Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Geology 4 (2019) 407−421
China Geology
Journal homepage: http://chinageology.cgs.cn
An integrated ore prospecting model for the Nyasirori gold deposit in Tanzania
Yang-sen Yuan*, Shui-ping Li*, Jun Peng, Jian-tao Si, Hua Cheng, Jin Sun, Jian-zheng Wei, Jiang-bo Shao
No. 2 Institute of Geological and Mineral Resources Survey of Henan, Zhengzhou 450001, China
A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T
©2019 China Geology Editorial Office.
1. Introduction The Lake Victoria greenstone belt is located in the
northwest of Tanzania, and consists of 8 sub-greenstone
Individual prospecting method is not effective to discover terranes. It possesses excellent ore-forming geological
concealed or difficult-identified ores, and thus comprehensive conditions and is an important gold mineralization belt in East
multi-disciplinary prospecting methods have been popular in
Africa. Among the 8 greenstone belts, the Archaic Musoma-
ore exploration (Pei RF et al., 2013; Jiang SQ et al., 2014;
Mara greenstone belt in the east of Lake Victoria is an
Yang J et al., 2014; Wang DB et al., 2016; Chen W et al.,
important gold concentration area, and contains large and
2017; Diao LP et al., 2017; Zhong FJ et al., 2017; Liu QN et
middle-sized gold deposits including the North Mara,
al., 2018; Di QY et al., 2019; Zhang WH et al., 2019). An
Buhemba and Ikungu deposits. The Musoma-Mara greenstone
important way of successful ore prospecting is to establish
belt has well-developed fault structures with strong magmatic
integrated geological-geophysical-geochemical models in
order to fully make use of geophysical and geochemical activity and good metallogenic conditions and prospects, but
methods (Fang X et al., 2014; Li YJ et al., 2014; Su XL et al., it has been poorly understood in terms of geology and
2014; Deng YP et al., 2016 ; Lei SB et al., 2016; Lin FL et al., exploration (Messo CW et al., 2012; Mshiu EE and Maboko
2016; Zhang S et al., 2017; Cao YL et al., 2018; Cheng XG et MAH, 2012; Ren JP et al., 2013; Wang JG et al., 2017; Wan
al., 2018; Song HW et al., 2018; Sun L et al., 2018; Tang JT YS et al., 2018; Zhang Q et al., 2018).
et al., 2018; Wang YS et al., 2018; Zhang XD et al., 2018; Liu The Nyasirori gold deposit is located in the middle-western
L et al., 2019; Liu ZQ et al., 2019; Fu ZY et al., 2019).
part of the Musoma-Mara greenstone belt with 11 t of (332) +
(333) gold resources. It is the second largest medium sized gold
* Corresponding author: E-mail address: 76738371@qq.com (Yang-sen Yuan); hndzlsp@ deposit discovered by No. 2 Institute of Geological and Mineral
126.com (Shui-ping Li).
Resources Survey of Henan, after the Mwamola super-large
doi:10.31035/cg2018127 gold deposit containing 34 t of (332) + (333) class gold
2096-5192/© 2019 China Geology Editorial Office. resources. The Mwamola gold deposit is a concealed banded
© 2019 Editorial Office of China Geology. Publishing Services provided by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).
408 Yuan et al. / China Geology 4 (2019) 407−421
Bukoba
Arusha
Tanzania craton
Mozambique Belt-500 Ma
La
ke
Ta
nga
ny
Morogoro
ika
Ubendian-Usagaran
N
Ub
en
di
an
-2
00
0
M Mbeya
0 300 km a
Africa
1 2 3
Lak
Tanzania
eN
4 5 6 Irumide
yas
Fig. 1. Simplified geological map showing tectonic position of Tanzania (after Tan DW et al., 2013). 1−Neogene volcanic rocks; 2−Karroo
and Neogene sediments; 3−Bukoban supergroup; 4−middle Proterozoic; 5−Paleoproterozoic; 6−Archean.
