Airborne geophysical surveying of mafic-ultramafic bodies: a study case from Jacurici complex /Bahia

Abstract

The igneous bodies of the Jacurici Valley host the largest deposit of chrome in Brazil. This deposit is characterized by the presence of a massive ore ocurring in several bodies, segments of a possible single intrusive complex. The present work analyses the characteristics of these bodies through remote sensing techniques and aerogeophysical surveys, describing the geophysical and relief responses of economic targets. The study area presents magnetic anomalies when using 1st derivative filters and tilt derivative of the total magnetic field, whereas eU / K and eTh / K ratios define the best delimitations of igneous bodies using the gamma-spectrometric method. The information presented serves as a prospective parameter in the discovery of new lateral bodies in order to provide a guide for the discovery and analysis of similar deposits by Brazil.