ABSTRACT: A Comparison of Spatial Thematic Map Approaches Used for Mineral Resource Exploration and Evaluation

MERRIAM, D. F., Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, and U. C. HERZFELD, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA

Recently, automated approaches to map comparison and integration have been developed to aid in mineral-resource exploration and evaluation. These approaches serve to assist the explorationist in locating and outlining areas of interest for mineral exploration and in interpreting the geological setting and history of those areas. The algebraic map comparison method uses a distance measure to combine several sets of standardized gridded data (typically maps). The method can be used in resource assessment employing weights that are either determined by the user according to geological knowledge or determined numerically by an optimization routine. In the binary comparison method, a set of maps (gridded) showing presence or absence of a property is combined by logical "and," "or," or "not operators. The Bayesian method uses the probability distribution predetermined by the user of presence of properties favoring exploration. All of the approaches are versatile enough to accommodate geological, geophysical, geochemical, and topographical data. The approaches have their merits and problems; all require subjective decisions prior to and after the analyses.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91012©1992 AAPG Annual Meeting, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 22-25, 1992 (2009)