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Case Studies - Mineral Exploration
Knife Lake Deposit, Saskatchewan
Leader Mining’s Knife Lake deposit is a copper/cobalt/gold/silver VMS (volcanogenic massive sulphide) deposit in Saskatchewan, Canada. It has a drill indicated resource of 20.3 million tons at 0.83% eCu (as of November, 1998, Leader Mining Press Release). The deposit dips about 30 degrees east, and has an average thickness of 15m and a strike length of 4,500m.
The DIGHEM 900Hz apparent resistivity data shows the strong resistivity low (conductivity high) coincident with a broad band of interpreted bedrock conductors. The strength of the resistivity anomaly is distinct from the weaker anomaly of the lake to the east.
900 Hz Coplanar Resistivity |
Total Field Magnetics
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The magnetic data collected simultaneously with the DIGHEM survey shows a weak anomaly over the deposit, but aids in mapping the host geology and local and regional structure.
| The data profile along flight line 20880 shows the shape of the EM anomaly and apparent resistivity anomaly over the deposit. The EM (labeled CP- and CX-) channels show the strong anomalies on lower frequencies typical of a strong conductor. The wide, asymmetric anomaly in the coaxial (CX-) data is typical of a shallow dipping conductor. The depth channels (DP-), and particularly the 900Hz depth channel (DP900) shows the dip of the conductor to the east (right). |
Stacked Profiles
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The magnetic profile (MAG) shows the weak anomaly over the deposit, and a stronger anomaly, apparently in the hanging wall. This stronger anomaly is dipping in the same direction, and could be a mafic horizon, or a change in the mineralogy of the deposit down-dip.
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Case Studies
Mineral Exploration