INTERPRETATION METHODOLOGY
System-Based Geological Interpretation
Traditional exploration workflows often begin with individual anomalies. Our interpretation begins with a broader question.
Is there a connected geological system capable of explaining the observed spatial relationships?
The anomaly is then considered within that system.
3.1
Regional Scan
The entire available project area is reviewed before detailed target selection.
The purpose is to establish the broader spatial context and avoid selecting isolated features without understanding their relationship to surrounding structures.
Where appropriate, interpretation is extended beyond the immediate contract depth to examine deeper continuity.
3.3
Structural Verification
Once a potentially connected system has been identified, available structural information is used to examine its consistency.
Surface fault and fracture information may be used as a check of an already identified system.
The purpose is not to construct a target from a convenient intersection of lines. The purpose is to determine whether the interpreted system has structural support.
3.2
Connectivity Analysis
Connectivity is a central criterion of the interpretation. Individual features are examined for relationships such as:
Continuation
Branching
Convergence
Intersection
Radial organisation
Ring structures
Nodes
Channels
Changes with depth
A connected structure may provide a stronger geological context than an isolated anomaly.
Connectivity does not prove mineralisation. It provides a basis for deciding which parts of the dataset warrant closer investigation.
3.4
Depth Interpretation
Surface expression alone may not adequately represent the geometry of a geological system. Rockline therefore considers the interpreted system in three dimensions. Changes in geometry with depth may reveal:
Continuation
Branching
Convergence
Termination
Expansion
Narrowing
Displacement
Relationships between deeper and shallower structures
Depth interpretation is an interpretation of available data. It is not a substitute for direct geological observation.
3.5
Target Selection
Targets are selected from the interpreted system. The selection process considers the combination of:
Connectivity
Structural position
Spatial geometry
Depth continuity
Anomaly characteristics
Consistency of the interpreted system
An isolated high-value anomaly without system connectivity is not automatically treated as a target.
3.6
3D System Representation
The interpreted system is represented spatially using sections and three-dimensional models. This allows the client to review the interpretation from different directions and examine the relationship between:
01 — Surface
02 — Structure
03 — Depth
04 — Connected system
05 — Target area
The model is an interpretation tool. It should not be confused with a resource model or a geological reserve estimate.
3.7
Validation
Interpretation is followed by independent validation. Depending on the project, this may include:
Geological mapping
Geochemistry
Geophysical investigation
Trenching
Shallow drilling
Deeper drilling
Laboratory analysis
Density determination
Mineralogical investigation
The appropriate validation programme is determined by the client and its geological advisers.
Rockline can recommend locations and geometry for validation based on the interpreted system.