Geostatistical analysis of geochemical

and organo-geochemical data

applied to mineral exploration
Pamela Castillo, Brian Townley, Xavier Emery and lvaro Puig
Department of Geology, University of Chile
Department of Mining Engineering, University of Chile
Advanced Mining Technology Centre, University of Chile
Codelco-Chile

Motivation
Mining exploration in covered areas.

From the 1970s to date, many studies have been realised to

understand the mechanisms of gas and ion generation and
their migration to the surface.

Surface anomaly
Chemical and microbiological oxidation of a sulphide body under
cover, product of the underground water-rock and/or wateratmosphere interaction.
Migration of ions and gases through a cover generates geochemical
halos in the surface.
Mechanisms with the largest scientific approval are
electrochemical dispersion and cyclical dilatancy pumping.

Sampling methodology - collectors

In the past decade, geochemical
investigations (U. of Chile, Codelco) have
studied the applicability of sampling ions
and gases contained in the soil
Ore Hound GOCC Collectors.
Device composed of an absorbent
material with known composition that
detects in real time, ion and gas
migration from the source to the
surface, allowing the delineation of
contrast anomalies.

Study area - sampling

Prospection area of about
100 km2, a property of
Codelco, located in the
Atacama Region, Chile.
421 collectors were installed
during 102-109 days, on a
regular sampling grid with
mesh 400 x 500 m.

Geological settings
Mostly covered by semi-consolidated to unconsolidated
deposits, neogene gravels and deposits.

Geological settings
Outcropping rocks: andesites and rhyolites, intercalated

with continental red sandstones, Early Jurassic to Early

Cretaceous.

Geological settings
Intruded by plutonic and sub-volcanic bodies,

granodiorites to diorites. Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous.

Geological settings
Principal lineaments: NW-SE to N-S and NEE-SWW.
SW of the area: Fe-Cu-(Au) ore, hosted in volcanic rocks

(~400 m depth), over the water table.

Presentation of the data

DATA
417 samples (24 field duplicates / 29 analytic duplicates)
234 variables (72 chemical elements/162 hydrocarbon
compounds)
QUALITY CONTROL (reproducibility)
20 elements /40 hydrocarbon compounds

Presentation of the data

STATISTICAL ANALYSES
Chemical elements and hydrocarbon compounds are poorly
correlated. Better understanding of the behaviour of hydrocarbon
compounds is required.
Removal of 1 outlying data
All the variables are standardised (mean = 0; variance = 1)

Geostatistical methodology
Principal component analysis (PCA)
Variables are summarised in 4 factors explaining 79.4% of the total
variance

Analytical
bias

Factor 1 (F1): 40.0%

Factor 2 (F2): 21.4%
Factor 3 (F3): 11.4%
Factor 4 (F4): 6.6%

Geostatistical methodology
F1: Tl, Pr, La, Rb, Sr, Cs, Dy.

F3: (Mn, P, K, Li).

F2: Mg, Ca, K, (Co, Al, Er, Li).

F4: In, Sn, Cu, (Dy, Er, Pr, La).

Geostatistical methodology
Factorial kriging analysis
Combines PCA together with spatial modelling and
prediction. It consists of three main steps:
Multivariate variogram analysis, by fitting a linear
model of coregionalisation (direct and cross variograms).
Decomposition of the variables into spatially
uncorrelated factors that summarise multivariate
information.
Estimation of these factors by cokriging.

Geostatistical methodology
20 variables
direct and cross
variograms are
modelled with semiautomatic algorithm
(Isatis v10.03).
A nugget effect and
two isotropic
structures (ranges:
2000 m 5500 m)
are used.

Geostatistical methodology
Factorial kriging analysis generates factors associated with each
nested structure:
Structure

Nugget Effect

Spherical 2000 m

Spherical 5500 m

Factor 1

48.24%

59.74%

69.15%

Factor 2

16.61%

23.04%

15.75%

Factor 3

8.24%

6.20%

9.21%

Nugget effect (noise) is filtered out.

Structure with range 2000m: 2 factors (F1 F2) account for 82.78% of the total variance.

Structure with range 5500m: 1 factor (F1) accounts for 69.15% of the total variance.

Geostatistical methodology
Factors associated with structure of range 2000m
F1: Rb-Zn-Sr-Mg-P-Cu-Tl-Ca

F2: Al-Co-Sn

Geostatistical methodology
Factor associated with structure of range 5500m
F1: Cu-Sn-Co-(Ca-Mg-K-P)

Discussion:
Anomaly analysis
F4: In, Sn, Cu, (Dy, Er, Pr, La).

F1: Rb-Zn-Sr-Mg-P-Cu-Tl-Ca

F1: Cu-Sn-Co-(Ca-Mg-K-P):

Conclusions
PCA and factorial kriging analysis allow delineating anomalies that
are not perceptible in the original data. The anomaly given by the
structure with range 2000m coincides with a known mineralisation
area.

Both PCA and factorial kriging analysis provide the opportunity to

better understand the geological characteristics and involved
dispersion processes.
Unlike PCA, factorial kriging analysis accounts for the regionalised
character of the data and is able to filter measurement errors
(nugget effect) and to separate spatial scales (local regional
anomalies).

Conclusions
The associations of elements with the various factors generated by
both PCA and factorial kriging should be explained and interpreted
under geochemical criteria, so that the geostatistical tools help to
understand geological processes of dispersion and to define the
lithologies, alteration and/or mineralisation in the source (future
work).

Analytical bias with E-W orientation is present in the data. It could

be modelled with an anisotropic nested structure (future work).

Acknowledgements
RESEARCH FULLY FUNDED:
Exploration Area of Codelco,
Project ORE-Hound 2330-2

PARTIALLY FUNDED:
Fondecyt Proyect 1090013
ALGES Laboratory at University of Chile