GEOLOGY AND MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PROPERTIES OF IPOLE LITHOLOGIES IN EXPLORING FOR DIAMONDIFEROUS KIMBERLITE IN IPOLE SIKONGE DISTRICT, TABORA REGION

ABSTRACT
This project report is the result of the work done at Ipole area, Sikonge District from July
to September 2008. The main objectives of this project was to identify the rock types
present at Ipole area using rock magnetic properties and to determine the presence of
Diamondiferous Kimberlite in Ipole lithologies.The following methods were used to
accomplish the task; Heavy Mineral Sampling in Streams sediments, Loam and Auger
sampling, Airborne magnetic survey, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global
Positioning Systems (GPS)/Bathymetric Surveys and Drilling (percussion drilling).
The study of drilling logs and Magnetic Susceptibility reveal the presence of ferricrete,
calcrete, sands, micaceous granite, pink granite, rhyolite, diorite, granodiorite, gabbro and
basalt. This study did not find any indicator minerals for Kimberlite such as
picroilmenite (Mg rich), pyrope garnet, chromediopside and diamond which when found
indicate high proximity to the source, however Ipole appears to be sited within areas of
drainage and transported soil covers, which possibly reflecting zones of preferential
weathering and may be consistent with possible Kimberlite positions.
Radiometric map shows outcropping granite. The relationship between radiometric
signature and Kimberlite mineralization indicate that Kimberlites often present at the
surface as ground depressions. (Yellow-white pixels in the ternary image reflect high
radioelement concentration.) Ipole area is still a highly prospective area with regard to
Kimberlite exploration because exploration has not been adequately carried out in areas
under overburden.
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Table of Contents
CERTIFICATION .............................................................................................................................................. ii
DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT .................................................................................................................. iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT .................................................................................................................................... iv
DEDICATION .................................................................................................................................................. v
ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................................... vi
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ x
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.............................................................................................................................. xi
CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1
1.0 LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY ............................................................................................................ 1
1.1 REGIONAL GEOLOGY ........................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 LOCAL GEOLOGY ................................................................................................................................. 2
1.3 GEOLOGY OF THE AREA ...................................................................................................................... 2
1.4 LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................... 3
1.4.1 Magnetic susceptibility ................................................................................................................ 3
1.4.2 Diamondiferous Kimberlite ......................................................................................................... 8
1.4.3 Indicator minerals as a tool for diamond exploration .................................................................. 9
CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................................................ 10
2.0 OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................................... 10
2.1 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM .................................................................................................. 10
CHAPTER THREE .......................................................................................................................................... 11
MATERIAL AND METHODS .......................................................................................................................... 11
3.0 MATERIALS ........................................................................................................................................ 11
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3.1 METHODS .......................................................................................................................................... 11
3.1.1 Heavy Mineral Sampling ............................................................................................................ 11
3.1.2 Geophysics ................................................................................................................................. 14
3.1.3 Airborne magnetic survey .......................................................................................................... 15
3.1.4 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) ...................................................................................... 20
3.1.5 Global Positioning Systems (GPS)/Bathymetric Surveys ............................................................ 21
3.1.6 Drilling ....................................................................................................................................... 21
CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................................................... 23
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.......................................................................................................................... 23
4.0 RESULTS............................................................................................................................................. 23
4.1 DISCUSSION ....................................................................................................................................... 33
CHAPTER FIVE............................................................................................................................................. 37
5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION............................................................................................... 37
5.1 REFERENCE ............................................................................................................................................ 38
BOOKS ................................................................................................................................................... 38
JOURNALS/PAPERS ............................................................................................................................ 38
WEBSITE ............................................................................................................................................... 39
List of Figures
Figure 1.Box and whisker plot of magnetic susceptibility values from rocks in the studied area grouped
by rock type. Boxes represent values between the 75th and 25th percentiles, the central bar shows the
median value and the box whiskers show the ashes represent individual data points, full range in values,
not including outliers (dots). Within the boxes, the small + and whiskers show. (Elizabeth A.Sanger
1
and
Jonathan M.G.Glen
1
, 2003) ........................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 2. The picture showing samplers collecting loam samples .............................................................. 13
Figure 3.The picture showing some steps in auger sampling ..................................................................... 14
Figure 4.Sikonge exploration licences and airborne geophysical survey ................................................... 15