3D inversion of SPECTREM and ZTEM data from the Pebble Cu-Au-Mo porphyry deposit, Alaska

Pascal Pare; Alexander V. Gribenko; Leif H. Cox; Martin Čuma; Glenn A. Wilson; Michael S. Zhdanov; Jean Legault; Jaco Smit; Louis Polomé

doi:10.1071/ASEG2012ab085

ISSN: 2202-0586
E-ISSN:

oa 3D inversion of SPECTREM and ZTEM data from the Pebble Cu-Au-Mo porphyry deposit, Alaska
Authors Pascal Pare^a, Alexander V. Gribenko^b, Leif H. Cox^c, Martin Čuma^d, Glenn A. Wilson^e, Michael S. Zhdanov^f, Jean Legault^g, Jaco Smit^h and Louis Poloméⁱ
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^a Anglo American Exploration (Canada), Vancouver, , Canada, [email protected] ^b TechnoImaging & University of Utah, Salt Lake City, , USA, [email protected] ^c TechnoImaging, Salt Lake City, , USA, [email protected] ^d TechnoImaging & University of Utah, Salt Lake City, , USA, [email protected] ^e TechnoImaging, Salt Lake City, , USA, [email protected] ^f TechnoImaging & University of Utah, Salt Lake City, , USA, [email protected] ^g Geotech, Aurora, , Canada, [email protected] ^h Anglo American, Johannesburg, , South Africa, [email protected] ⁱ Spectrem Air, Lanseria, , South Africa, [email protected]
Publisher: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Source: ASEG Extended Abstracts, Volume 2012, Issue ASEG2012 - 22nd Geophysical Conference, Dec 2012, p. 1 - 4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/ASEG2012ab085
- Published online: 01 Dec 2012

Abstract

Summary

This case study compares 3D inversion results from Spectrem Air’s SPECTREM 2000 fixed-wing timedomain airborne electromagnetic (AEM) system, and Geotech’s Z-axis Tipper Electromagnetic (ZTEM) airborne audio-frequency magnetics (AFMAG) system flown over the Pebble Cu-Au-Mo deposit in Alaska. Within the commonality of their physics, 3D inversions of both SPECTREM and ZTEM recover conductivity models consistent with each other and with the known geology. Both 3D inversions recover conductors coincident with alteration associated with both Pebble East and Pebble West. The 3D interpretation of both surveys has yielded improved the understanding of the geology, alteration and mineralization of the Pebble system. There are distinct practical advantages to the use of both SPECTREM and ZTEM, so we draw no recommendation on one system over the other. We do conclude however, that 3D inversions of AEM and ZTEM surveys add significant value to exploration.

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References

Cox, L. H., Wilson, G. A. and Zhdanov, M. S., 2010, 3D inversion of airborne electromagnetic data using a moving footprint: Exploration Geophysics, 41, 250-259.
Farquharson, C. G., Oldenburg, D. W., Haber, E. and Shekhtman, R., 2002, An algorithm for the three-dimensional inversion of magnetotelluric data: 72nd Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts, 649-652.
Holtham, E. and Oldenburg, D. W., 2010, Three-dimensional inversion of ZTEM data: Geophysical Journal International, 182, 168-182.
Hursán, G. and Zhdanov, M. S., 2002, Contraction integral equation method in three-dimensional electromagnetic modelling: Radio Science, 37, doi: 10.1029/2001RS002513.
Leggatt, P. B., Klinkert, P. S. and Hage, T. B., 2000, The Spectrem airborne electromagnetic system – further developments: Geophysics, 65, 1976-1982.
Pare, P. and Legault, J. M., 2010, Ground IP-resistivity and airborne SPECTREM and helicopter ZTEM survey results over Pebble copper-moly-gold porphyry deposit, Alaska: 80th Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts, 1734-1738.
Raiche, A., 1998, Modelling the time-domain response of AEM systems: Exploration Geophysics, 29, 103-106.
Zhdanov, M. S., 2002, Geophysical Inverse Theory and Regularization Problems, Elsevier.
Zhdanov, M.S., 2009, Geophysical Electromagnetic Theory and Methods. Elsevier.
Zhdanov, M. S., Smith, R. B., Gribenko, A., Čuma, M. and Green, A. M., 2011, Three-dimensional inversion of largescale EarthScope magnetotelluric data based on the integral equation method – geoelectrical imaging of the Yellowstone conductive mantle plume: Geophysical Research Letters, 38, L08307, doi:10.1029/2011GL046953.

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Article Type: Research Article

Keyword(s): 3D; AEM; AFMAG; inversion; Pebble; SPECTREM; ZTEM

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oa 3D inversion of SPECTREM and ZTEM data from the Pebble Cu-Au-Mo porphyry deposit, Alaska

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