| Abstract: | In recent years, a large-scale pilot study has been carried out in middle and western Inner Mongolia to determine the feasibility of a well-water survey for exploration of mineral deposits in the arid and semiarid desert. The widely scattered wells in Inner Mongolia were drilled by the ancient nomadic people and have been well protected and preserved through generations. This research work has been undertaken by the Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration together with the First Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration Team of Inner Mongolia.Satisfactory results were achieved through the pilot survey conducted in Bainaimiao, Baiyunebo, Huogeqi, west section of Langshan Mountains, and Honggueryulin, middle and western Inner Mongolia. Multi-element hydrogeochemical anomalies corresponding to the components of known deposits were found in or near the known deposits, and several potential prospecting targets were delineated in the pilot hydrogeochemical surveys. A U-mineralized zone and an Au occurrence were discovered by a follow-up survey within the hydrogeochemical multi-element anomalous areas of U-Mo-Zn and As-Mo-Ag.The background values of the major and some trace constituents like U, Mo, As and V in the groundwater of arid and semiarid regions are generally higher than those of other regions. The background values of other trace constituents like Cu, Pb, Ag, Sb, Mn, Ni and Zn are much lower than those of other regions. Climate and microtopography also influence the variations of element concentration in these regions. Therefore, much attention should be paid to these factors in groundwater sampling and the interpretation of the hydrogeochemical survey results. |
