Heat Flow: The Neglected Potential Field for Mineral Exploration

Abstract

This paper argues that heat flow is a valid ‘potential field method’ for mineral exploration. Certain ore deposits, most notably iron oxide copper gold uranium (IOCG-U) deposits, demonstrably affect the local heat flow and ground temperature conditions. The physics of steady state conductive heat flow is mathematically the same as gravitational acceleration, with buried heat sources analogous to buried masses. Detecting the surface signature of a buried heat source can therefore yield direct evidence of an ore body. The physics is robust, appropriate tools exist for the collection of heat flow data for exploration, and some simple strategies could yield valuable additional information about the subsurface for small marginal cost.