The technology applied by lonex Pty Ltd provides an important
breakthrough in geochemical exploration, enabling the discovery
of concealed mineral deposits to great depths below surface. Most mineral discoveries have been made in areas of outcrop
or relatively shallow cover; deposits at greater depth have been
beyond the range of conventional geophysical and geochemical
methods. Quite apart from the need to explore to greater depths in
regions of major current or past production, most continents have
vast areas where prospective host rocks are concealed by more
recent material. There are numerous case studies where Ionex methods have
located deeply-buried metal deposits, up to 500 m below surface,
beneath thick younger sedimentary, volcanic, or transported
cover. Research leading to the development of this technology was
initiated by Dr I S Goldberg at the Rudgeofizika Institute in St
Petersburg (CIS), and the methods have been employed there - and in other countries - for many years. Ionex technology
became available in Australia in 1993. It comprises: geochemical and geoelectrochemical sampling and
ultra-high-sensitivity analysis for mobile and weakly-bonded
elements (I S Goldberg); the delineation and interpretation of regional zones of
enrichment and depletion of the prime elements within
geoelectrochemical systems (GES) (I S Goldberg); the investigation and interpretation of the three-dimensional
geochemical zoning within geochemical anomalies (G J
Abramson); and multi-variate computer modelling of the geochemical fields
and systems (V L Los). lonex technology has been adapted to the environmental
conditions in Australia with the participation of C 0 Haslam.