University of Twente Student Theses
GIS-Based Predictive Mapping of Gold Prospectivity: A case Study in the Busia Goldfield, Southeastern Uganda.
Ngada, Henry (2009) GIS-Based Predictive Mapping of Gold Prospectivity: A case Study in the Busia Goldfield, Southeastern Uganda.
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| Abstract: | Lode gold mineralization occurs in the Busia Goldfield. However there is a poor understanding of the mineralization model due to lack of publications. To contribute to a better definition of the mineralization model, the geological, geochemical and structural features were investigated so as to find out which features are spatially associated with the known gold mineralization. This was done by: 1) qualitatively synthesizing knowledge from geosciences literature about gold mineralization controls, 2) quantification of the favourability with respect to each evidential feature, 3) generation of a gold prospectivity map via a knowledge-guided data-driven approach and 4) validation of the gold prospectivity map generated using by overlay of known gold occurrences. Results show that the Busia gold field is a potential area for lode gold mineralization whose exploration requires the use of lode gold pathfinder elements (i.e. enrichment in Au Ag and (As, Sb, Te, W, Mo, Bi, B)) and structures. The principal geological features with which lode gold mineralization is associated are the NW and NS faults. Although the multi-element association (Fe-Ti-V-Cr-Cr-Ni-Cu-Zn) as swell as individual uni-elements appear to be spatially associated with lode gold occurrences, they are only of lithological significance but not directly related with the lode gold mineralization. Scatter plots of Au versus uni-elements (Fe, Ti, V, Cr, Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn) with which gold appears to be spatially associated have proved no significant association. Whereas the amphibolites (mafic metavolcanics) in the Busia gold field are spatial vectors to shear zones with which lode gold mineralization is associated, they are not genetically related to and hence have no control over the lode gold mineralization. Additionally, results demonstrate the usefulness of: 1) ground-collected and remotely-sensed datasets for mapping geological features that can be used as predictors for lode gold prospectivity and 2) GIS-based techniques in mapping mineral prospectivity which can guide in decision making in mineral exploration. Key words: Busia Goldfield, knowledge-guided data-driven, evidential features, lode gold, GIS-based. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | ITC: Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation |
| Programme: | Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation MSc (75014) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/91630 |
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