Yuan et al. / China Geology 4 (2019) 407−421 409
is located in the middle and western ends of this greenstone eastern and southern parts of Lake Victoria is generally
belt. caused by basic rock mass (dyke) and iron formations. The
cloud-like surface positive anomalies are distributed
2.2. Regional geophysical fields throughout the region with different intensities in different
regions. These anomalies are mainly caused by magnetic
Magnetic field measurements at a scale of 1:125000 minerals in the Archean granite and granitic gneiss. The
indicate that magnetic anomalies around the Lake Victoria in Nyasirori gold deposit is located in a weak negative magnetic
Tanzania are mainly positive cloud-like anomalies, linear
anomaly belt.
positive anomalies, linear negative anomalies, arc-shaped As shown in Fig. 2b, regional aeromagnetic survey at a
positive and negative associated anomalies and regular scale of 1:50000 indicates that this deposit exhibits cloud-like
clusters, with local associated strong positive and negative positive anomaly and linear positive and negative magnetic
anomalies and local weak anomalies. The southwestern part anomaly. The cloud-like surface anomaly is a reflection of the
of Lake Victoria displays long and narrow linear anomalies Archean granite body. Linear positive and negative magnetic
from NE to SE with associated positive and negative anomalies caused by BIF and diabase extend largely in the
NW, NS and EW directions. The Nyasirori deposit is located
anomalies. It has an interphase distribution and generally has
in the gentle magnetic field between the linearly NW-SE-
an arc-shaped southward projection, reflecting that the region trending magnetic anomalies.
is subjected to a northwestward compression to generate
dense folds. The anomalies coincide with the distribution of 2.3. Strata
the Nyanzian group and BIF. The NS-trending linear positive
magnetic anomaly belt in the south of Lake Victoria is The regional strata are mainly the Archean Nyanzian
associated with deep and large faults, and the regular positive group, consisting of a set of metamorphic basic volcanic rocks
and negative combination of strong magnetic anomalies in the with green schist facies, metamorphic mafic volcanic-
+ (a) (b)
N + +
Kenya
+
+ N
Tanzanian Dodoma + + +
shield
2 km +
+ +
Tanzania +
+ 2 km
Zambia
+ + + +
+
+
+ + +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+
+ +
Kiabakari + + Kiabakari
+ + +
+
+
+ + +
Nyasirori Nyasirori
1 6
2 7
+
+ + 3 8
+
4 9 +
+
5 10
Fig. 2. Gelogical map (a) and geophysical field (b) of the Nyasirori gold deposit (modified from the Geological Survey Department of
Dodoma, Tanzania, 1983). 1–Quaternary; 2–Archean Nyanzian BIF; 3–Archean granitoids; 4–Archean greenstone belts; 5–Proterozoic mafic
intrusive rock; 6–shear zones/faults; 7–fracture; 8–terrane boundaries; 9–gold deposit; 10–region location.
410 Yuan et al. / China Geology 4 (2019) 407−421
sedimentary rocks and local BIF.
Nzd N
This deposit is largely covered by the Quaternary eluvial
1110
deluvium, and only metamorphic mafic tuff is sporadically 1165
exposed.
Q
1210
2.4. Structures 1140
This area mainly develops 3 groups of nearly parallel Line 45 Line 15 Line 00 M6
shear zones, i.e., nearly EW-trending (about 60°), NE- 1190 M7 M1
trending and NW-trending (about 310°, Fig. 2a). The early M8
M1 M5
EW-trending shear zone was intersected by the late NE- M9 M9
Zfa
Line 39
trending and NW-trending ones. Correspondingly, strong 1210 Line 07 Line 16
deformation tectonic activities including secondary shear
zones, fault zones, and folds are well developed, which
provide favorable ore-forming conditions for the formation of M2 M3
gold deposits. 1185
M4
sericitization, and carbonation. Metal mineralization is mainly the top orebody is 2 –5 m, extending 850 m along the strike
limonitization, pyritization and pyrrhotitization, with and 350 m along the inclination. The average thickness of the
relatively weak gold mineralization. Gold mineralized ore body is 2.38 m and the average gold grade is 6.26×10–6.
alteration zones such as M5, M7 and M8 occur in these fault The orebody in the NW-trending and NE-trending alteration
zones. belts are thin and poor, with an average thickness of 1.35 m
(iii) NE-trending fault zone. It is located in the south- and an average gold grade of 2.87×10−6.
