Paper Title
Chromite Exploration using Electrical Resistivity Tomography in Ingessana Hill, Blue Nile State, Sudan
Abstract
The Ingessana hills in the southern Blue Nile of Sudan are part of the southern sector of the ophiolithic belt of the
Arab-Nubian Shield with mid-neoproterozoic age. The rocks are mainly serpentinized and in parts highly silicified dunites
especially towards the contact with the intruding Bau granite. A promising chromite mineralization zones in the area are
generally associated with NE-SW trending shear-zones. A detailed geophysical survey employing electrical resistivity
tomography (ERT) at 34 lines were carried out over zones of known chromite mineralization to test feasibility of detecting
and delineating the ore (if exist) and to facilitate consequently the positioning of exploratory drill holes. ERT sections were
inverted with smooth constraints inversion code where the contacts between the granite and the ultramafics are showing up
clearly. The continuity of mineralization along the contact is not well confirmed. However, the low-resistivity anomalies are
probably recognized as potential chromite mineralization zones. The resistivity anomalies represent prime targets for further
exploration by drilling, trenching or shallow pits. If the results of the drilling or excavations are positive, small open pit
exploitations may produce important tonnages of chromite.
Keywords - Chromite exploration, ERT, Ingessana Hills, Inversion.