We offer a top-notch field structural mapping and analysis service based on a CONCEPT OF STRUCTURAL PARAGENESES
in heterogeneous geological media. This Concept incorporates ALL the mainstream modern knowledge and techniques of special mapping.
But here’s where our approach is unique: it is based on the following two fundamental postulates about how rock deformation occurs:
1st postulate:
The rocks we study, whether in the field or in the drill-core, may (as often do) undergo more than one deformational event. As the result, we observe a complex display of several structural ensembles superimposed onto each other and formed under different P-T-fluid regimes. Paragenetic approach allows us to decipher deformation history as simple as possible, yet not missing even a single relevant detail.
2nd postulate:
The development of some structures occurs with material volume loss (V-): such structures as disjunctive cleavage, stillolites, other pressure solution or metasomatic structures.
Others fill out emerging dilation zones where volume increases (V+): mineral veins, pressure shadows and mineral fringes, stockworks etc.
Both groups in the isolated system must be in equlibrium (some approximation, of course, allowed for the real rock). Therefore, recognizing - in the field and in the drillcore - and thoroughly mapping (V-) and (V+) deformation structures we can approximately evaluate the general volume balance for the domain under the study.
It is a very unlikely case that the reseacher finds the exact boundaries of the closed system while conducting exploration.
But what one can do is to estimate the volumetric effects which the object of the study underwent.
For example, one can establish that the loss of volume was significant/noticable for particular sections (or all) of the drillcore. Penetrative closely spaced cleavage dominance in the drillcore (or in the rock domain on the ground) gives an example of the (V-)-structures. Then, concentration of the immobile elements in the core can be expected to occur, as well as core's depletion of the mobile components. Such intervals may be less favorable for the epithermal gold accumulation.
Vice versa, the domains with prevalence of (V+)-structures, say quartz-calcite vein stockworks synchronous with the mineralization, may turn to be more prospective for gold finding*.
* The reader should understand oversimplified nature of the 2nf postulate description. Solubility, mobility and saturation (mineralization cycle) thresholds for different elements are a function of several factors. Therefore, one can find no mineralization in the V+ domains if the deformation and moneralization events are separated in time.
Implementations of our paragenetic concept to structural analysis provide with deeper, more comprehensive understanding of rock deformation and mineralization history in the core and/or in the field domain. This approach allows to spatially outline the main volume change areas (and vectors) and spatially forecast the most prospective mieralized volumes of rocks.
To help with and deepen structural analysis we also designed original technique and invented a tool for structural analysis in the drillcore and in the field:
in heterogeneous geological media. This Concept incorporates ALL the mainstream modern knowledge and techniques of special mapping.
But here’s where our approach is unique: it is based on the following two fundamental postulates about how rock deformation occurs:
1st postulate:
- Plastic deformation of rock is carried out by the formation and the development of more than one deformation structures simultaneously.
The rocks we study, whether in the field or in the drill-core, may (as often do) undergo more than one deformational event. As the result, we observe a complex display of several structural ensembles superimposed onto each other and formed under different P-T-fluid regimes. Paragenetic approach allows us to decipher deformation history as simple as possible, yet not missing even a single relevant detail.
2nd postulate:
- Necessity of material balance (conservation of volume) during rocks deformation in isolated geological system.
The development of some structures occurs with material volume loss (V-): such structures as disjunctive cleavage, stillolites, other pressure solution or metasomatic structures.
Others fill out emerging dilation zones where volume increases (V+): mineral veins, pressure shadows and mineral fringes, stockworks etc.
Both groups in the isolated system must be in equlibrium (some approximation, of course, allowed for the real rock). Therefore, recognizing - in the field and in the drillcore - and thoroughly mapping (V-) and (V+) deformation structures we can approximately evaluate the general volume balance for the domain under the study.
It is a very unlikely case that the reseacher finds the exact boundaries of the closed system while conducting exploration.
But what one can do is to estimate the volumetric effects which the object of the study underwent.
For example, one can establish that the loss of volume was significant/noticable for particular sections (or all) of the drillcore. Penetrative closely spaced cleavage dominance in the drillcore (or in the rock domain on the ground) gives an example of the (V-)-structures. Then, concentration of the immobile elements in the core can be expected to occur, as well as core's depletion of the mobile components. Such intervals may be less favorable for the epithermal gold accumulation.
Vice versa, the domains with prevalence of (V+)-structures, say quartz-calcite vein stockworks synchronous with the mineralization, may turn to be more prospective for gold finding*.
* The reader should understand oversimplified nature of the 2nf postulate description. Solubility, mobility and saturation (mineralization cycle) thresholds for different elements are a function of several factors. Therefore, one can find no mineralization in the V+ domains if the deformation and moneralization events are separated in time.
Implementations of our paragenetic concept to structural analysis provide with deeper, more comprehensive understanding of rock deformation and mineralization history in the core and/or in the field domain. This approach allows to spatially outline the main volume change areas (and vectors) and spatially forecast the most prospective mieralized volumes of rocks.
To help with and deepen structural analysis we also designed original technique and invented a tool for structural analysis in the drillcore and in the field:
- Structural measurements in oriented drill-core using core photographs - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/structural-measurements-oriented-core-photographs-easy-vadim-galkine/
- Compass/smartphone/tablet tool for additional and fast structural measurements in the field and oriented core - www.linkedin.com/pulse/using-compasssmartphone-laser-attachment-structural-geology-galkine/
- Stress-facies analyses using quartz structures in thin sections https://www.academia.edu/117195704/V_A_Galkine_ROCK_STRESS_FACIES_CLASSIFICATION_BASED_ON_QUARTZ_DEFORMATION_MECHANISMS