Effectiveness of soil geochemical survey for gold prospecting in the Na'er area, south of the Western Sichuan Plateau

The study area, a semi-humid alpine mountainous area, is located in the south of the Western Sichuan Plateau. It is characterized by shallow overburden, sparse bedrock outcrops on the surface, and undeveloped drainage systems. Under such a unique landscape, the soil geochemical survey demonstrates significant advantages for the exploration of concealed non-ferrous metal minerals. This study, through 1∶10,000 soil geochemical surveys, systematically identified three element assemblages: gold-arsenic-antimony (Au-As-Sb), lead-zinc (Pb-Zn), and bismuth-tin (Bi-Sn). Through follow-up geochemical surveys, it delineated a composite anomaly zone with high prospecting potential within the study area. A prospecting target was further identified in combination with the geochemical characteristics of elements, element assemblage patterns, and regional metallogenic background. This study revealed a total of five concealed gold orebodies, which were verified by drilling engineering, marking a significant breakthrough in mineral exploration. This fully demonstrates the application potential of this method for gold exploration in shallow overburden areas within the Western Sichuan Plateau.