central part of the deposit, with an intermittent exposure
length of about 500 m, and consists of a series of nearly 3.3. Ore characteristics
parallel NE-trending compression-torsion fault zones. It
strikes SE with a dip angle of about 65°–85°, and is 1–5 m in The ore types are simple, which are dominated by densely
width. Foliated cataclastic altered rock and breccia are disseminated pyrite sericite altered rock type and gold-bearing
developed, which exhibit certain ductile shear characteristics. quartz vein ones (Figs. 5a, 5b). The ore textures mainly
The rocks and minerals have a directional elongated include euhedral to subhedral granular and cataclastic, and the
arrangement, and quartz vein ranging from 2 cm to 10 cm in ore structures are dominated by massive, fine veined and
width mainly distributed along the fault zone and altered disseminated structures (Fig. 5c).
rocks. Silicification, beresitization, chloritization and Metal minerals in the ores are mainly pyrite (about 5%),
carbonation are dominated. Metal mineralization is mainly arsenopyrite (about 2%) and a small amount of pyrrhotite,
limonitization, pyritization and arsenopyritization, chalcopyrite, magnetite, natural gold. Gangue minerals mainly
accompanied by gold mineralization. The known gold include dolomite (about 25%), quartz (about 20%), chlorite
mineralized alteration zones such as M2, M3, M4 and M6 are (about 15%), and plagioclase (about 15%). Gold in the ores
present in this fracture zone. mainly occurs in the form of natural gold (Figs. 5d–f), which
is present in the form of inclusion gold and intergranular gold
3.2. Orebody characteristics (about 50% each). The shape is mainly angular granular and
long-grained, followed by round granular, and the diameter is
Nine gold mineralized alteration belts have been mostly between 0.010 mm and 0.037 mm.
discovered in the Nyasirori deposit (Fig. 3). They mainly
strike EW, with few striking NW and NE, mostly appearing in 3.4. Mineralization stage
groups (Fig. 4). The occurrence is basically consistent with
that of the surrounding rock formation. The EW-trending gold Table 1 shows the sequence of mineral formation.
mineralized alteration belt was affected by the NW-trending (i) Pre-mineralization period (silicification and
sinistral strike-slip structures and superimposed sericitization stage)
mineralization, which has the best ore-bearing property. The Early quartz is white, milky white, cryptocrystalline
main ore body M1-I in the M1 alteration belt displays structure or fine granular structure, which is distributed in
irregular veins, with local expansion and contraction, irregular masses. Quartz cementation occurred in tectonic belt
branching compounding and pinch-out. It strikes EW and to form siliceous breccia. Plagioclase was replaced by scaly
trends south, with a dip angle of 65°–80°. The burial depth of aggregate sericite, and the sericite is arranged in weak
orientation to form a schistosity structure.
(ii) Metallogenic period
180° 0°
It can be divided into 3 mineralization stages: (1) Quartz+
M1-I
M9-I M1-II sericite+pyrite stage, which is the main metallogenic stage
1300 with the precipitation of natural gold accompanied by pyrite
and quartz; (2) Arsenopyrite+pyrite stage is a main ore-
forming stage, and the gold ores rich in arsenopyrite have
high grade; (3) Quartz+pyrite stage is another main
1200
metallogenic stage, when scattered and fine veined pyrite is
closely associated with quartz veins.
h/m
Arsenopyrite Pyrite
Quartz vein
Pyrite
(a) (b)
Ar
Au
Py
200 μm
1000 μm
(c) (d)
Au
Au
200 μm 200 μm
(e) (f)
Fig. 5. Photos showing the alteration and ore types of the Nyasirori gold deposit. a–Pyritized cataclastic altered rock; b–gold-bearing quartz
veins; c–veined pyrite and arsenopyrite; d–granular natural gold; e–gold distributed in pyrite; f–gold distributed in quartz.
Yuan et al. / China Geology 4 (2019) 407−421 413
200
the Nyasirori gold deposit.
