BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 28
By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:
Kazakhstan is using practically all modern technologies of geological exploration known in the world, Qazqeology Chairman of the Board Anvar Boranbayev told Trend.
Boranbayev said that mineral deposits exploration is a costly, long-term and high-risk investment process, and the more different methods of exploration are used, the more accurate the result is.
“Currently, Kazakhstan’s geological exploration is carried out according to the ‘space-air-ground’ scheme (satellite geological prospecting-airborne geophysical exploration-ground exploration),” Boranbayev said.
He explained that various methods of remote sensing of the Earth are used at the first stage when this method is applied, airborne (helicopter) aerogeophysical surveys are carried out at the second stage, and ground-based survey is carried out at the third.
“Spare remote Earth sensing methods allow covering large areas, including areas that are difficult to access by traditional methods. The essence of remote sensing in geological prospecting is the reception of data from satellites, their processing and geological interpretation. Remote sensing significantly reduces the cost of looking for minerals and natural resources both in the terms of finances and time,” Boranbayev said.
Kazakhstan introduced its own space remote sensing system in 2015, which has been operating as part of KazEOSat-1 and KazEOSat-2 satellites (medium and high spatial resolution), as well as a ground-based remote sensing system segment. The project was implemented jointly with the leading European Airbus Defense and Space company.
“Decryption of the received remote sensing system data with its subsequent geological interpretation is carried out by various methods depending on the initial information of space images, which are basically registered electromagnetic radiation with different wavelengths,” Boranbayev said.
In turn, a ZTEM system (Z-Axis Tipper Electromagnetic), developed by Qazqeology’s partner – Canada’s Geotech Ltd. is used to conduct airborne geophysical studies.
“The ZTEM system is intended for prospecting for mineral deposits to a depth of more than 2.5 kilometers, which opens up significant opportunities for exploring many types of deposits, which in turn is confirmed by numerous examples of discovering new, previously unknown deposits around the world and in Kazakhstan,” Boranbayev said.
Boranbayev also noted that magnetometric surveying using unmanned aerial vehicles is also actively used, gravimetric exploration, electrical exploration, seismic exploration is used for ground exploration, whereas hydro-magnetic survey is used for offshore exploration.
“To process the obtained data and build three-dimensional geological models of deposits, both local and foreign software products are used,” Boranbayev said.
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