TerraneChron®

Geochemical remote sensing of inaccessible areas

TerraneChron® is a cost-effective tool for rapid regional exploration of mineral and energy resources. It is a powerful methodology for studying crustal evolution and evaluating the metallogenic potential of terranes.

• identify regional tectonic events
• date magmatic episodes
• fingerprint crust reworking and mantle input (fertility).

For mineral exploration, TerraneChron®:

• pinpoints time of mineralisation
• provides regional tectonic history
• samples poorly mapped and remote areas
• allows better prioritisation of exploration target areas
• can identify the presence or absence of key rock types eg Cu/Au porphyries.

For oil and gas exploration, TerraneChron®:

• can reveal changes in direction of basin filling, regional tilting, rates of subsidence, styles of sedimentation and sedimentation source
• provides stratigraphic markers in thick non-fossiliferous sediment
• provides geological history of sediment source areas.

It uses U-Pb, Hf-isotope and trace-element analysis of single zircon grains. This multi-instrument approach:

• provides U-Pb ages, with a precision equivalent to that of a sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP)
• uses Hf isotopes to trace magma sources (crustal vs juvenile mantle input)
• identifies parental rock types of detrital zircons using trace elements.

TerraneChron® can analyse the following sample types:

• regional heavy-mineral sampling (modern drainages: terrane analysis)
• sedimentary rocks (basin analysis)
• igneous rocks (dating, specialised genetic studies).