Number Magnetic 10000
Sampling
Rocks (ores) of susceptibility
location
samples /(κ×10−5 SI) 9500
200
Structural altered rocks (gold ores,
mineralized rocks, tectonite, 97 15 Drill hole 9000
altered rocks) F1
Surrounding rock (metamorphic 8500
152 50 Drill hole
tuff)
F2 -2
Siliceous rock 32 30 Drill hole 00
8000 F5
Diabase 30 1980 Surface
Breccia (gossan) 14 85 Surface 7500
y/m
Metamorphic tuff 47 3272 0.54
Structural altered rocks 32 506 4.78 5000
(ores, mineralized rocks, ΔT/nT
tectonite, altered rocks) 4500 400
300
200
Table 4. Physical properties of rocks and ores in the Nyasirori 4000 150
gold deposit. 100
50
Geological body and Magnetic Resistivity Polarizability 3500 25
0
main lithology −25
Diabase Medium Extremely high Micro 3000 −50
−100
Breccia (gossan) Weak High Micro −150
2500 −200
Siliceous rock Micro High Micro −300
Surrounding rock: Micro High Micro −400
−500
metamorphic tuff 2000 −600
Ore-bearing zone: Micro Medium Weak F3 −700
structural altered zone 1500 20
0
1000
M1-I and gold body in the borehole section (Fig. 8), which F4
indicates that the IP sounding method is effective for 200
500
positioning the fractured alteration zone and gold orebodies in 200
the Nyasirori mining area. 0
(iii) Spatial distribution of ore-bearing fractured alteration 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
x/m
zone indicated by relatively low resistivity anomaly in 1 2 3 4 5 F2 6
electromagnetic section
The ρS contours in the middle of the apparent resistivity Fig. 6. Surface magnetic anomalies △T of the Nyasirori gold mine.
section of the audio magnetotelluric sounding show a steep 1 –Magnetic contour; 2 –magnetic anomaly zone; 3 –main gold vein
area; 4–target area; 5–expose gold occurrence; 6–fault number.
and drastic decline (Fig. 9). The relatively low resistivity is
relatively prominent, and the position corresponds to the
determine the fine magnetic field structure caused by the
fractured alteration zone and gold body of M9 and M1-I,
tectonic alteration zone and gold orebodies (Fig. 10). The gold
which indicates that the fractured alteration zone and gold
vein and tectonic alteration zone were near the zero line,
body have relatively low resistivity anomalies. In the which lies between the micromagnetic positive and negative
exploration, the distribution of the low concave resistivity △T contours. The micromagnetic anomaly △T displays an
zone is used to understand the fractured alteration zone and EW-trending and NW-trending distribution, and varies little,
the occurrence of gold orebodies, which provides basis for the which corresponds well with the structural alteration zone and
anomaly detection and the layout of drilling engineering. gold veins. It is indicated that micromagnetic anomalies can
(iv) Discrimination of concealed gold bodies by clearly reflect the fine magnetic field characteristics caused by
micromagnetic anomalies the tectonic alteration zone and gold vein group (Li SP et al.,
Micromagnetic measurements were conducted to 2017).
Yuan et al. / China Geology 4 (2019) 407−421 415
d/m 0°
Soil geochemical analysis of the 10 elements including 0 80 160 240 320 400 480
Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, W, Mo, As, Sb and Bi shows that the
variation coefficients of Au, As, and Bi are all larger than
0.25, indicative of a high abnormal intensity (Table 5). It is −100 ρs/(Ω·m)
indicated that they are spatially unevenly distributed and that 600
the elements are locally enriched or depleted, especially the 400
−200 125
highly enriched element As. Other elements are basically 250
AB/2/m
evenly distributed, and display local weak enrichment or 200
−300 150
(a) 100
250 50
−400 0
250
2.2
1.2 (a)
2
1.
d/m 0°
0 80 160 240 320 400 480
0.6
0 200 m N
1.
−100 ηs/%
2
η/%
1.2
2.4
500 −300 2.0
1.6
1.2
500
−400
(b)
0 200 m N
ρs/(Ω·m) 0°
10 (c)
ΔT/nT
M9 Zfa
M5 3 137.5 m 134.5 m
1 M9 4 N 1200 161.3 m
4
Q 2 5
Q 224.5 m
Zfa 3 6 0 200 m (d)
Fig. 7. IP anomalies of the Nyasirori gold mining area. a–Plan view Fig. 8. Comprehensive geological-geophysical profiles along the
of apparent polarizability of IP intermediate gradient; b–plan view of line 15 in the Nyasirori gold deposit. a–Apparent resistivity pseudo-
apparent resistivity of IP intermediate gradient survey; c–geological section of IP sounding; b –profile of apparent polarizability in IP
map. 1 –Au-I soil anomaly; 2 –Quaternary; 3 –meta tuff; 4 –gold ore sounding; c –profile of micromagnetic anomaly △T; d –geological
bodies and numbers; 5–gold mineralized alteration zone; 6–geologic- profile of drillhole. 1 –tectonic alteration zone; 2 –Quaternary resid-
al boundary. ual slope sediments; 3–meta tuff; 4–gold orebody.
