Application of stream sediments geochemical survey in the Cu reconnaissance at the Tomatlan area, Mexico

The Tomatlan region in Mexico belongs to part of the tectonic belt and mineralization belt in the eastern rim of the Pacific, suggesting well potential for prospecting. The stream sediments surveys defined 12 comprehensive anomalous areas of major ore-forming elements and indicator elements of copper polymetallic ore in this area, and 12 comprehensive anomalies of iron family elements too. Integrated anomalous verification for the preferential areas has revealed that multiple anomalies resulted mainly from mineralization or ore bodies. Verification using trench and shallow drills in the key mineralized and altered sections revealed six new Cu, Au, Ag polymetallic prospects and two magnetite prospects. The results show that stream sediment anomalies can quickly and accurately reveal Cu, Au, Fe mineralization information in the Tomatlan region of Mexico. Stream sediment measurement can quickly define target areas of mineralization during exploration of copper deposits in middle and low mountain geochemical landscape area with tropical marine humid climate in Mexico and even whole Latin America.