The Redox Complex: Methodological and Theoretical–Empirical Considerations

Abstract

The growing need for geological prospecting as well as environmental and archeological studies asks for an effective increment of conventional research at reduced costs. With these purposes unconventional geochemical techniques of indirect detection, employed with complementary character, such as Redox Complex (Redox potential, magnetic susceptibility, spectral reflectance, and soil geochemistry), are identified. This procedure offers information on the shallow terrain modifications, over any metallic target, controlled, under the Geochemical Principle of the Vertical Migration of Metallic Ions, through their composition, grade, geometric features, and lying characteristics. For this, it is effective in its location, characterization, and evaluation, enabling the optimization in decision making and raising the success rate of the drillings and/or exploratory excavations. Disclosed is a new unconventional geophysical–geochemical exploration tool for indirect detection, characterization, and evaluation of targets of metallic nature, in which final product consists of a map with the mapping of the vertical projection of the metal target; a central section with its geometrization, together with the behavior of the attributes that characterize it; and the parameters defining the nature and quality of metallic source and a resource estimate . This scientific–technological innovation is at present in the generalization stage for its further application in the different spheres.