SC-4 Structural Systematics: Applications for Exploration
Raul J. Madrid, Ph.D., Vice President, Exploration, Victoria Gold Corp.
This two-day workshop will focus on the Structural Systematics of gold belts and gold systems within these gold belts. Structural Systematics is the study of structural systems and how they interrelate, both in terms of the stress and strain that lead to their development, and how their finite strain characteristics can be used to predict their geometries. Structural systems are those that form roughly syn-kinematically. The emphasis is on those systems that are genetically related. Some structural systems are not genetically related but nevertheless play a significant role in gold ore-body development. Prediction is the ultimate goal of Structural Systematics and several gold system examples that demonstrate predictive methods will be presented. Predictive methods are highly dependent on geometrical relations as well as simple mathematical depiction of structural systems. Of the methods devised for Structural Systematics, the emphasis in this workshop will be on a limited number of methods that emphasize graphical and geometric solutions that may lead to predictive analysis.
Structural systematics is highly dependent on factual compilation of data and is not dependent on conceptualizations that dominate some exploration methods and approaches. Mapping in support of Structural Systematics is necessarily detailed and objective without preconceptions and without bias. These mapping techniques are the basis of gold system analysis. Unlike typical mapping techniques, Structural Systematics techniques focus only on those attributes that relate to gold deposition. All factors that do not lead to gold concentrations are de-emphasized in detailed mapping, thereby leading to quicker assessments and evaluations of gold systems for drilling and definition of resources.
Day one will focus on the background of, and will introduce different structural systems that led to the development of Structural Systematics. The structural methods that are introduced will provide a foundation for defining the structural footprints of gold systems. The footprints lead to the targeting of primary conduits for hydrothermal fluid transport and the concentrations of gold as a result of this fluid transport. Gold depositional sites will conclude day one and is a necessary component for confidence building that the structural mapping is reliably focused on defining the boundary conditions for gold system development, and identification of these gold systems within gold belts.
Day two will continue to emphasize gold belts and the structural systems that characterize them. It will include gold belts in 1) Nevada and Utah, which make up the Carlin Structural Gold Province, 2) the Colombian Gold Province and gold belts in Colombia, including the Marmato gold belt, and 3) gold belts in Spain, focusing on the Rio Narcea Gold Belt and other gold belts in that country.
Finally, the predictive methods embodied in Structural Systematics can lead to the assessment of blind and underground targets that will lead to the development of Gold Provinces that will be the focus of exploration and mining in the future. Cost: $200 (students $100); May 15-16.