Research focusing on the application of exploration geochemistry to detect mineral deposits through transported overburden is part of the Exploration Geochemistry Initiative at the Mineral Deposit Research Unit (MDRU).
Goals of the research include developing sampling techniques that will proximally and directly detect the presence of a kimberlite concealed under till and bedrock in the subarctic environments of Canada. This work focuses on constraining factors controlling surface geochemical anomaly generation and how they are a function of landscape evolution and geology.
An additional aspect of the research is to identify and quantify alteration surrounding kimberlites associated with their emplacement mechanisms. This data will be used to generate mineralogical and geochemical vectors beneficial in near-miss situations when exploration drilling and defining diatreme geometries.
