Abstract:
As a crucial means for detecting concealed orebodies, geo-electrochemical measurements can effectively identify the information of subsurface and deep-seated mineral resources in the near-surface environment. Focusing on the Tongjiangling porphyry- and skarn-hosted copper deposit in Jiangxi Province, this study selected an exploration line and then deployed a section extending about 1.6 km for geo-electrochemical measurements. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of geo-electrochemical measurement technologies and the difference between field and laboratory geo-electrochemical measurements, providing support for technical optimization, wide application, and research on underlying mechanisms. The results indicate that the field geo-electrochemical measurement performed well in the Tongjiangling copper deposit. It can delineate distinct multi-element geo-electrochemical anomalies overlying shallow and deep (nearly 600 m) orebodies. Comparatively, laboratory geo-electrochemical measurement exhibited some anomaly response for elements such as copper (Cu), silver (Ag), and zinc (Zn) above the shallow orebodies, with certain spatial deviations from the actual orebody positions. In addition, it generally represented no anomaly response above deep-seated concealed orebodies. Therefore, it can be concluded that field geo-electrochemical measurement should be prioritized in the similar exploration of landscapes, minerals, and deposits.