The eastern branch of the late Proterozoic Damara Orogenic Belt of central Namibia hosts various copper, gold, manganese and uranium deposits, but in the vicinity of Steinhausen, approximately 145 km northeast of Windhoek, the Damara Belt becomes increasingly covered by recent Kalahari cover sediments resulting in little known geology and subsequent lack of discovered economic mineral deposits. Airborne magnetic and radiometric data over the Steinhausen Study Area was enhanced through image processing and filtering to accentuate characteristics of subsurface geology that, by comparing these characteristics to known geology, aided in the interpretive mapping of lithology, structure and targets for follow-up exploration. As a result, some important observations regarding the regional lithology can be drawn. An arenaceous stratigraphic unit that includes a coarse grained, glassy quartzite below the Kuiseb Formation equates to either the eastern Damaran equivalent of the Nosib Group subjected to high grade metamorphism or, alternatively, the upper part of the pre-Damaran sequence, immediately underlying the Damara. The Kuiseb Formation within the study area is uncharacteristically varied as compared to the same formation further west along the Damaran Orogen and can be subdivided into 5 separate units based on geophysical signature. Structural features evident within the study area include the prominent Kudu and Okahandja Lineaments and straddle an area of inferred uplifted stratigraphy of possibly pre-Damara age. The Ekuja Dome (Kibaran age and host to the Omitiomire copper deposit) is also clearly discernible on the airborne magnetic data and is cross-cut by an east-northeast structural zone. Direct targets for follow-up exploration include the Rodenbeck intrusion, anomalous magnetic bodies and numerous radiometric anomalies present within the study area. Identified dome-like features are considered prospective for Omitiomire-style deposits and the Okatjuru Layered Complex is considered a possible source of copper, chromite, magnetite, ilmenite, nickel and the platinum group elements.

The thesis is inspired by recent interests in oxide zinc ores caused by new developments in the technology of hydrometallurgy. The improved techniques turned the non-sulphide zinc ores in to attractive exploration targets due to a number of advantages such as low metal recovery costs and favorable environmental aspects such as the obvious absence of sulfur (Large, 2001). Historically extraction of zinc metal from oxide ores was not possible until recently. The metallurgical complexity resulted in a lack of interest and hence some economic oxide zinc ores might have been missed by conventional exploration techniques. The study presents a review of exploration status at Skorpion mine based on different exploration techniques and their application to sulphide and oxide zinc ore exploration. The challenge facing the mineral exploration industry today is the inability to detect mineral deposits under cover. Therefore a key to successful exploration program lies in the selection of the right exploration technique. Important parameters that should be highlighted in the exploration methodology are the geological situation of an area, equipment applicability and effectiveness, survey limitation, equipment mobilization and the safety aspects involved. The aim of this thesis is to provide a general guideline for sulphide and non-sulphide zinc ore exploration on the Skorpion area and other similar geological environments. Geochemical surveys appears to be more complimentary in exploration of non-sulphide zinc exploration. Although geochemical techniques are preferred, it is equally important to choose the right soil horizon. Furthermore, sample media may mean the difference between success and failure in geochemical exploration of non-sulphide zinc mineralization, due to high mobility of zinc in the surficial environment. On cost comparison, surface geochemical surveys programs are more cost effective except for litho-geochemical sampling which are commonly carried out through subsurface drilling. Geophysical techniques have limited application in exploration of non-sulphide zinc mineralization due to a lack of major physical properties (e.g., magnetic and electrical properties) in non-sulphides unlike their sulphide counterparts. However geophysical methods are commendable in delineating massive and disseminated sulphides mainly if they are associated with major Fe minerals (pyrrhotite or magnetite). In addition, geophysical techniques may be effective in mapping of subsurface primary and secondary structures such as basin faults which might have acted as pathways for metal-rich fluids. Terms non-sulphide and oxide zinc mineralization are used interchangeably throughout the thesis. Recommendations on regional and local target generation are presented in the thesis to give some basic guide lines on target generation strategies. The most important conclusion reached in this study is that, success in exploration for non-sulphide or sulphide zinc mineralization might be enhanced through the integrated exploration methodology.