Airborne EM surveys over the Barrow Creek Prospect, NT

Abstract

Three time-domain airborne EM surveys were recently flown over a known mineral deposit at Barrow Creek, NT. The Ni/Cu/Ag deposit is located in an area characterised by variable conductive overburden and is considered a difficult exploration target. Data from the three airborne systems and a moving loop ground EM survey were processed and analysed to compare the relative abilities of the systems to locate the target. It was found that the fixed-wing systems (TEMPEST and GEOTEM) produced clear responses to the known mineralisation that were consistent with the model developed from the ground EM responses. The EM responses measured with the helicopter system (HoistEM) did not indicate the target.