Abstract :
In Precambrian terrains all regional and most localintensive magnetic anomalies areproduced by magnetite. Monoclinic pyrrhotite isresponsible for some local, but oftenintensive, magnetic anomaly patterns. Both magnetiteand pyrrhotite are affected byhydrothermal alteration processes in various ways,resulting in changes either inabundance or in grain fabric. These changes arerecorded in the magnetic properties ofthe altered rock units and reflected in theiraeromagnetic signatures. Hydrothermalalteration in deformed bedrock zones is commonlycontrolled by structural or tectonicfeatures. Regional high-resolution aerogeophysicalsurveys can be utilized, in bothregional and detailed investigations, to map theoverall geological and tectonic settingor to estimate local changes in magnetic mineralogyand the relative abundance ofradionuclides.
Magnetite is most commonly destroyed in alterationprocesses, such as biotitization,carbonation, sulfidization and silicification. Theprogressive destruction of magnetitebegins at grain margins and results first in broken and cracked grain texture and smallergrain size, then progresses to total disappearanceof magnetite. Alteration in magnetite-bearing rock units may be recognized by decreasedmagnetic intensity and by thebroken, disrupted magnetic pattern. The abundance ofmonoclinic pyrrhotite isenhanced by reducing hydrothermal fluids, and typicalcrystal anisotropy is developeddue to tectonic stress.
The relative contents of radioelements are changedin the same hydrothermal processesand partly for the same reasons as the ferrimagneticminerals. Potassic alteration oftenresults in elevated K radiation particularly formafic rocks, and then anomalous K/Thratios along local shear or fracture zones may beindicative of gold-bearingmineralization. On the other hand, high U/Th ratioswithin metasedimentary units maypoint out prospects for sulphidization. Althoughvariation of U/Th ratios largely reflectsthe environmental conditions during primarydiagenesis or a later deformational phase,mainly the decrease in Th radiation close tosulphide mineralization seems to beresponsible for the elevated U/Th ratios.
