Passive airborne EM and Ground IP\Resistivity results over the Romero intermediate sulphidation epithermal gold deposits, Dominican Republic

Abstract

The Romero gold copper zinc silver deposits are located in the Province of San Juan, Dominican Republic, approximately 165 km west-northwest of Santo Domingo. Romero and Romero South orebodies contain stratabound gold mineralization with copper, silver and zinc of intermediate sulphidation epithermal style. The gold mineralization is associated with disseminated to semi-massive sulphides, sulphide veinlets and quartz-sulphides within quartz-pyrite, quartz-illite-pyrite and illite-chlorite-pyrite alteration. Ground DC resistivity and induced polarization (DCIP) supported by ground magnetics remain the main targeting tools for drill follow-up along with geologic mapping and geochemistry. However ZTEM passive airborne electromagnetics have recently also been applied with success for reconnaissance mapping of deep alteration and increased porosity regionally. Our case-study compares ground DCIP and airborne EM-magnetic geophysical responses, supported by 3D inversions, over the known Romero and Romero South Au-Cu-Zn-Ag intermediate sulphidation deposit area.