Search for a command to run...
Abstract Aeromagnetic, ground magnetic, and gravity data, together with all available drillhole data and physical property measurements, were used to map the Precambrian geology of an area in Minnesota that is virtually devoid of outcrop. The work was done for purposes of land use planning and to encourage minerals exploration and mostly consisted of the analysis of profiles of aeromagnetic data to map magnetic/ lithologic contacts, to infer structure, and to determine thickness of overburden cover.Two greenstone belts were resolved. They comprise higher density rocks separated by nonmagnetic metasedimentary intervals. The belts are deformed into synclinal structures that, according to modeling, range from 1 km to as much as 5 km in depth. Lithologic predictions were confirmed in five out of six holes drilled on completion of the magnetic interpretation.In over 40% of the area, Precambrian rocks are apparently mantled by less than 50 m of overburden, and in 50% of the area there is between 50 and 100 m of overburden cover. In the remaining 10%, the magnetic basement is overlain by a thick blanket of nonmagnetic Precambrian sedimentary rocks, over 200 m thick. Basement depth determinations were subsequently tested at six holes. Depth determinations at all drill sites were found to lie within the 20% error expectation of the method of depth determination.Thirty-seven sites were resolved from the aeromagnetic data as targets for basemetal sulfide (copper, zinc) as well as precious metal (gold) mineralization. Thirteen magnetic anomalies were identified as possible kimberlite pipes.