An investigation of the relationship between positive magnetic anomalies and nickel-sulphide deposits, Kambalda, Western Australia

The Challenge

Geophysical surveying is a mineral exploration key tool, but its capacity to define areas which may contain undiscovered resources requires understanding of how the properties of local rocks are altered by formation of ore minerals, and by later weathering and other geological processes.

Key Findings

• The rich nickel sulfide resources around Kambalda are associated with distinctive departures from the magnetic properties of their host rocks, but these anomalies are often disrupted by changes experienced during the later history of the Yilgarn region
• The ability to recognise potential magnetic targets in this region can be improved by using portable X-ray Fluorescence and hyperspectral analysis to characterise the mineralogy of local rock types and improve understanding of their expected geophysical response

Benefits to WA

Cam’s research is delivering new understanding of Western Australia’s Yilgarn region and its rich mineral endowment. The workflows developed during Cam’s studies are helping reveal previously hidden detail in geophysical studies, allowing exploration resources to be targeted more effectively in the search for new nickel sulfide resources.

Keywords: Exploration technology; geophysics; Nickel