New geochemical techniques for detecting undercover ore deposits

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The challenge in exploration geochemistry is finding those particular elements or compounds that reflect leakage from ore deposits buried beneath the surface.  The focus of a 4 year collaborative research effort between the Departments of Geological Sciences and Chemistry at Queen's University and Anglo American plc will be to develop novel analytical techniques that will identify those elements and compounds that may reflect hidden ore deposits.  This collaborative research effort will (1) explore the use of tree-rings for undercover exploration, using the added dimension of time afforded by this medium to differentiate pollution sources from natural sources of the metals and isotopes, (2) use pyrolysis extraction of metals and gases from soils, clay minerals and vegetation as a quick, reliable, inexpensive technique to extract elements that indicate a deposit at depth, (3) expand the utility of halogen elements in exploration with ICP-MS detection, (4) apply low-level platinum group element analysis of soils, clay minerals and stream sediments for exploration, and (5) evaluate the added value of isotope tracing to vector to undercover magmatic-related deposits.  This venture represents basic and applied research on elemental distributions and isotopic compositions in surface samples proximal to and distal from known mineralization in Canada and Chile, two end member climates.  It will use novel ICP-MS and isotope techniques to reveal what hasn't been seen with the present technology.  New analytical protocols for the exploration, exploitation and remediation of ore deposits will be developed using the combined expertise and data of the partners.  Queen's University will benefit from continued support for their analytical laboratories, support for 4 Research Associates, 2 Post-Doctoral Fellows and 6 students, and publication of basic and applied research results.  Anglo will benefit from new analytical techniques and vectors to buried mineralization that will eventually benefit all Canadian mining companies.