- journal_title：Geochemistry ; Exploration ; Environment ; Analysis
- Contributor：Richard H. Mazzucchelli
- Publisher：Geological Society of London
- Date：2012-11-01
- Format：text/html
- Language：en
- Identifier：10.1144/geochem2011-107
- journal_abbrev：Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis
- issn：1467-7873
- volume：12
- issue：4
- firstpage：257
- section：Thematic set article
The Frederick Project involves greenfields exploration for concealed sediment-hosted Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag in the Meso-Proterozoic Bangemall Basin in NW Western Australia. Three different geochemical sampling media (groundwater, lag and soil) were used to progressively focus exploration from a regional anomaly identified from a low density (1 sample/16 sq. km) government survey to potential drilling targets. The application of multi-element partial digest soil geochemistry was found to be most effective in delineating bedrock mineralization signatures through extensive transported cover. Factor Analysis assisted in the initial identification of element associations representative of several distinct mineralizing and metasomatic events which have been imprinted on the area. Application of the Weighted Sums technique, based on the results of Factor Analysis, was useful to summarise multi-element data from a progressively expanding database. Drilling is required to document the thickness of the transported overburden and determine the economic significance of the geochemical anomalies located. However, the Frederick Project demonstrates the effectiveness of hydrogeochemistry, combined with multi-element partial digest soil geochemistry in delineating bedrock geochemical targets through alluvial cover.