Application of the remote fluid indexing method for forecasting and prospecting for endogenous mineralization

  • S.G. Parada Geophysical Institute, Vladikavkaz Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, 93a Markova Str., Vladikavkaz, 362002, Russian Federation
  • D.B. Davydenko Southern Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, 41 Chekhov Ave., Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
  • K.Yu. Gamburg Southern Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, 41 Chekhov Ave., Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
Keywords: mineral prospecting, gold, spectrozonal satellite images, remote fluid indexing method, hydrogen, methane, Donbass, Tyrnyauz

Abstract

The relevance is due to the need to develop new methods for forecasting and prospecting concealed (blind) ore deposits, especially in hard-to-reach regions. Aim. To determine the possibility of using the remote fluid indexing (RFI) method, developed to detect hydrocarbon accumulations in areas of endogenous metal mineralization. Materials and methods. The core of the RFI method is based on the author’s algorithms for mathematical transformations of spectral satellite images. These algorithms aim to eliminate landscape noise and amplify the useful signal from endogenous ore objects by summing anomalous effects obtained in various spectral ranges. The brightness values in each zone of the spectrum are considered as separate factors, the sum of which is related to the intensity of saturation of the soil and vegetation layer with hydrocarbon gases (light and (or) heavy). The degree of saturation is indicated by the index of fluid saturation with light or heavy hydrocarbons (IFL or IFH). The multifactorial nature of the obtained materials makes it possible to solve the problem of identifying endogenous anomalies against the background of landscape interference. Digital images from the American Landsat 7 satellite taken in different years are used. Results. The obtained IFL anomalies in the studied areas, according to the results of prospecting and metallogenic studies, are interpreted as being caused by areas of endogenous fluidization of the upper horizons of the lithosphere associated with the emergence and evolution of ore-magmatic systems. The use of RFI technology has made it possible to establish signs of modern fluidoactivity of the Jurassic ore-magmatic systems of the Donetsk Folded Structure (DFS) and associated gold mineralization. It is shown that the appearance of methane anomalies detected by RFI is due to the interaction of hydrogen with carbon from coal seams at high temperatures. The use of RFI within the Tyrnyauz ore node revealed signs of modern fluid activity of the Pliocene-Eopleistocene ore-magmatic system. It is shown that the contour of the most extensive and most intense IFL anomaly coincides with the projection of the hypocentral region identified by the geophysical data of the magmatic hearth. It was on the path of the hydrogen-containing fluid flow, when interacting with carbonate rocks at high temperatures, that the largest amount of scheelite ores was formed. During the thermal decomposition of carbonates, carbonic acid reacted with hydrogen to form methane. Thus, the feasibility of using the RFI method for forecasting and prospecting endogenous mineralization has been confirmed.

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Published
2025-12-30
Section
Geology, prospecting and exploration of solid minerals, minerageny