Applying three-dimensional modeling based on trench surveys to chromitite orebodies in the BophiVum area, northwestern M
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Geosciences Journal
GJ
Applying three-dimensional modeling based on trench surveys to chromitite orebodies in the BophiVum area, northwestern Myanmar Il-Hwan Oh1,2, Seok-Jun Yang1*, Chul-Ho Heo1,2, Changwon Lee1, Kwangmin Jin3, Jae-Ho Lee1, Chung-Ryul Ryoo3, Sung-Won Park1, Gyesoon Park2,4, Eui-Jun Kim1, Seong-Jun Cho1, Zaw Linn Aung5, and Saw Jets5 1
Mineral Resources Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Daejeon 34132, Republic of Korea Department of Mineral & Groundwater Resources, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea 3 Geological Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Daejeon 34132, Republic of Korea 4 Convergence Research Center for Development of Mineral Resources, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Daejeon 34132, Republic of Korea 5 Department of Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration (DGSE), Gems Museum, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar 2
ABSTRACT: The BophiVum massif in northwestern Myanmar mainly consists of peridotite, mafic intrusive, and mafic volcanic rocks, oceanic sediments, and chromitites. Small chromitite open pits are randomly distributed in the eastern lowland of the massif. In this study, we interpret the origin of the chromitite and suggest exploration guidelines for hidden orebodies, by understanding their random distribution in three-dimensional (3D) space. This is accomplished by inputting the geological survey data into 3D modeling software. Trench and geological surveys were conducted on the selected ridge (detailed study area) that contains chromitite of a certain thickness and predictable extent to analyze the characteristics of orebody distribution. The general characteristics of the chromitite deposits investigated from the field are: (1) they occur as lenticular pods hosted by dunites, (2) they are located close to the harzburgite-dunite boundary, (3) they are not present in all dunites, and (4) the dominant trend of the dunites and chromitites is WNW or NW-trending. These individual field data were integrated by importing them into 3D modeling software and the resulting model showed the characteristics of chromitite distribution in 3D. The results are: (1) composed of six discontinuous chromitite pods, (2) occurring in a WNW or NW-trending arrangement, (3) located at the WNW or NW-trending lenticular dunite boundary, and (4) maximum depth being 30 m from surface. This study provides useful data for exploration of hidden orebodies in the study area and suggests a new method for integrating field data in 3D space. Key words: three-dimensional modeling, trench and geological survey, podiform chromitite orebodies, BophiVum area, Myanmar Manuscript received February 18, 2020; Manuscript accepted May 25, 2020
1. INTRODUCTION Chromitite is the primary economic source of the metal chromium, which is used in the metallurgical, chemical, and refractory industries (Thayer, 1946; Dickey, 19
