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  • Vol 6: 02 Ireland Zinc Case Study

Mapping Zn and Pb Mineralization in Ballinalack, Ireland

Project aims

The project aims to raise Adrok’s technology level for identify mineral zones in onshore Ireland. The project partly involves re-processing data from a previous visit in 2010 with a brand new survey, the data of which was collected in April 2018.

Exploration/Project challenges

The main challenge was identifying the basement, the mineral zones within the limestones and identifying evidence for faulting.

Geological context

The survey area is located in the Central Ireland Basin. There are a series of north-east trending fault structures which sometimes displaces some of the sedimentary units.

Figure 1: Geological location
Figure 1: Geological location

Figure 2: Survey equipment in the field
Figure 2: Survey equipment in the field

Figure 3: Geological map of the area showing the northeastern trending faults
Figure 3: Geological map of the area showing the northeastern trending faults

Adrok’s results

Adrok collected eight sites during the 2018 survey. Data processing extracted the energy and frequency data from the raw files. By noting patterns in the energy and frequency data and comparing these with logs provided by G11 resources. A further five sites were re-processed from the 2010 study.

Figure 4a: Lithological interpretation from all 8 sites
Figure 4a: Lithological interpretation from all 8 sites

Figure 4b: Lithological interpretation from all 8 sites
Figure 4b: Lithological interpretation from all 8 sites

Mineralogical data was also provided by G11 resources. Adrok was also able to estimate the mineral percentage in the key lithology units.

Figure 5: Lithological interpretation from all 8 sites
Figure 5: Lithological interpretation from all 8 sites

The processing methods were also applied to the data collected in 2010. Four of the sites were different to those collected in 2018.

Figure 6a: Lithological interpretation from five sites
Figure 6a: Lithological interpretation from five sites

Figure 6b: Lithological interpretation from five sites
Figure 6b: Lithological interpretation from five sites

The data was then combined into a 3D grid and where possible and interpolation produced across each of the sites. This to some extent was useful for identifying where potential faults might be

Figure 7: Mineralogical zone for site TC1344036 clearing showing evidence for mineralization within the limestones
Figure 7: Mineralogical zone for site TC1344036 clearing showing evidence for mineralization within the limestones

Figure 8: Full grid showing lithological interpretations at all the locations from both surveys
Figure 8: Full grid showing lithological interpretations at all the locations from both surveys

The results were then compared with previous models provided by G11.

Figure 9: Full grid showing lithological interpretations at all the locations from both surveys
Figure 9: Full grid showing lithological interpretations at all the locations from both surveys

Benefits for client

The main benefits to the client were the quick turnaround of results to the client, the low impact on the environment of the surveying and the identification of key lithological units including those where zinc and lead might be found.

DELINEATING FAULTS AND LITHOLOGICAL BOUNDARIES USING REFLECTED ENERGY

PROJECT RESULTS REVIEW FOR SULFIDE DELINEATION AT BALLINALACK, IRELAND

SEDIMENTARY-HOSTED LEAD-ZINC TARGETING IN THE CENTRAL IRISH BASIN, IRELAND​​

Contact

Call +44(0)131 555 6662 | revolution@adrokgroup.com

Mitchell House, 5 Mitchell Street, Edinburgh, EH6 7BD, Scotland, U.K.

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