichment in shear zones. We conclude that the Val-d'Or Formation is auriferous, i.e., anomalously rich in gold at least in some of its parts and contains the Lamaque – Sigma gold mines, representing 68% of the total gold production in the district. The Val-d'Or Formation is part of a central volcanic complex within an island-arc system. The centre of this complex is located in the main Lamaque plug, and this environment may be compared to high-temperature active geothermal systems that are commonly responsible for the formation of epithermal gold deposits. Gold mineralization at Sigma and Lamaque is considered to be related to a late hydrothermal phase or a retrograde phase of regional metamorphism. For the formation of the gold deposits, two distinct and successive events are postulated: (i) a gold-rich synvolcanic geothermal activity and (ii) a late remobilisation from the host rocks followed by deposition of gold ore within favourable structures.


2018 ◽  
pp. 53-57
Author(s):  
Otgonbayar Dandar ◽  
Atsushi Okamoto ◽  
Masaoki Uno ◽  
Undarmaa Batsaikhan ◽  
Burenjargal Ulziiburen ◽  
...  

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones have revolutionized scientific research in multiple fields. Drones provide us multiple advantages over conventional geological mapping or high-altitude remote sensing methods, in which they allow us to acquire data more rapidly of inaccessible or risky outcrops, and can connect the spatial scale gap in mapping between manual field techniques and airborne, high-altitude remote sensing methods. Despite the decreased cost and technological developments of platforms, sensors and software, the use of drones for geological mapping in Mongolia has not yet been utilized. In this study, we present using of drone in two areas: the Chandman area in which eclogite is exposed and the Naran massif of the Khantaishir ophiolite in the Altai area. Drone yields images with high resolution that is reliable to use and reveals that it is possible to make better formulation of geological mapping. Our suggestion is that (1) Mongolian geoscientists are encouraged to add drones to their geologic toolboxes and (2) drone could open new advance of geological mapping in Mongolia in which geological map will be created in more effective and more detailed way combined with conventional geological survey on ground.


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