Application of integrated geophysical method in prospecting: A case study of the magnetite-type IOCG deposits in the Moon Mountain exploration area, Copiapo, Chile

Abstract

Many medium to large magnetite-type IOCG deposits have been found in the Copiapo area of Chile, which is located in the north fragment of the Chilean iron belt on the east side of the coastal mountain belt. The formation of these deposits is closely related to the neutral mafic volcanic rocks in the continental margin arc under the background of ocean subduction and the intrusion center of Early Cretaceous intermediate-acid magmatic rocks intruded in the volcanic sedimentary formation. The metallogenic belt is largely covered by Quaternary gravel layer. Using integrated geophysical methods with metallogenic geological characteristics to locate the concealed deposits (ore-bodies) under the overburden has become a key technology and a practical demand. We conducted an in-depth study of the metallogenic geological characteristics of magnetite-type IOCG deposits in the Copiabo area, and interpreted the preliminary exploration target by aeromagnetic deep-geological interpretation. Combining the interpretation results with the statistical analysis of metallogenic geological-physical parameters of magnetite-type IOCG deposits, a metallogenic geological-geophysical anomaly model of magnetite-type IOCG deposits in the Copiabo area is established. A large concealed magnetite-type IOCG deposit was found and verified by drilling in the deep target area delineated in the Quaternary coverage area of the Moon Mountain exploration area by using the integrated geophysical method.

Keywords

• coastal mountain belt in chile
• atacama fault zone
• magma arc
• geological-geophysical modeling
• iocg deposit
• integrated geophysics