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3D Inversion of Gravity and Aeromagnetic Data over the Western North Singhbhum Mobile Belt, Eastern Indian Shield, for Delineating Prospective Sulfide (Au) Mineralization Zones

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Abstract

The North Singhbhum Mobile Belt is an important metallogenic province in the Eastern Indian shield, and it hosts significant reserves of gold, uranium, and copper deposits. In this study, petrophysical, Bouguer anomaly, and aeromagnetic data were employed to delineate new prospective zones for sulfide (Au) mineralization. The bi-dimensional ensemble empirical mode decomposition (BEEMD) was applied to decompose gravity and aeromagnetic data into four intrinsic mode functions (BIMFG1 to BIMFG4 for gravity data; BIMFM1 to BIMFM4 for magnetic data). The BIMFG1 and BIMFM1 components only identified near-surface random noise or outcropping rocks, while the BIMFG4 and BIMFM4 represented signatures of deep-seated source bodies. In contrast, BIMFG2 to BIMFG3 and BIMFM2 to BIMFM3 components revealed higher-order shear zones (i.e., Babaikundi–Birgaon and Lungtu–Parasi lineaments) and show a high correlation with existing sulfide (Au) mineral deposits. Several discrete high gravity (up to 2 to 8 mGal) and high magnetic anomalies (up to 400 nT) were also noticed running parallel to the Babaikundi–Birgaon and Lungtu–Parasi lineaments. The 3D gravity and magnetic inversion results reveal moderate-low density/low-susceptibility and high-moderate density/low-susceptibility zones correlating with known sulfide (Au) mineralization locations. In addition, various new similar anomalous zones identified below the phyllite and quartz–mica schist of the Chandil Formation need to be explored for possible gold mineralization. Furthermore, its close association with Babaikundi–Birgaon and Lungtu–Parasi higher-order shear zones suggests that mineralization in this area might be structurally controlled.

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Acknowledgments

Santosh Kumar and Arasada gratefully acknowledge DST-SERB and DST-INSPIRE for the research fellowship to carry out this work. GSR gratefully acknowledges the Department of Science & Technology and Science & Engineering Research Board, Govt. of India (ECR/2016/001860 & DST/INSPIRE/04/2015/003215), for the financial support.

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  1. Department of Applied Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 826004, India

    Santosh Kumar, Rama Chandrudu Arasada & G. Srinivasa Rao

  2. Department of Applied Geology, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 826004, India

    Sahendra Singh

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  1. Santosh Kumar
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Correspondence to G. Srinivasa Rao.

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Kumar, S., Arasada, R.C., Rao, G.S. et al. 3D Inversion of Gravity and Aeromagnetic Data over the Western North Singhbhum Mobile Belt, Eastern Indian Shield, for Delineating Prospective Sulfide (Au) Mineralization Zones. Nat Resour Res 32, 1917–1940 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-023-10241-0

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