Interpretation of Magnetic Data Through Particle Swarm Optimization: Mineral Exploration Cases Studies

Natural Resources Research - This paper emphasizes the use of the particle swarm optimization to infer second moving average residual magnetic anomalies. This approach was used to remove the impact...     

Evaluation of WorldView-3 VNIR and SWIR Data for Hydrothermal Alteration Mapping for Mineral Exploration: Case Study from Northeastern Isfahan,Iran

Natural Resources Research - This research evaluated the capability of WorldView-3 (WV-3) data in discriminating targets related to porphyry copper mineralization at the Tameh district in the...     

Integrated Interpolation Methods for Geophysical Data: Applications to Mineral Exploration

Any mine planning requires careful prediction of both the head grade andtonnage ofmineralization. There are various methods of interpolation that attempt to provide reasonable estimatesat unsampled locations. All of these give realizations that are unduly smooth and extremevalues that occur in reality are not reflected in these estimates. Such methods, therefore,provide limited scope for accurate risk assessment. An alternative approach that is rapidlygaining popularity is the method of conditional simulation. This approach attempts to reproduceboth the grade distributions of the sample data as well as its spatial variability. In this paper,a case study is presented on a platinum mineralization to demonstrate and compare sequentialGaussian and sequential conditional simulation techniques and to quantify and discuss therelevant sensitivities.     

基于MODIS数据的雪深反演--以天山北坡经济带为例

应用中分辨率成像光谱仪（MODIS）数据进行雪深遥感反演理论和方法的研究.利用全波 段地物光谱仪对不同深度的积雪进行反射光谱值野外量测且同步测定雪深,通过分析雪深和 反射光谱值的关系确定反演雪深的MODIS最佳观测通道,应用新疆地区冬季MODIS 1B数据, 以天山北坡经济带为实验区,结合该区域同期气象台地面雪深观测记录数据建立雪深遥感反 演数学公式.雪深反演结果与实测值对比表明,应用MODIS数据进行大区域雪深反演时 ,其结果具有分辨率高、监测范围广的特点,可以清楚反映积雪覆盖范围和雪深空间分布特征,对地表径流量计算、农业开发等具有应用价值.     

Spatial Modeling for Base-Metal Mineral Exploration Through Integration of Geological Data Sets

This study involves the integration of information interpreted from data sets such as LandsatTM, Airborne magnetic, geochemical, geological, and ground-based data of Rajpura—Dariba,Rajasthan, India through GIS with the help of (1) Bayesian statistics based on the weights ofevidence method and (2) a fuzzy logic algorithm to derive spatial models to target potentialbase-metal mineralized areas for future exploration. Of the 24 layers considered, five layers(graphite mica schist (GMS), calc-silicate marble (CALC), NE-SW lineament 0–2000 mcorridor (L4-NESW), Cu 200–250 ppm, and Pb 200–250 ppm) have been identified from theBayesian approach on the basis of contrast. Thus, unique conditions were formed based onthe presence and absence of these five map patterns, which are converted to estimate posteriorprobabilities. The final map, based on the same data used to determine the relationships, showsfour classes of potential zones of sulfide mineralization on the basis of posterior probability.In the fuzzy set approach, membership functions of the layers such as CALC, GMS, NE-SWlineament corridor maps, Pb, and Cu geochemical maps have been integrated to obtain thefinal potential map showing four classes of favorability index.     

Mineral Occurrence Target Mapping: A General Iterative Strategy in Prediction Modeling for Mineral Exploration

Natural Resources Research - Procedures are discussed to construct target maps ranking the likelihood of future discoveries: for instance, of gold occurrences, knowing location and spatial context,...     

Logistic-Based Translation of Orogenic Gold Forming Processes into Mappable Exploration Criteria for Fuzzy Logic Mineral Exploration Targeting in the Kushaka Schist Belt,North-Central Nigeria

This paper applied a logistic-based fuzzy logic inference system to integrate critical factors that could control orogenic gold mineralization in part of the Kushaka schist belt, north-central Nigeria to develop a process-based mineral potential mapping (MPM) of the area. The critical factors from geophysical and geological dataset were weighted using logistic functions. The fuzzy logic inference system provides the capability to handle complex geological processes that culminated in orogenic gold mineralization as well as minimizing systemic uncertainties/fuzziness that often plague MPM. The results of this work show that granitic intrusions with fuzzy scores of 0.67–0.90 played a major role in generating high geothermal gradient in the area. Seventy percent of the existing gold mine sites in the area spatially coincide with metasedimentary rocks, having fuzzy scores of 0.7–0.9; this suggests metasedimentary rocks as being responsible for the production of gold fluid and ligands in the area. The evidence of hydrothermal activity, with fuzzy scores of 0.53 and 0.91, confirms the occurrence of mineralization associated with quartz veins and granite rocks. Lithological contacts and faults, having fuzzy scores of 0.60–0.80, presumably contribute to the localization of orogenic gold mineralization in the area. Emerging from the results, favorable zones for primary orogenic gold mineralization in the area occurred predominantly on granite gneiss and quartz veins. The mineral potential map was found consistent with the local geology, structural styles and hydrothermal alteration signatures in the area, and its validation using the existing locations of geochemical anomalies and prediction–area rate curve in the study area showed 75 and 72% agreement, respectively, thus confirming the reliability of the developed mineral potential map for resource management.

