Interpretation of the magnetic anomalies of the western mines of Sangan Ironstone using geology and borehole data

Sangan iron deposit is a magnetite iron skarn. Magnetometry is the most common method for the exploration of such kinds of deposits based on the magnetic properties of these minerals. This method specifies the depth, dip, shape, and strike of the sources causing the anomaly. Many explorations of this ilk have been done of which giant Gol e Gohar in Iran is an example. Based on geology and following magnetometry, a massive iron deposit was predicted during Sangan iron exploration, where 558 boreholes in 50×50 m net were designed and drilled in the west ore body, revealing very useful subsurface information. Intrusive bodies are mainly granitic and oxidant types which, because of the presence of fine grain and disseminated magnetite, have higher magnetic susceptibility (K) in comparison to other granites. These bodies are considered as source rocks for the creation of gigantic Sangan mines. Multiphase ground magnetic survey points (19376) with different specifications were equalized and interpreted in this study. The causative sources of most magnetic anomalies in the rotation to the pole (RTP) map were magnetite mineralization, confirmed by the drilling data. In this research, filters of first vertical gradient and upward continuation were used to guide drilling owing to the presence of the remnant magnetism in the magnetite skarn and the unavailability of such measurements that are necessary for specifying the accurate depth of the magnetic anomaly sources. The information pertaining to vertical gradient and upward continued maps correlated well with the depth obtained from drilling and 3D block modelling. The amount of ore reserve and its depth increased from the western anomaly (A') to the central anomaly (C) and had a dip direction to the east. Such change in the depth of mineralization correlated with upward continued responses which represent the central magnetic anomaly (C) as the deepest anomaly in Sangan iron ore deposit. Magnetic responses of the Upward continuation to 1000 m of this magnetic anomaly can be related to either the high depth of the mineralization (620 m drilled so far) or the deeper intrusive body which needed deeper drilling (more than 1000 m) for confirmation.