416 Yuan et al. / China Geology 4 (2019) 407−421
5.3. Single element anomaly and favorable gold ore distribution, and are mainly distributed in the middle of the
prospecting area deposit (Fig. 12). Anomaly elements are mainly Au, As, Sb,
Cu and Zn. Among them, Au, As and Sb anomalies are large
The element anomalies display an irregularly zonal and strong, and have a significant concentration center. The
x/m inner, middle and outer zoning are clear and well-fitted, and
1380
0 80 160 240 320 400 480 560 the area is about 0.85 km2. Several abnormal high values of
single element Au, As, Sb consecutively appear in the
1300 anomaly zone. Among them, the maximum anomaly value of
Au is 1300×10–9, averaging 42.63×10–9; the maximum
anomaly value of As is 5739×10–6, averaging 46.75×10–6; the
1200
maximum anomaly value of Sb is 4.36×10–6, averaging
0.56×10–6. Other elements have relatively weak anomalies,
h/m
1100 ρs/(Ω·m)
which are distributed in the middle and outer zones or only
2500 the outer zone.
900
600 The anomalous area outcrops the Archean Nyanzian
1000 400
260 metamorphic tuff, and develops nearly EW-trending and NW-
160 trending fault structures. The Au anomaly has a spatially
80
900 (a) 0 larger distribution than the corresponding tectonic alteration
40 0° zone. The tectonic alteration zone has the same trend as the
ΔT/nT
0
−40 (b) anomalous concentration direction and is intermittently
80 160 240 320 400 480 exposed in the middle and inner zones of the anomaly, which
x/m
well fits with indicator elements As and Sb and is favorable
ZK0004 ZK013 Zk0002
TC41 QJ21 0° gold prospecting area.
1380
M9 M1-I
1
6. Integrated prospecting model and result analysis
1300
2 116.5 m
According to the multi-source geological, geophysical and
h/m
122.5 m
3
4
geochemical anomalies of the Nyasirori gold deposit, this
1200
work established an integrated prospecting model (Table 7).
The main prospecting indicators and information are as
(c) 281.5 m follows.
Fig. 9. Comprehensive geological-geophysical profiles along line 6.1. Geological prospecting indicators
00 in the Nyasirori gold mining area. a–Profile of apparent resistiv-
ity in audio magnetotelluric sounding; b –profile of micromagnetic
anomaly △T; c–geological profile of drillhole. 1–Tectonic alteration
(i) The gold ore (mineralized) bodies are generally
zone; 2 –Quaternary residual slope sediments; 3 –meta tuff; 4 –gold distributed in the tectonic fractured zone, and the orebody
orebody. occurrence is strictly controlled by the tectonic fractured zone.
600 20
30
−8 −1 −20 −30
50 40
0
−4 −6 −15
M7 −2
0 F10 M1-ў
400 M8 0
M7 M1-II
2
M1-III M1-I
M9-I
y/m
0 2
M1 M9-I 0
M9-II
M9-I
M9
200 4 20
6 10 M8 15
8
Table 5. Statistics of soil geochemical data for the Nyasirori gold deposit.
Parameters Au Ag Cu Pb Zn W Mo As Sb Bi
Clark value 4.00 0.070 55.00 12.50 70.00 1.50 1.50 1.80 0.20 0.17
Mean value 6.92 0.077 41.39 15.09 53.33 2.76 1.31 13.06 0.25 0.15
Maximal value 1300.00 0.900 1130.00 111.00 713.00 14.20 3.76 5739.00 4.36 3.54
Minimum value 0.46 0.051 16.20 5.30 20.50 2.45 0.78 1.15 0.09 0.07
Standard deviation 3.17 0.009 9.52 3.38 10.94 0.12 0.21 5.67 0.09 0.04
Coefficient of variation 0.46 0.120 0.23 0.22 0.21 0.04 0.16 0.43 0.34 0.24
Concentration
1.73 1.100 0.75 1.21 0.76 1.84 0.87 7.26 1.25 0.88
coefficient
Background value 7.00 0.080 41.00 15.00 53.50 2.76 1.30 13.00 0.25 0.15
Anomaly threshold 16.00 0.100 65.00 24.00 78.00 3.00 1.80 30.00 0.50 0.20
Note: The elements were tested in the Zhengzhou Mineral Resources Supervision and Testing Center, Ministry of Natural Resources. Au, 10–9, others, 10–6.
