Remote Prospecting?

[Geowizard]

The concept of a Voxel;

The average prospector works on the surface of the earth with a two dimensional view. A mining claim is measured on the surface based on a given length and width. Geophysical prospectors measure the response of minerals and metals along a line with reference to points along the length of the line and depth. Geophysical survey lines are done parallel to each other and when viewed along their length and from left to right with "depth", and a three dimensional view is made possible.

It's easy to visualize boxes stacked in a cube shape. Each box has a "value".

The boxes are called "voxels".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voxel

To better represent a three dimensional ore body using graphics and based on measured geophysical responses, voxels may be given a range of colors from "cool" to "hot" representing a range of values.

During the process of drilling and getting assays on the physical core from drill holes, it becomes possible to construct an accurate three dimensional view.

Smoothing can be used to provide a "rendering" like we have seen in videos in previous posts.

Stick around, there's more!

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

A prospector with a battery and a switch;

Prospectors have technology at their finger tips. For the DIY prospector, details are being revealed right here on the "Gold Prospecting Forum". This is the only forum I know of with this information.

Companies provide the service.

Readers here on the Gold Prospecting Forum have the benefit of learning about technology and getting a first-hand view of how it all works and fits together!

Stick around, there's much more!

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Prospecting Fortymile;

I promised more, here's "more".

Surprisingly, As we approach Christmas, 2020, remote prospecting in Alaska can be done in the cozy comfort of where-ever you are at this moment.

I would like to share a few REAL, existing examples with readers of the Alaska Gold Prospecting Forum. These targets all represent REAL remote prospects in ALL 19 Mining Districts in Alaska. Saving all of the technical details which I have already covered, let's get down to "specific" locations.

For instance, the Fortymile Mining District;

Make yourself cozy and comfortable and we can take a look!

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

The Fortymile doesn't require much introduction;

Readers already know there's GOLD in the Fortymile. The challenge for prospectors is to KNOW where to find the GOLD. As it happens to work out, the Fortymile was surveyed. Although the survey was published, prospectors are seemingly unaware of the high value targets that were revealed in the survey!

Where?

I can't think of a better place to reveal "where". The question of where the targets are is normally a pain staking exercise in going over the data from the survey. The process of "going over" the data is where things get interesting! Those prospectors with Metal Detectors know what I am talking about when I say; Most of the time, there's NOTHING. Then... Woopee! You spend hours looking and then, in an instant, you get a HIT. Now, you KNOW "where" to DIG!

Most prospectors realize their prospecting days are limited.

The next question is how much TIME will it take to run a detector up and down all of the Rivers and creeks, over all of the hills and mountains?

The State has provided a solution. They did the WORK involved in detecting mineralization. The survey of the Fortymile covered over 4000 line-miles of detecting.

Twenty plus years later, here we are! A snoopy old prospector named Geowizard begins the process of snooping into the data. What do these numbers mean?

Stick around and find out!

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Here's the numbers;

In the realm of metal detecting, the numbers represent "quality" of mineralization. We like GOLD. We like Silver too!

Iron gets mixed in;

The other end of the scale iron. Minerals and metals are usually NOT just one mineral or metal but a mixture of minerals and metals that include IRON. IRON (think Magnetite) causes a detector to "suppress" GOLD and make GOLD look like IRON. So, we see numbers that can sometimes mean that we have GOLD and IRON mixed.

Prospectors are looking for a "Deposit";

Quantity of mineralization is also reflected in the data. Quantity is measured in the distance measured across a HIT. The distance measured across or along a hit defines to a degree the VOLUME of a deposit in one dimension.

Obviously, a small deposit may not be economic to mine. If the objective is to discover an economic deposit, the deposit must have quantity!

Being able to discover a deposit having economic potential guides a prospector in his or her decision of where to set up camp!

Next, we will look at some deposits and discuss the question of economic potential.

Stick around, there's more!

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

The project summary;

A Geophysical Survey project such as those performed in Alaska are planned by scientists having experience in mineral exploration. The time and effort comes at great cost in dollars and human resources.

For those of us in the public domain, the information provided is rich in content.

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Correlation of a hit with a placer;

One of the factors that I use to add credibility to a hit is if the hit has correlation with a past or present placer GOLD mining operation. If a hit is located within proximity of a Placer GOLD mine AND it also fits a plausible erosion model, the probability is HIGH that the hit represents a LODE.

If it looks like a Duck, walks like a Duck and Quacks like a Duck... It's probably a Duck!

Yesterday, I plotted an anomaly that I found in the Iditarod Mining District.

It fits my "model" perfectly.

Don't go away!

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Tamarack Creek;

Here's a prime example.

What conclusions may we draw from this hit?

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Cause and effect or cause and coincidence?

If I am standing in swamp in my waders and notice by bird dog pointing at something that is making a quacking sound;

is it a Duck?

We are in Alaska. We are in a GOLD mining District, This placer GOLD mine produced millions of dollars in GOLD at today's prices. This hit is at the head of the PLACER DEPOSIT and positioned well within a plausible PLACER GOLD erosion model.

Wait, there's more!

- Geowizard

[Geowizard]

Who owns the Duck?

An above average Remote Prospector in Alaska probably would quietly and discretely go to Alaska Mapper and check the "status" of the real estate in question.

Not too surprising, as is sometimes the case, other prospectors precede us.

In this case there is NO mining claim on this probable GOLD deposit. However, the Mental Health Trust (MHT) has included it within their boundaries. This does not preclude getting a lease from the MHT.

The economic potential needs evaluation in terms of the over-all dimension, quality of the ore in the deposit, related feasibility of mining, extraction, etc.

Fasten your seatbelts and hang on.

- Geowizard