Dear Mr. Ngozi-Chika,

trace elements are vital in exploration because of their genetic implications on the expected target mineralization. I express, however, a stark warning against a simple numerical correlation which might end up in a so-called "nonsense correlation". My general approach is a combination of mineralogy and chemistry, or in other words, a combination of heavy mineral analysis and an analysis of the chemical composition of stream sediments. It broadens your basis of information and prevents you from ending up in a numerical dead-end street.

With kind regards

H.G.Dill

I agree with Mr. Dill. Trace element ratios can also play a vital role in targeting host rocks for mineralised volumes.

Trace element is a valuable geological tool in mineral exploration and is widely used technique.

The sample can be rock/ soil/ stream sediment/ water or even plants.

in the zones around mineralization, both the primary and secondary halo, the trace elemental distribution patterns are unique for certain metals

For example selenium used in sandstone type Uranium deposits, Arsenic is used for gold ....

It is important to know the target metal and its path finder element before collecting the sample as the nature of both these define the distribution pattern and the nature of sample to be collected.

Trace elements are very important tool in mineral exploration. Many a time it acts as pathfinder element for mineral deposit e.g. Mo, Se are pathfinder for U deposits.

Trace elements are also useful for petrogenesis studies, however, it should be used with caution in an integrated study clubbed with mineralogy, field relationship and chemistry.

Stream sediments analyses are important in provenance studies.  Besides, heavy minerals get concentrated along the meanders, which can be of economic importance, especially in case of Yttrium deposits.  Hence, petro-mineralogy and geochemistry of heavy minerals separated from stream sediments should be clubbed together to decipher meaningful inferences about mineralisation and provenance.

Analysis mineralogy and chemistry of  sediments its very important.

Best Regards.

If you can find direct or inverse correlations between several elements you can estimate missing values, decrease the error of grade estimate  or even characterize statistically  lithologic types.

Co-kriging, determinant analysis and cluster analysis for use in geochemistry depend on the availability of a greater number of variables. These tools can be very efficient in mineral exploration projects.

An example: in gold projects Au As may not be the most important relation. It's possible that a lito type (cluster) with low As is the chemical signature of main gold orebody. A statistical analysis is very useful for exploration purposes.

In addition to the above I would add (from my experience) the importance of Li as an indicator of pegmatites and tin mineralization, cadmium as an indicator of Zn mineralization and both As and F as an indicator of U mineralization.