Au As Zn
Au-II As-II
(Au)/10 −9
Au-III (As)/10−6 (Zn)/10−6
As-III
120 312
64.0
32.0 90 156
16.0 0 500m 30 78
Sb Ag W
Sb-I Sb-III
Sb-II
(Sb)/10−6 (Ag)/10−6 (W)/10−6
2.0 Sb-III 0.4 12.0
1.0 0.2 6.0
0.5 0.1 3.0
Bi Cu Pb
(Bi)/10−6
0.8
0.4
0.2
(Cu)/10−6 (Pb)/10−6
260 96
130 48
65 24
Mo
βμ Q Quaternary
Q mv Metamorphic tuff
M7 βμ Dolerite
M7
M8 M1
M5 Gold ore body
M9
mv Mineralized alteration zone
(Mo)/10 −6 M2 M3
M4 M1 Gold Mineralized alteration zone number
3.6 0 200 m
1.8 Geological boundary
Fig. 12. Diagrams showing soil geochemical anomalies in the Nyasirori gold deposit.
Table 7. Integrated geological-geophysical-geochemical prospecting model for the Nyasirori gold deposit.
Exploration Prospecting indicators Mineralization indicator characteristics or information
method
Regional Geological structure Northwestern of Tanzanian CratonMiddle and western ends of the Archean Musoma-Mara greenstone belt
setting location
Regional geophysical In a weak negative magnetic anomaly zone
field
Geology Geological strata and Nyanzian mafic volcanic-sedimentary rocks
lithology
Tectonics Multiple groups and multiple directions (near east-west, north-west and north-east), and the near-east-west shear
tectonic belt is the main ore-bearing structure
Magmatic rock Post-orogenic biotite granite
Wallrock alteration Silicification, chlorite, carbonation and sericitization
Characteristics of ore Gold ore bodies are present in the shear structural alteration zone, which are irregular veins, with local expansion
bodies and contraction, branching and refraction, and other phenomena
Ore minerals Natural gold, pyrite, arsenopyrite, limonite and a small amount of pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite
Direct prospecting sign Artisan mining pit and surface or near-surface oxidation zone, grayish yellow or purple-yellow, honeycomb
structure oxidized ore generally good in gold
Geophysics Regional geophysical Strong negative magnetic anomaly is a northwestward linear band-like distribution associated with diabase
field
Low-weak magnetic field is associated with non-magnetic-micromagnetic greenstone formations
Detection target Tectonic fracture zone
Target physical property Rock alteration magnetic weakening
characteristics
Medium and low resistivity, weak polarization
Surface anomaly ηs anomalies and ρs anomalies are basically the same as those of the surface gold mineralization alteration belts
characteristics
The ∆T micromagnetic anomaly has the characteristics of weak and small magnetic field changes, and the gradient
band between positive and negative has great correlation between the tectonic alteration zone and the gold vein
Geochemistry Gold orebody element Au, As, Sb elements are unevenly distributed in space. There is a tendency of local enrichment or depletion. Au, Sb
distribution elements are characterized by enrichment and the As element is highly enriched
Mineral-induced Au-Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn-As-Sb-W-Mo-Bi
elemental anomaly
combination
Abnormal shape of The abnormal elements of soil measurement are mainly Au, As, Sb, Cu and Zn, and the anomalies are irregular and
main elements the long axis direction is near
Distribution range East-west, in which Au, As, Sb are large in scale, high in intensity, and concentrated in center, inner, top and outer
bands
Distinct features, well-fitted, close correlation of Au, As, Sb
in Tanzania were discovered at the beginning of the 20th explored and mined BIF type gold deposits in this area.
