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    Modelo Mineralogico

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    jmsfranz1224
    This document describes using assay data from drill cuttings to create a 3D model of gangue mineralogy in an epithermal gold deposit. The model classifies each meter of drilling based on gangue mineralogy as carbonate-rich, feldspar-rich, or replaced by illite, montmorillonite, or kaolinite. This mineralogy model can help predict mining, processing, and geotechnical issues by identifying zones of intense clay alteration. The methodology involves using plots of elemental ratios from assays to estimate the mineralogy and classify each sample.

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    Modelo Mineralogico

    Uploaded by

    jmsfranz1224
    100 views3 pages
    This document describes using assay data from drill cuttings to create a 3D model of gangue mineralogy in an epithermal gold deposit. The model classifies each meter of drilling based on gangue mineralogy as carbonate-rich, feldspar-rich, or replaced by illite, montmorillonite, or kaolinite. This mineralogy model can help predict mining, processing, and geotechnical issues by identifying zones of intense clay alteration. The methodology involves using plots of elemental ratios from assays to estimate the mineralogy and classify each sample.

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    Modelo mineralogico

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    Modelo mineralogico

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    This document describes using assay data from drill cuttings to create a 3D model of gangue mineralogy in an epithermal gold deposit. The model classifies each meter of drilling based on gangue mineralogy as carbonate-rich, feldspar-rich, or replaced by illite, montmorillonite, or kaolinite. This mineralogy model can help predict mining, processing, and geotechnical issues by identifying zones of intense clay alteration. The methodology involves using plots of elemental ratios from assays to estimate the mineralogy and classify each sample.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    100 views3 pages

    Modelo Mineralogico

    Uploaded by

    jmsfranz1224
    This document describes using assay data from drill cuttings to create a 3D model of gangue mineralogy in an epithermal gold deposit. The model classifies each meter of drilling based on gangue mineralogy as carbonate-rich, feldspar-rich, or replaced by illite, montmorillonite, or kaolinite. This mineralogy model can help predict mining, processing, and geotechnical issues by identifying zones of intense clay alteration. The methodology involves using plots of elemental ratios from assays to estimate the mineralogy and classify each sample.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 3

    Scott Halley, 28/06/2016

    An example of Mineralogical Modelling from Assay data.


    This is an example from an intermediate sulfidation epithermal gold deposit. In this system, dioritic
    intrusions were emplaced into siliciclastic sediment, beneath a limestone cap. Gold mineralization is
    associated with disseminated pyrite near the limestone contact, particularly around the margins of the
    diorite bodies. Gangue mineralogy varies from illite to montmorillonite to kaolinite, overprinting earlier
    relict potsassic alteration that formed with a weak porphyry Cu event. In this deposit, every meter of
    drill cuttings was assayed using a 4 acid digest, with ICP-AES analysis.

    This is a section through the gangue mineralogy model of the deposit. For every meter of drilling, the
    gangue mineralogy has been classified from the assays. This section shows a cross section with drill
    traces coloured by mineralogy; carbonate-rich, feldspar-rich or complete feldspar replacement by illite,
    montmorillonite or kaolinite. The diorite stocks are in translucent pink.

    Consider the ways in which a model like this can benefit a mining operation. What is the relative
    hardness, BWi and mill throughput rates of ore with a feldspathic matrix versus ore in a phyllosilicate
    matrix? If the sulfides were pre-concentrated in a flotation circuit, we need to know how kaolinite and
    montmorillonite behave in this part of the processing. If the ore goes to a heap leach, we need to know
    how kaolinite and montmorillonite behave on the leach pads. This model shows where zones of intense
    clay alteration will be located on pit walls. What are the pit wall stability implications, and how will pit
    wall angles have to be designed to allow for those clay-rich domains? Having a model like this allows us
    to predict possible mining, processing and geotechnical problems, design tests to quantify the risks and
    then spatially map problematic zones in orebodies.

    Methodology for estimating Mineralogy

    Plot Ca versus Mg. This shows a node


    of pure calcite at 40% Ca, with a
    replacement trend towards dolomite.

    One of the most useful plots is K/Al versus Na/Al, calculated on a molar basis. Consider a rock that is
    totally sericitized. The mineralogy of the rock might be muscovite-quartz-carbonate-pyrite. All of the K
    and Al in that rock will be within sericite. Muscovite has a composition of KAl3Si3 O10(OH)2. Therefore the
    ratio of K:Al in the sericitized rock is 1:3. Similarly, a totally K feldspar (KAlSi3 O8 ) altered rock will have a
    K:Al ratio of 1:1. Advanced argillic alteration plots at the origin (0,0).

    This plot shows trends towards


    alteration mineral compositions
    relative to the projected position of
    the least altered host rocks. Note the
    very high percentage of strongly Na-
    depleted samples. These are rocks in
    which all of the feldspar is destroyed.
    The mineralogy in these rocks varied
    from illite to illite + clay, to intense
    clay alteration. The clay mineral could
    be either montmorillonite or kaolinite.
    Each point can be assigned to a
    mineralogy group based on where it
    plots relative to least-altered
    samples.

    The clay mineralogy can be estimated by


    plotting Al-K-Ca and Al-K-Mg ternary plots.
    Where the clays are dominantly kaolinite, Ca
    and Mg are depleted from the rock. Where
    the clays are dominantly montmorillonite, Ca
    and Mg are retained.

    This has been verified by measuring SWIR


    spectra. The SWIR measurements are more or
    less point measurements, but the assays are
    entire meter intervals, so are more reliable.

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