     

区域尺度蒸散发遥感估算——反演与数据同化研究进展

遥感技术近年来在估算区域尺度蒸散发中应用广泛。不同方法在驱动数据、模型机理和适用范围往往存在很大差别。鉴于此,阐述了基于传统方法空间尺度扩展的遥感模型,经验统计公式,特征空间法,单源、双源垂向能量平衡余项法等几类的遥感蒸散发反演方法,简要介绍了三温模型、非参数化模型、半经验模型、集成模型等常用模型。同时,分析了遥感数据同化实现连续估算区域蒸散发的主要思路,综述了基于能量平衡和基于复杂过程模型的数据同化的原理、方法演进及常用同化算法等。最后,探讨了各类区域蒸散发遥感方法的优劣、展望了模型机理完善、不确定性研究、结果验证等与蒸散发直接反演和数据同化相关的研究方向。     

Transnational Corporations and Local Embeddedness: Company Case Studies from Shanghai,China

Many factors impinge on local involvement in transnational corporation (TNC) networks. Two factors have not been explored, the previous economic strength of local partners and the large domestic market. This study employs site interviews and survey data in Shanghai to demonstrate that these two factors do affect the local involvement in management, industrial linkages, and technology transfer. The paper discusses China's cultural and political background, TNC's market‐capture motive, and equity joint ventures as the most common entry modes. The influence appears more evident when the two factors come together in joint ventures. Evidence also suggests that the overall localization level in Shanghai is lower than in some other developing countries because of the novelty of TNC investment in the city. On this account, as joint ventures constitute the main mode of TNC investment, increasing localization is anticipated in the years ahead.     

Categorization of Mineral Resources Based on Different Geostatistical Simulation Algorithms: A Case Study from an Iron Ore Deposit

Mineral resource classification plays an important role in the downstream activities of a mining project. Spatial modeling of the grade variability in a deposit directly impacts the evaluation of recovery functions, such as the tonnage, metal quantity and mean grade above cutoffs. The use of geostatistical simulations for this purpose is becoming popular among practitioners because they produce statistical parameters of the sample dataset in cases of global distribution (e.g., histograms) and local distribution (e.g., variograms). Conditional simulations can also be assessed to quantify the uncertainty within the blocks. In this sense, mineral resource classification based on obtained realizations leads to the likely computation of reliable recovery functions, showing the worst and best scenarios. However, applying the proper geostatistical (co)-simulation algorithms is critical in the case of modeling variables with strong cross-correlation structures. In this context, enhanced approaches such as projection pursuit multivariate transforms (PPMTs) are highly desirable. In this paper, the mineral resources in an iron ore deposit are computed and categorized employing the PPMT method, and then, the outputs are compared with conventional (co)-simulation methods for the reproduction of statistical parameters and for the calculation of tonnage at different levels of cutoff grades. The results show that the PPMT outperforms conventional (co)-simulation approaches not only in terms of local and global cross-correlation reproductions between two underlying grades (Fe and Al₂O₃) in this iron deposit but also in terms of mineral resource categories according to the Joint Ore Reserves Committee standard.

     

Hydrocarbon Reservoir Characterization Using Multi-point Stochastic Inversion Technique: A Case Study of Pennay Field

Natural Resources Research - Various limitations mitigate our understanding of the intrinsic properties of subsurface formations during reservoir characterization. These challenges go beyond data...     

Fuzzy Weights of Evidence Method and Its Application in Mineral Potential Mapping

This paper proposes a new approach of weights of evidence method based on fuzzy sets and fuzzy probabilities for mineral potential mapping. It can be considered as a generalization of the ordinary weights of evidence method, which is based on binary or ternary patterns of evidence and has been used in conjunction with geographic information systems for mineral potential mapping during the past few years. In the newly proposed method, instead of separating evidence into binary or ternary form, fuzzy sets containing more subjective genetic elements are created; fuzzy probabilities are defined to construct a model for calculating the posterior probability of a unit area containing mineral deposits on the basis of the fuzzy evidence for the unit area. The method can be treated as a hybrid method, which allows objective or subjective definition of a fuzzy membership function of evidence augmented by objective definition of fuzzy or conditional probabilities. Posterior probabilities calculated by this method would depend on existing data in a totally data-driven approach method, but depend partly on expert's knowledge when the hybrid method is used. A case study for demonstration purposes consists of application of the method to gold deposits in Meguma Terrane, Nova Scotia, Canada.