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The availability of multispectral data from the satellite-borne ASTER (Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission Reflection Radiometer) sensor with 14 spectral bands, launched on 18 December 1999, ushers in a new dimension in large-scale mineral exploration. The ASTER bands are strategically positioned to map distinctive absorptive features for mapping alteration mineralogy, which has increased the potential to map hydrothermal alteration zones as compared to the conventional Landsat TM satellite and aerial photographs. This research tests the ability of ASTER to map hydrothermal alteration zones by applying various image enhancement techniques and comparing them. The study area is the Haib copper prospect in Namibia. The Crosta technique, standard colour composites, spectral band ratioing, the software defoliant technique, log residuals and spectral linear unmixing were applied and compared against results from the previous detailed geophysical and geochemical exploration. The results from all the techniques corresponded with published geological maps from previous work and indicated ASTER's ability to detect alteration zonations. Comparison of the methods applied showed that choice of technique is usually dependent of the level of detail which one seeks to achieve. Standard colour composite and log residuals are more useful for a generalized overview of the alteration mineralogy, whilst uniquely defining mineral end members is achieved by application of the Crosta technique, ratioing and spectral linear unmixing. Application of the software defoliant techniques involved ratioing results, which are affected by spectral interferences from other minerals. The presence of a highly fractured system has been established by application of Sobel filtering. A spatial association of the extracted fracture system with alteration areas suggest mineralization at the Haib is fracture controlled. The results support the presence of argillicphyllic and prophylitic alteration zones on a regional scale, a scenario which can be equated to the Lowell-Guilbert model. The potassic-phyllic zone boundary could not be spectrally detected which also supports previous studies which suggest the potassic zone is nondefinitive and is over-printed by the phyllic zone. The results demonstrate that ASTER is an effective tool to map hydrothermal alteration systems in arid areas. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Multispektrale data van die ASTER (' Advanced Space Borne Thermal Emmission Reflection Radiometer') sensors bestaande uit 14 spektrale bande, afkomstig van 'n satelliet gelanseer op 18 Desember 1999 lui 'n nuwe era in vir grootskaalse minerale eksplorasie. Die ASTER bande is strategies sodanig op die spektrum geposisioneer om onderskeidende absorberende verskynsels van veranderde mineralisasie te identifiseer. Hierdie data het die potensiaal verhoog om hidrotermale veranderingstelsels meer suksesvol te karteer as met konvensionele Landsat TM beelde en lugfotos. Hierdie navorsing toets die vermoeëns van ASTER om hidrotermale veranderingstelsels te karteer deur 'n wye reeks beeldverrykings tegnieke toe te pas en te vergelyk. Die studiegebied IS die Haib koperafsetting in Namibië. Die Crosta tegniek, standaard kleursamestellings ('colour composites'), ratio-tegnieke, plantegroeistroping ('software defoiliant'), log residuele ('log residual '), en spektrale lineêre ontmenging ('spectral linear unmixing') is toegepas en die resultate met vorige gedetailleerde geofisiese en geo-chemiese veldopnames te vergelyk. Die verkreë resultate van al die verskillende tegnieke het grootliks met gepubliseerde geologiese kaarte van die gebied ooreengestem en bevestig dat ASTER data geskik is om sulke mineralogies veranderde gebiede te karteer. Vergelykings tussen die tegnieke het getoon dat die keuse van tegniek bepaal word deur die vlak en tipe detail wat verlang word. Standaard kleursamestellings en die log residuele tegnieke lewer goeie resultate om veralgemeende oorsigte van mineralogies veranderde sones te verskaf, terwyl die Crosta-, ratio- en spektrale lineêre ontmengingstegnieke meer suksesvol is om spesifieke minerale te identifiseer. Die plantegroei stropingtegniek is nodig in gevalle waar spektrale ratios deur plantegroeiresponse geaffekeer word. Die aanwesigheid van 'n intensief gefraktuurde sisteem is bepaal deur 'n Sobel filter toe te pas. Ruimtelike assosiasies tussen die voorkoms van die gefraktuurde sone met en die minealogies gewysigde sones dui aan dat mineralogiese wysiging in die Haib gebied deur frakturering beheer is. Die resultate steun die aanwesigheid van argillities-fillitiese enpropolities gewysigde sones op 'n streekskaal, 'n scenario wat deur die Lowell-Guilbertmodel voorgehou word. Die grense van die kalium-fillitiese sone kon nie spektraal waargeneem word nie. Dit steun ook vorige studies wat suggereer dat die kaliumsone nieafbakenbaar is en waarskynlik deur die fillitiese sone oorlê word. Die resultate bevestig onomwonde dat ASTER data benut kan word om hidrotermaal veranderde sones in semiariede gebiede effektief te karteer.