Resource estimation and analysis for offshore placer deposit using GIS technology

Abstract

In this thesis, an advanced GIS system is developed to manage, analyze and distribute Alaskan near-shore marine mineral deposition data. The developed GIS system is applied in a case study of the marine gold deposits in the offshore area of Nome, Alaska. The data collected during the previous phases of the research project are compiled using several computer application softwares such as ArcGIS8.3, Microsoft Access 2000 and others. Two improved relational geodatabases are created, in which various maps integrated with digital data sets are stored. The first database is known as the 'Integrated Geodatabase', which stores all the relative data collected in the Nome area, such as borehole data, bedrock geology, surficial geology, and geochemical data. database, a 'Regularized 2.5D Geodatabase', is generated based on the Geodatabase to store the layered orebody parameter for each regularized cell. The other Integrated With these GIS geodatabases, many important applications of data management and analysis, such as information query, data visualization, geostatistical analysis, gold distribution analysis, sediment distribution analysis, and resources estimation, are carried out readily for better understanding of Nome offshore mineral resources. Based on the enhanced GIS structure, a GIS-based website is developed using ArcIMS. Users can integrate local data sources with Internet data sources for display, query, and analysis in an easy-to-use web browser.