Unconventional Geochemical Exploration for Gold Deposits

Conventional geochemical exploration for gold deposits has not always been very satisfactory, especially for buried and blind ones. New considerations and methodology in sampling, analysis and interpretation have been developed in China during the past decade. Important considerations for unconventional gold exploration in this paper are that (1) gold is active in surface environments; (2) gold occurs not only as discrete grains, but also as ultrafine particles (submicron?to nanometer-sized particles of gold) and other complex forms; (3) regional low anomalies and superimposed anomalies over buried gold deposits are produced by ultrafine gold grains and other complex forms of gold. The methodology based on these considerations has been developed both in regional and in local geochemical exploration for gold. Examples of the preliminary application of these methods in two areas covered by transported overburden are given.