| Title | Exploration geophysics for intrusion-hosted rare earth metals / Géophysique d'exploration pour les métaux rares associés à des intrusions |
| Download | Downloads |
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| Licence | Please note the adoption of the Open Government Licence - Canada
supersedes any previous licences. |
| Author | Thomas, M D; Ford, K L; Keating, P |
| Source | Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 6828, 2011, 1 sheet, https://doi.org/10.4095/288092  Open Access |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2011 |
| Publisher | Natural Resources Canada |
| Meeting | AME BC Mineral Exploration Roundup 2011; Vancouver; CA; January 24th-27th, 2011 |
| Document | open file |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf; JPEG2000 |
| Subjects | economic geology; geophysics; geophysical surveys; geophysical interpretations; magnetic interpretations; radiometric interpretations; magnetic surveys; radiometric surveys; anomalies; rare earths;
mineral occurrences; intrusions; alkaline carbonatite complexes; carbonatite complexes; pegmatites; Oka Alkaline Complex; Allan Lake Carbonatite; Misery Lake Alkalic Intrusive Complex; Strange Lake Alkalic Intrusive Complex; Mutton Bay
Complex |
| Illustrations | location maps; tables; geophysical images; geophysical profiles |
| Program | Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI-4) Rare-Metal Ore Systems |
| Released | 2011 03 18 |
| Abstract | Intrusion-related deposits of rare earth metals are characteristically associated with alkaline and carbonatitic intrusions, pegmatites and intrusive veins. Historically, intrusion-related rare earth
metals have been discovered using a variety of exploration techniques and occasionally by chance. Geophysical methods have featured prominently. Here we present examples of geophysical signatures and case histories. Critical to the success of any
geophysical method is the presence of a sufficiently large contrast in the rock properties of the investigated geological units. Rock properties of 28 minerals that may contain rare earth elements (REEs) in economic or potentially economic deposits
(Castor and Hedrick, 2006) are indicated in the figure to the left. Properties are mainly from the Mineralogical Society of America (2010). Noticeable are the high densities of practically all of the minerals, with a 3 general range of 3.26 - 5.90
g/cm , significantly higher than that of common 3 crustal rocks 2.60 - 3.30 g/cm . Notable also are the facts that many minerals are radioactive, and practically all are non-magnetic. Based on these properties it seems that the gravity and
radiometric techniques have the greatest potential for direct detection of REEs, but it must be recognized that such direct detection is very much dependant on the concentration of these minerals and the size of the deposit. It would appear, more
commonly, that detection of rare earth metals, like detection of several other commodities, is achieved by first locating a prospective host for the mineralization. In this respect, as will be demonstrated following, the gravity, magnetic and
radiometric techniques are all important exploration tools. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 288092 |
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