Geophysical assessments of the Valentine Lake gold deposit property, Central Newfoundland

纽芬兰西部的瓦伦丁湖将进行严格的地面地球物理调查，该地区包含两个重要的金矿床和至少三个额外的远景。由一名硕士研究生和本科生完成的主要目标是：用探地雷达（GPR）绘制地表覆盖图，以计算水储量，帮助未来矿山的钻井和上层建筑布置，并绘制隐藏断层；并利用探地雷达的结果，利用地表重力测量来划定金矿所在的区域。其他计划的活动包括沼泽和湖泊沉积物岩心取样以及磁和自电位（SP）调查。采样除了允许对探地雷达数据进行深度校准外，还将提供有关纽芬兰沉积物碳和水收支的信息，并可能表明过去的侵蚀模式。磁测量与探地雷达结果相结合，将有助于描绘勘探区附近的地下结构。SP测量是在矿床上测量表面电压，是探索性的：目前还不知道它们是否会提供与矿化、结构或表面物质相关的数据。所有的测量仪器都是纪念大学最先进的地球物理设备池的一部分。这项研究将为业主和更广泛的资源勘探界提供宝贵的信息，说明地面地球物理对纽芬兰岛带状矿床类型的应用。虽然地球物理调查不能直接发现黄金，但这些调查将有助于找到最佳的钻探区域，并在对环境影响最小的情况下规划矿山。参与该项目的学生将接受一些高精度地球物理方法和数据分析方面的培训，为他们成为高素质的人才做好准备。

Rigorous ground geophysical surveys are to be carried out in western Newfoundland over the Valentine Lake Property, which contains two significant gold deposits and at least three additional prospects. The main aims, carried out by an MSc candidate and undergraduate students, are: to map surficial cover with ground penetrating radar (GPR) in order to calculate water reserves, help with drill and superstructure placement for the future mine and map hidden faults; and utilizing the GPR results, to use surface gravity measurements to delineate the region hosting the gold.Other planned activities include bog and lake sediment core sampling, and magnetic and self-potential (SP) surveys. The sampling, in addition to allowing depth calibration for the GPR data, will provide information on carbon and water budgets of Newfoundland sediments, and may indicate past erosion patterns. Magnetic surveys, in combination with GPR results, will to help delineate subsurface structures near the prospects. The SP surveys, where the surface voltage is measured over the deposit, are exploratory: it is not known they will provide data relevant to the mineralization, or to structure, or to surficial materials. All the survey instruments are part of the state-of-the-art geophysical equipment pool at Memorial University.This research will provide valuable information both to the property owners and the wider resource exploration community on the utility of ground geophysics over a deposit type that occurs in belts across the island of Newfoundland. Though no geophysical surveys can directly detect gold, the surveys will help in finding the best regions to drill and for planning the mine with minimal environmental impact. Students employed in the project will be trained in a number of high precision geophysical methods and data analysis in an environment that will prepare them for employment as highly qualified personnel.