Century, which were discovered by surface ores as the initial (ii) An integrated multi-source prospecting model was
prospecting cues with relatively simple prospecting methods. established combined with the geological characteristics of
The Nyasirori gold mine has been the largest concealed the Nyasirori gold deposit. Tectonic altered rock type gold
tectonic altered rock type gold deposit discovered in Tanzania deposits are controlled by tectonic fractured zone, and the
since the 21st Century. Affected by natural environments, tectonic altered zones and gold ore (mineralized) bodies
Tanzania has few exposed bedrocks. The discovery of the exhibit medium and low resistance, weak magnetism, weak
Nyasirori gold deposit has opened up a way for discovering polarization, and significant correlation of Au with As and Sb,
concealed gold deposits by integrated geological-geophysical- which is the prospecting indexes of the same type of gold
geochemical method. More and more similar gold deposits are deposits in the area. This comprehensive prospecting index
expected to be discovered in Tanzania. will be the key for the prospecting success in the area. In
addition, for the first time, high density, high precision, and
7. Conclusions
high resolution ground micromagnetic measurements have
(i) The newly discovered and proven Nyasirori medium- been applied to the exploration of structural altered rock type
sized gold deposit is located in the central and western parts gold deposits. The fine magnetic field structures and abnormal
of the Musoma-Mara greenstone belt, belonging to a distribution characteristics caused by the obtained
concealed tectonic altered rock type in greenstone belt. Such micromagnetic bodies (tectonic alteration zones and gold
deposits are controlled by tectonic fractured zone, and are veins) play an important role to determine the spatial
featured by medium-low resistance, weak magnetism and distribution of hidden gold deposits.
weak polarization, which are different from the previously (iii) Effective geophysical and geochemical prospecting
420 Yuan et al. / China Geology 4 (2019) 407−421
indicators (middle and low resistance, weak magnetism, weak Chen HQ, Wei LJ, Ni M. 2014. Metallogenic element spatial
polarization and Au-As-Sb-based elemental combination distribution of the Naruo copper (gold) deposit in the Duolong ore
concentration area of Tibet and its geochemical exploration model.
anomalies) and rational implementation plan of prospecting Geology in China, 41(3), 936–950 (in Chinese with English
technologies (1:10000 high-precision ground magnetic abstract).
surveying, 1:10000 soil geochemical measurement, combined Fu ZY, Xu XC, He J, Fan ZL, Xie QQ, Du JG, Chen F. 2019. Genetic
with IP intermediate gradient array or micromagnetic Types and Metallogenic Model for the Polymetallic Copper-Gold
measurement, IP sounding or audio magnetotelluric sounding) Deposits in the Tongling Ore District, Anhui Province, Eastern
China. Acta Geologica Sinica (English edition), 93(1), 88–110. doi:
have laid foundation for the establishment of a comprehensive 10.1111/1755-6724.13635.
geological-geophysical-geochemical prospecting model. The Guo HJ, Lin XH, Liu HR, Qin L, Fu FJ, Qin ZY. 2009. The Precambrian
establishment of this model will be an important reference and geological charateristics of Kigoma-Mpanda region, Tanzania and
have a great impact on the research of concealed gold deposits the new data of U-Pb age determination on zircon. Contributions to
in this region and other similar areas in the future. Geology and Mineral Resources Research, 24(3), 260–266 (in
Chinese with English abstract).
Jiang SQ, Sun XG, Yang TZ, Li L, Yin XB, Wang C, Pan YB. 2014.
Acknowledgements
Integrated anomaly model and metallogenci prediction of the
Duolong porphyry copper-gold ore concentration area in northern
This work is financially supported by the Special Fund for Tibet. Geology in China, 361(2), 497–509 (in Chinese with English
Foreign Mineral Resources Risk Exploration abstract).
(201210B01600234). The authors would like to express Kabete JM, Groves DI, Mcnaughton NJ, Mruma AH. 2012a. A new
sincere gratitude to the reviewers who have provided tectonic and temporal framework for the tanzanian shield:
implications for gold metallogeny and undiscovered endowment. Ore
significant suggestions for this manuscript.
Geology Reviews, 48(5), 88–124.
Kabete JM, Mcnaughton NJ, Groves DI, Mruma AH. 2012b.
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