The application of TEM to Cyprus‐type massive sulfide exploration in Cyprus

Abstract

Cyprus‐type massive sulfide mineral deposits are difficult geophysical targets with small physical parameter contrasts between the silicically altered mineralization and the altered conductive pillow lavas in which they occur. During the period 1988–1991 two research projects studied the application of the transient electromagnetic (TEM) sounding method to exploration for such deposits. Initially, we tested the method over three mapped mineral deposits at Klirou, Philani, and Strongyli using SIROTEM MkI and IISE instruments. Surveys using both coincident‐ and central‐loop configurations failed to detect the mineralization at all three sites. Conductive anomalies seen beneath two of the deposits might be related to groundwater contamination by the mineral ions and may represent an exploration target. Based on this work, we implemented a new exploration strategy using TEM for structural mapping to identify possible mineral bearing structures. Initial results from the Mathiatis‐Sha Prospect resolved some interesting structures across the area.