--> ABSTRACT: A Statistical Model of Mineral Wealth in West-Central Montana, by Lynn R. Dickman; #91040 (2010)

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A Statistical Model of Mineral Wealth in West-Central Montana

Lynn R. Dickman

Approximately 338 mi2 of plutonic terrane in west-central Montana were used as a base in the construction of a multivariate statistical model for assessing mineral wealth. The research was to correlate quantitatively measurements on mineral wealth with geologic variables for 109 subdivisions (cells) in the study area. The geologic variables were measured as counts, e.g., number of dikes and fault intersections, percentages of rock types, and lengths of rock contacts and faults, taken from geologic maps. Mineral wealth classes were assigned to each cell as indicated by the class' cumulative production. Multiple discriminant analysis and classification were used to generate the probability of a cell belonging to each value group as a function of the geologic vari bles. Those cells reclassified by the model into a higher value group than that originally assigned would warrant further exploration. In addition, the model has the potential for extrapolation into unexplored areas where exploration decisions are based on the probability of a cell belonging to a particular class of mineral wealth.

The results of the study appear reasonable both geologically and statistically, thereby suggesting the high potential of this type of quantitative geologic analysis as a regional exploration and/or assessment tool.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91040©1987 AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, Boise, Idaho, September 13-16, 1987.