Orientation study of strategic deep penetration geochemical methods in thecentral Kyzylkum desert terrain, Uzbekistan

Wide-spaced NAMEG (nanoscale metals in earthgas) and MOMEO (mobile forms of metals in overburden) orientation surveys were carried out in the central Kyzylkum desert terrain in the area of several giant gold deposits hosted i n Paleozoic weakly metamorphosed black carbonaceous shales. The results dem onstrate that gold is carried up through more than 200 m of post-ore sedime ntary rocks and desert sand, and forms distinct anomalies on the surface, e ven with the wide-spaced sampling. The best results were obtained for Au in earthgas, and in water extractable and sorbed forms in sediment samples. T he areal extent of anomalous Au values around the giant Au deposits of Muru ntau, and Daughiztau is apparently more than 10,000 km(2). Newly discerned areas of Au potential occur at the south part of the shale dome. Further sy stematic sampling is still required for a better delineation of these anoma lies. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.