TEM For Porphyry Exploration

Quantec Geoscience Group

The Chimborazo Porphyry Deposit, Chile

Chile Explore
2017
Chimborazo is a mineralised porphyry

 The Chimborazo example is typical of the

exploration problem and the results that can be
achieved.
 Chimborazo is a mineralized porphyry located
approximately 35 km north of the Escondida Mine at
2600 m elevation in Region II of northern Chile.
 Sub-surface nitrates (caliche) are prominent at the
property, inhibiting one’s ability to obtain electrical
contact optimal for IP surveys.
 breccia, diorite porphyry, monzonite porphyry,
tonalite porphyry, andesite, dacite, diorite,
granodiorite, tuff
 236Mt
 Cu grade (%) 0.6%
 30% of the deposit area is covered by gravel.
Detect resistivity Contrasts associated with conductive
alteration

When the application of IP is thus restricted, When a potential porphyry has

Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) sounding
techniques can be employed as a means of been found, TEM soundings may
targeting areas of interest. be an effective tool for
In arid areas, forcing current to pass through delineation of supergene
the very dry sub-surface can be problematic. chalcocite enrichment.
Although TEM methods do not directly detect
the disseminated sulfides of a porphyry
system, they can be used to detect the
resistivity contrasts associated with conductive
alteration inherent to the mineralization.
TEM accomplished without grounded electrodes
Resistivity mapping with TEM is
accomplished without grounded electrodes
rendering surface conditions irrelevant from
this perspective.
Center-loop TEM soundings, arranged along
survey lines, provide relatively high
productivity with simple logistical
requirements.
The resulting data feature excellent
resolution of flat-lying lithologies, with
dissimilar resistivities, when inverse-
modeled with 1-dimensional
resistivity/depth software.
This example features a series of
center-loop soundings, arranged
with successive measurements
along a line at 200 m intervals.
Transmitter loops had dimensions
200 x 200 m.
A Geonics EM-37 system was
employed to measure secondary
field decay from 80 µsec to 7 msec
over 20 logarithmically distributed
intervals.
Centre loop sounding test line profiles
Chimborazo TEM Reconnaissance line

1-D smooth-layer
resistivity/depth The anomalous low resistivity of
inversions were the mineralized porphyry is
performed on the data obvious in both the profiled data
and the results plotted in and in the resistivity/depth
section. Selected profiles section.
of the data (dB/dt),
plotted above the section,
are used as an aid to
interpret structures and
to determine the validity
of each 1-D inversion.
High Resolution of Secondary Chalcocite Enrichment
The Chimborazo Porphyry is typical
of the mineralized porphyries of
northern Chile. The center of the
porphyry features a horizontal strata
of chalcocite secondary enrichment
overlying primary sulfides.
Approximately 100 m of leaching is
found over the chalcocite blanket.
Silicification, sericite and alunite
alteration are found in the highly
fractured core. Propyllitic alteration
is found on the porphyry’s fringes.
The most prominent coincidence
between the resistivity data and the
drill-tested geology is that a
horizontal strata of very low
resistivity (less than 20 Ohm-m)
coincides with the known position
of the chalcocite blanket. The
depths to both upper and lower
limits of the blanket can be
accurately interpreted in this case
and the lateral limits are well
defined.
Schematic of Porphyry Deposit
485400E 486800E

200m

400m

Gravels Enrichment Dykes

Alteration Blanket Country Rock

200 m
TEM section vs. Geologic section
Summary: Reconnaissance and High resolution

When contact impedance problems restrict May provide additional detail within the
the use of IP in porphyry exploration deposit for mining purposes
programs, Transient Electromagnetic
methods may be substituted as a means for
delineating areas of interest.

The TEM Sounding method is used to

delineate the mineralized rim of the
porphyry system or areas of secondary
enrichment.

This method has been successfully tested on

several known porphyry systems in Chile.