GEOCHEMICAL SAMPLING

Geochemical sampling

Taking a small portion of an article(earth material) for finding mineralogy , composition, and grade such that it represent the whole population.(Area). Accuracy, precision, and should be cost effective.

Stream sediment sampling:

It is widely used, reconnaissance method of exploration whose aim is obtain stream sediments which are representative of the catchment area of the stream sampled.
Sources of stream sediment By erosion of soil and rock From the inflows of ground water

Form of mineralization
In the form of grains of minerals In the form of soil particles Precipated coating on the rock fragments/particles How to take samples: i. Whole stream sediment ii.particular grain size (80 mesh i.e 80 holes/inch or < 1um iii.mineralogical fraction of the sediment such as heavy mineral concentrate( gold. Magnetite)

Size and number of samples:

For base metals and geoc.mapping .5kg sample is sufficient but for Gold a larger sample of 10kg( of 2mm size) is taken due its erratic concentration/distribution Commonly a grab sample of active stream sediment at chosen locations are taken every 20 to 30 m or 50 to 100 meter along the stream and at a depth of 10 to 15cms in order to avoid excessive fe and mn oxides. Samples collected are usually analyzed after powdering or the number of heavy mineral grains are counted. Panning is done for detecting gold, zircon garnet, magnetite, diamond.

Precautions:
Erratic metals contamination may occur due to: i.From roads, farms, factories and galvanized fences ii.Old mine workings/adits iii. Large rivers samples also need careful observations as the signatures from the deposits is diluted.

2. Vegetation sampling
It is essentially a way of sampling soil and

ground water for chemical analysis. Use of vegetation is in 2-way.

1.Geobotanical survey:
Based on the principle that presence or absence or the

condition of a particular plant or species can indicate the presence of mineralization or a particular rock type known as GEOBOTANY. Certain plants specially flowering plants act as a exploratory guides or indicator element of certain mineralization, in other cases discoloration (Chlorosis) or stunted growth of plants act as indicator of certain minerals. E.g. mauve Cu flower, the Beccium Humblei of Zimbian Cu-belt require a soil cu content of 50----1600 ppm to thrive, conditions that are poisonous to most plants known as indicator element. Ni, Cu, Li, Zn Cause growth stunting.

2.Biogeochemistry
Secondly the element content of a particular

plant is measured known as BIOGEOCHEMISTRY. This is most widely used than the first one and has been applied in sampling of forest regions of Siberia and Canada where surface sampling is more difficult. Plant requires most trace elements for their survival and takes up these through their roots and transmits them to foliage.

Methodology:
As the rate of uptake and concentration of elements is highly dependent on the species and

the season, and different parts of the same plant have different concns. of elements. Phreatophytes (e.g Tamarisk) deep-rooted plants that draw water from the zone of saturation beneath Water Table are sampled in preference to xerophytes, the shallow rooted plants that depends on rainfall directly and also in glaciated areas these deep rooted plants can penetrate below the transported material and can represent bed rock. Mesquite in USA can grow upto 20meter depth.

Bigeochemistry
Therefore sampling is conducted on one type

of plant, similar plants parts: usually first and second year leaves or twigs and sampling is taken for same sediment. Amount/Quantity required: 0.5kg is ashed (50 to 150g) prior to analysis (XRD/XRF/AAS)

3.Hydrogeochemistry:
Water is used as medium of sampling in hydrgechemistry as their composition varies due

to influence of ore bodies. Use is restricted to specific circumstances i. as not all elements show equal dissln rates , ii some are insoluble, iii. Trace elements concns are very low and so difficult to measure, iv. Concns is highly dependent on weathering and climate, v. can be easily contaminated by human activity. Vi. In effective in dry conditions

Applications
However they are effective in certain cases Areas where water is more and have

ineterconnected networkof streams. Effective guides to fluorine and associated metals exploration as it can be easily measured in the field using single ion electrode Effective in areas where stream sediments are not available Dissloved U and Radon can help for exploration of Uranium deposits

applications
Lake water samples and bog water samples have

been used for underlying mineralization Snow and meltwater are also geochemical sampling media, especially in areas of permafrost which may have Hg Vapour and metal complexes of the underlying complexes of mineralization (In Canada) Ground water (wells and springs) are having low PH and therefore are better carriers of metals as compered o surface water. E.g Arizona wells and deep rooted vegetation sampling has shon anomalous values in areas of Arizona Cu-mining district ( alkaline water)

4.Soli Sampling/Overburden geochemical sampling method

Overburden is of two types 1.Residual soil: Derived from the underlying

rocks: In this case chemistry of the soil reflects what is underlying.

