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Geochemical sampling
Taking a small portion of an article(earth material) for finding mineralogy , composition, and grade such that it represent the whole population.(Area). Accuracy, precision, and should be cost effective.
Form of mineralization
In the form of grains of minerals In the form of soil particles Precipated coating on the rock fragments/particles How to take samples: i. Whole stream sediment ii.particular grain size (80 mesh i.e 80 holes/inch or < 1um iii.mineralogical fraction of the sediment such as heavy mineral concentrate( gold. Magnetite)
Precautions:
Erratic metals contamination may occur due to: i.From roads, farms, factories and galvanized fences ii.Old mine workings/adits iii. Large rivers samples also need careful observations as the signatures from the deposits is diluted.
2. Vegetation sampling
It is essentially a way of sampling soil and
1.Geobotanical survey:
Based on the principle that presence or absence or the
condition of a particular plant or species can indicate the presence of mineralization or a particular rock type known as GEOBOTANY. Certain plants specially flowering plants act as a exploratory guides or indicator element of certain mineralization, in other cases discoloration (Chlorosis) or stunted growth of plants act as indicator of certain minerals. E.g. mauve Cu flower, the Beccium Humblei of Zimbian Cu-belt require a soil cu content of 50----1600 ppm to thrive, conditions that are poisonous to most plants known as indicator element. Ni, Cu, Li, Zn Cause growth stunting.
2.Biogeochemistry
Secondly the element content of a particular
plant is measured known as BIOGEOCHEMISTRY. This is most widely used than the first one and has been applied in sampling of forest regions of Siberia and Canada where surface sampling is more difficult. Plant requires most trace elements for their survival and takes up these through their roots and transmits them to foliage.
Methodology:
As the rate of uptake and concentration of elements is highly dependent on the species and
the season, and different parts of the same plant have different concns. of elements. Phreatophytes (e.g Tamarisk) deep-rooted plants that draw water from the zone of saturation beneath Water Table are sampled in preference to xerophytes, the shallow rooted plants that depends on rainfall directly and also in glaciated areas these deep rooted plants can penetrate below the transported material and can represent bed rock. Mesquite in USA can grow upto 20meter depth.
Bigeochemistry
Therefore sampling is conducted on one type
of plant, similar plants parts: usually first and second year leaves or twigs and sampling is taken for same sediment. Amount/Quantity required: 0.5kg is ashed (50 to 150g) prior to analysis (XRD/XRF/AAS)
3.Hydrogeochemistry:
Water is used as medium of sampling in hydrgechemistry as their composition varies due
to influence of ore bodies. Use is restricted to specific circumstances i. as not all elements show equal dissln rates , ii some are insoluble, iii. Trace elements concns are very low and so difficult to measure, iv. Concns is highly dependent on weathering and climate, v. can be easily contaminated by human activity. Vi. In effective in dry conditions
Applications
However they are effective in certain cases Areas where water is more and have
ineterconnected networkof streams. Effective guides to fluorine and associated metals exploration as it can be easily measured in the field using single ion electrode Effective in areas where stream sediments are not available Dissloved U and Radon can help for exploration of Uranium deposits
applications
Lake water samples and bog water samples have
been used for underlying mineralization Snow and meltwater are also geochemical sampling media, especially in areas of permafrost which may have Hg Vapour and metal complexes of the underlying complexes of mineralization (In Canada) Ground water (wells and springs) are having low PH and therefore are better carriers of metals as compered o surface water. E.g Arizona wells and deep rooted vegetation sampling has shon anomalous values in areas of Arizona Cu-mining district ( alkaline water)
Residual soil
It is a useful and cheap method in areas
where outcrop is scarce. Here the selection of soil horizon is a problem as there are differing greatly( OABC) Usually B horizon is selected usually at a depth of 30cms. as it a zone of accumulation and characterized by downward movement of clays. OM, Fe-oxides.
Residual soil
However if B is missing ,then other horizons can also be sampled. Some time whole of the soil
profile is sampled in order to seethe variation in the metal content in going from top to bottom. Usually same horizon is selected for the respective area as sampling different horizons reflect an irregular picture about the area. Method: Usually 100 to 200gram for Pb-Cu-ZnSn and .5 to 2kg for gold. Usually a hand auger is used for taking out samples.
Exotic soil:
Not in situ that is derived from some other
areas to their present position. Transported overburden and sandy is difficult medial for G. Sampling.
Exotic soil
In glaciated regions the overburden rarely reflect the underlying rocks and seepages may be
present provided the overburden is upto 5 meters thick. These are useful in areas where large boulder with gold or sulphide mineralization are found which can be used to trace. Or quartz boulders for gold -quartz veins. Galena boulders for pbzn deposits Basal till can be useful guide and should be sampled as they are usually of local origin.
Exotic soil
Basal drilling by percussion method is
preferred. Heavy machinery is restricted to winter as soil is frozen. Although light weight drill are cheaper and easy to operate but their results are ambiguous because of no differentiation between overburden and bed rock.
In Sandy desert
Water is scarce , most movement is
mechanical and most fine material is wind blown and therefore fine grains of 80 mesh is of no use. Therefore is such areas a.Coarser fraction of 2-6mms and b. Clay fraction reflecting elements moved in solution is used.
5. Gas sampling:
Gases are sampled s they can diffuse through
overburden. A number of gases are used. Hg> Hg deposits, U-Deposits, Sulphide deposits Gaseous decay products of uranium minerals, namely radon and helium, have received considerable attention as geochemical indicators of uranium mineralization. Sulphide deposits, deep seated fractures SO2>for detecting oxidizing sulphide mineralization. Swedish GS Where dogs are used for discovery.
Rock sampling:
It is the most flexible and reliable method
where several sites are available for sampling As it can be done in outcrops, in mines, and in drill cores
used for structure, rock types, mineralization, and alteration. Rock samples are usually not contaminated by extraneous (foreign) material like soil and stream sediment samples. Rock samples can be stored for later on testing with their less chance of chemical change.
certain limitations
Presence of outcrops and sampling sites( not
always available). Scope is narrow, geoch. Variation are generally weak and the effect of inherent rock type is strong. A rock sample only shows the conditions of the site of the sample in contrast to stream sediment sampling reflecting an entire area.
Limitations
Samples are testable only in the labs as these
require crushing unlike soil and stream sediment samples which can be tested in the field by calorimetric methods so that the more obvious anomalies can be followed immediately. More time consuming.
scaling and the sample chips are taken in the standardised areas or at standard intervals. .5 to 1 kg is taken for base metals for fine grained rock and 2kg for very coarse-grained rock . 10 kg samples is taken for gold analysis. Analysis by wet or dry method.
Rock
sampling like Follow up sampling: once an anomaly has been found during reconnaissance sampling and a possible source is identified, it is necessary to define that source by more detailed sampling, Highlighting areas of elemental enrichment background and anomalous values until a bed rock source i.e. a drilling target confirmed.
Examples
Alteration haloes around PC and Carbonatite