| Abstract: | Epithermal gold deposits are highly variable in form, ranging from thin quartz veins to large disseminated deposits, and are located in a variety of geological environments. Consequently, they exhibit a wide range of geophysical signatures. Hydrothermal alteration accompanying these deposits causes pronounced changes in the physical properties of the rocks. Magnetic susceptibility and remanence decrease; the potassium content commonly increases causing an increase in radioactivity; the electrical resistivity changes by up to two orders of magnitude; and the density increases or decreases depending on the nature of the host rock and alteration processes.Airborne magnetic surveys are effective in delineating major structures which may control the locations of epithermal gold deposits, and also in detecting magnetic lows or “flat zones” resulting from the destruction of magnetite by hydrothermal alteration. Radiometric surveys may detect potassium enrichment accompanying this alteration. Filtering and image-processing techniques are particularly useful in enhancing magnetic and radiometric data to reveal subtle structures and alteration systems.Ground geophysical techniques can play an important in defining drill targets. Well controlled gravity surveys may assist in the delineation of major structures, basement highs and alteration zones. Buried conductive alteration systems can be defined by resistivity, electromagnetic and magnetotelluric methods. Resistive gold-bearing silicified zones and shallow quartz vein systems are commonly detectable by conventional galvanic or inductive resistivity techniques.Geophysical surveys over a number of epithermal gold deposits are presented, including Bimurra-Conway (northeast Queensland, Australia), Gold Ridge (Solomon Islands), Ohui (Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand), McLaughlin (California, USA), Rhyolite Creek (Victoria, Australia) and Mt Aubrey (New South Wales, Australia).Provided there is a clear appreciation of survey objectives and a good understanding of the changes in physical properties which rocks undergo during hydrothermal alteration, geophysics can make a substantial contribution to epithermal gold exploration. |
