Stream Sediments of the Pestrinsk Silver-Bearing System (Northeastern Russia)

Abstract

The composition, structure, and formation features of the exogenous anomalous geochemical fields (AGCFs) identified through stream sediments (SSs) are considered here within the Pestrinsk silver-bearing system and the Goltsovy silver-polymetallic deposit. The research was performed in the southern part of the Balygychan-Sugoy trough (northeastern Russia). The exogenous AGCFs of the main indicator elements of ores, formed in cryolithogenesis zone conditions, were studied. We used the results of multi-scale areal geochemical surveys of SSs. A survey of SSs at 1:200,000 scale was found to be effective at the stage of regional forecasting. Indeed, it is characterized by simplicity and the possibility of obtaining information operatively regarding the metallogeny of the area. It was found that at the local forecast stage, when prospecting for mineralization, the most effective was a survey of SSs at 1:50,000 scale. The AGCFs identified during this survey were distinguished by a richer component composition, higher contrast, and closer relationship with ores. During the lithochemical sampling of the watercourse heads, where alluvial sediments were found to be almost completely absent, a positive result was obtained by the bryolithochemical method, which is based on moss sampling together with a fine fraction of alluvium held by a moss cushion. The method enabled the sampling of watercourse heads and thus yielded information about the presence or absence of anomalous concentration fields of ore elements.