Shefa Yamem Poster 2014

1. DEVELOPING A GEOLOGICAL MODEL TO GUIDE PLACER
EXPLORATION INTHE KISHON CATCHMENT, NORTHERN ISRAEL
V. Toledo (1), J. Ward (2), M. de Wit (2), R. Spaggiari (3), H. Coopersmith (4)
B”H
1.Shefa Yamim (A.T.M.) Ltd, Israel. 2.Majimba Geo-Consulting cc, South Africa. 3.C&K Mining, Cameroon. 4.Consultant in Economic Geology, Colorado, USA
February,2014
THE KISHON PLACER GEOLOGICAL MODEL PROVIDES A DYNAMIC FRAMEWORK
TO GUIDE FUTURE PHASES OF SHEFA YAMIM’S EXPLORATION CAMPAIGN
Shefa Yamim is continuing its exploration program in the Kishon catchment and surrounding areas in northern Israel for precious stones (viz., diamond, sapphire and ruby), semi-precious minerals (viz., natural moissanite) and certain heavy minerals (viz.,
garnet, ilmenite, zircon and rutile), collectively referred to as the “Diamond-Moissanite-Corundum” suite or DMC suite. A comprehensive range of modern exploration methods are used to explore for the DMC suite, the results of which are retained in a well-
structured GIS-based database. Concomitantly, and facilitated by rapid interrogation of this database, a dynamic geological model has been developed to guide Shefa Yamim’s exploration campaign, the salient features of which are summarised here.
From the extensive sampling undertaken to date we have
recovered:
a. abundant kimberlitic indicator minerals (KIMs) such as
garnet,ilmenite,spinel,clinopyroxene(CPX)andrarediamond;
b. several varieties of corundum (notably blue sapphire
and ruby)
c. significant amounts of moissanite (including the largest
natural grains recovered in the world to date);
d. zircon,ilmeniteandrutilehavebeenrecoveredbyShefaYamim.
e. The PRIMARY sources of these minerals comprising the
DMC suite are the ultramafic and mafic volcaniclastic rocks
fromMountCarmel(UpperCretaceousinage)andYizre’eland
Afula basins and their faulted margins ( Miocene and
Pliocene in age).
These PRIMARY sources were eroded by the Kishon River and its tributaries, driven largely by the Neogene uplift of
Mount Carmel and extrusion of basalts along the faulted margins of the Yizre’el and Afula basins.
The erosional products from the Kishon catchment, inter alia those from the PRIMARY sources, were laid down in
SECONDARY deposits - the principal depocentre being the Kishon graben that was subjected to marine reworking at
intervals during the Neogene. In certain of these SECONDARY deposits, the DMC suite is sufficiently well concentrated
to form placers.
Consequently, a source-to-sink geological model has been developed for the Kishon catchment whereby the DMC suite
is associated with a series of SECONDARY placers, from upstream to downstream:
a. proximal reach – alluvial fans;
b. mid reach of the Kishon Valley - fluvial channel and terrace deposits;
c. distal reach within the Kishon graben - marine deposits (placers) interbedded with fluvial sediments.
Although the marine clastic deposits have yielded the best recoveries to date, their burial at >20 m in the Kishon graben
renders them difficult to access. In contrast, the fluvial terrace deposits in the mid reach of the Kishon Valley are shallow,
accessible and have higher grades than those found in the proximal alluvial fans, thus highlighting this SECONDARY
placer as a practical target for future exploration.
Diamond
Rutile
KIMs
GarnetRuby (Corundum)
Rubies
Sapphire (Corundum)
Sapphires
Moissanite
Natural Moissanite
Ilmenite Garnet
Garnets
Spinel CPX
CPXs
Zircon
SECONDARY DEPOSITS: TRANSIENT‫‏‬
SECONDARY DEPOSITS:
SOURCE
SECONDARY DEPOSITS:
SINK