Geophysical exploration for buried river channels in the Gulgong Goldfields N.S.W.

Abstract

A detailed magnetic and gravity survey was done on portion of the Gulgong Goldfields, New South Wales. The geophysical survey was undertaken to study the geology in an area blanketed by a thick alluvial cover and in particular to investigate a buried, Tertiary river system. This system is known to be present and was once the object of active gold mining operation. The magnetic survey revealed a complex anomaly pattern containing both normal and reversed anomalies. These features were difficult to interpret due to the paucity of geological information and did not appear to be related to the channel structures. The gravity survey was successful in distinguishing the generally broad bedrock depressions associated with the gold-bearing channels. Owing to the presence of a complex regional feature, qualitative interpretation was simplified by applying a number of second derivative operators to the gravity data. Quantitative interpretation wer known ground suggested that lateral density variations within the bedrock or alluvium did not significantly contribute to the measured anomalies and that a density contrast of 0.5 gm/cc exiats between the bedrock and alluvium.