Residual soil
It is a useful and cheap method in areas

where outcrop is scarce. Here the selection of soil horizon is a problem as there are differing greatly( OABC) Usually B horizon is selected usually at a depth of 30cms. as it a zone of accumulation and characterized by downward movement of clays. OM, Fe-oxides.

Residual soil
However if B is missing ,then other horizons can also be sampled. Some time whole of the soil

profile is sampled in order to seethe variation in the metal content in going from top to bottom. Usually same horizon is selected for the respective area as sampling different horizons reflect an irregular picture about the area. Method: Usually 100 to 200gram for Pb-Cu-ZnSn and .5 to 2kg for gold. Usually a hand auger is used for taking out samples.

Exotic soil:
Not in situ that is derived from some other

areas to their present position. Transported overburden and sandy is difficult medial for G. Sampling.

Exotic soil
In glaciated regions the overburden rarely reflect the underlying rocks and seepages may be

present provided the overburden is upto 5 meters thick. These are useful in areas where large boulder with gold or sulphide mineralization are found which can be used to trace. Or quartz boulders for gold -quartz veins. Galena boulders for pbzn deposits Basal till can be useful guide and should be sampled as they are usually of local origin.

Exotic soil
Basal drilling by percussion method is

preferred. Heavy machinery is restricted to winter as soil is frozen. Although light weight drill are cheaper and easy to operate but their results are ambiguous because of no differentiation between overburden and bed rock.

In Sandy desert
Water is scarce , most movement is

mechanical and most fine material is wind blown and therefore fine grains of 80 mesh is of no use. Therefore is such areas a.Coarser fraction of 2-6mms and b. Clay fraction reflecting elements moved in solution is used.

5. Gas sampling:
Gases are sampled s they can diffuse through

overburden. A number of gases are used. Hg> Hg deposits, U-Deposits, Sulphide deposits Gaseous decay products of uranium minerals, namely radon and helium, have received considerable attention as geochemical indicators of uranium mineralization. Sulphide deposits, deep seated fractures SO2>for detecting oxidizing sulphide mineralization. Swedish GS Where dogs are used for discovery.

Rock sampling:
It is the most flexible and reliable method

where several sites are available for sampling As it can be done in outcrops, in mines, and in drill cores

Advantages over other methods.

Data obtained form sampling can be directly

used for structure, rock types, mineralization, and alteration. Rock samples are usually not contaminated by extraneous (foreign) material like soil and stream sediment samples. Rock samples can be stored for later on testing with their less chance of chemical change.

certain limitations
Presence of outcrops and sampling sites( not

always available). Scope is narrow, geoch. Variation are generally weak and the effect of inherent rock type is strong. A rock sample only shows the conditions of the site of the sample in contrast to stream sediment sampling reflecting an entire area.

Limitations
Samples are testable only in the labs as these

require crushing unlike soil and stream sediment samples which can be tested in the field by calorimetric methods so that the more obvious anomalies can be followed immediately. More time consuming.

Method of rock sampling

Surface of the rock is cleaned by washing and

scaling and the sample chips are taken in the standardised areas or at standard intervals. .5 to 1 kg is taken for base metals for fine grained rock and 2kg for very coarse-grained rock . 10 kg samples is taken for gold analysis. Analysis by wet or dry method.

Rock

sampling stages. two stages

Applied during regional reconnaissance

sampling like Follow up sampling: once an anomaly has been found during reconnaissance sampling and a possible source is identified, it is necessary to define that source by more detailed sampling, Highlighting areas of elemental enrichment background and anomalous values until a bed rock source i.e. a drilling target confirmed.

Examples
Alteration haloes around PC and Carbonatite

and Black smokers