Advancing Statistics and Soils Techniques in Northern Nevada
The story of Mobile Metal Ionization and the Marigold Mine

Tyson J. Forbush
University of Alaska Fairbanks

Mobile Metal Ionization (MMI) is a non-conventional geo-chemical method that targets soils in the exploration for both precious and base metals. When other geo-chemical techniques proved in-effective at Goldcorp’s Marigold mine in northern Nevada, an extensive MMI survey was conducted over multiple terrains. Samples were collected over known deposits to serve as standards, while others tested “open” or previously unexplored regions. A particular challenge to the area is its variable alluvial thickness. This variability in a recent study was observed to effect the concentrations of metal ions in soil samples, making the survey unusable. Discussed is a new geo-statistical algorithm developed to correct for variations in overburden. It is presented along with historic drill data and results from a recent drill program targeting anomalies which it identified.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90181©2013 AAPG/SEG Rocky Mountain Rendezvous, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, September 27-30, 2013