New geochemical tool for mineral explorers in the Mount Read Volcanics
A research team, including Michael Vicary from Mineral Resources Tasmania, has published a new lithogeochemical tool for explorers in Tasmania's Mount Read Volcanics.
For this study, surface rock chip and drill hole samples were collected and analysed using commercially available analytical techniques to create a regional geochemical dataset of the Mount Read Volcanics, covering the entire province and all major stratigraphic units. From this data a lithogeochemical methodology was developed, utilizing Ti/Nb and V/Sc systematics that effectively characterizes the samples according to composition and magmatic processes. This method is shown to be robust to biases due to alteration and lithofacies, eliminating the need for highly selective sampling or extensive data filtering.
Aside for Mike Vicary's expertise, MRT provided rock samples and financial assistance for assays to facilitate this research.