SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF CLAY ALTERATION AND VEGETATION IN THE NORTH SCREAMER AREA, BARRICK GOLDSTRIKE PROPERTY

Barrick Gold Corporation's Goldstrike property, located in northeastern Nevada on the Carlin Trend, is one of the largest gold mineralization sites in the world. Goldstrike's mining operation includes the Betze-Post open pit and the Meikle and Rodeo underground mines. The North Screamer deposit, northwest of the Betze-Post open pit, is located approximately 313 m (1,027 ft) below the surface and will eventually be mined as part of a planned expansion of the Betze-Post open pit.

This work is part of an ongoing property-wide project with the goal of better utilizing remote sensing data in exploration for Carlin-type gold deposits. Specifically, this work focuses on a 63 m (207 ft) transect across the Buzzard Fault along a road-cut in the North Screamer area. The Buzzard Fault extends across the Goldstrike property and is a prominent ore control. If the Buzzard Fault can be mapped using spectroscopy and hyperspectral remote sensing data, this method of analysis may prove useful for finding new gold deposits on the Carlin Trend.

Spectroscopic and geochemical analyses of rock and vegetation samples collected on a transect across the Buzzard Fault have been completed. Spectra for the rock samples were interpreted for unique changes in either clay type or clay composition in proximity to the Buzzard Fault. Spectra for the vegetation were interpreted for distinguishing features to be used for identification of vegetation type. Analyses of the spectra obtained from rock and vegetation samples will be compared to the remote sensing image to identify unique features in rocks and vegetation in proximity to the Buzzard Fault. This method of comparing hand-sample spectra to hyperspectral remote sensing data will be used to locate new gold deposits in northeastern Nevada.