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Quantifying uncertainty and improving prospectivity mapping in mineral belts using transfer learning and Random Forest: A case study of copper mineralization in the Superior Craton Province, Quebec, Canada

Dany Lauzon and Erwan Gloaguen

Article (2024)

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Abstract

Mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) involves identifying locations with a higher potential for mineral exploration based on a set of explanatory variables. In cases where there is a scarcity or absence of unfavorable sites that adequately represent the geological context for deposit discovery, generating synthetic negative data sets becomes necessary to employ a machine learning algorithm optimally. Moreover, when favorable sites are insufficient for deposit discovery within a geological zone, machine learning methods can potentially result in large and highly uncertain prospecting areas. This article proposed a concept based on transfer learning by applying the knowledge gained from mineral belt signatures in different geological zones to a related area. The positive training data were taken from five mineral belts distanced from each other, while the negative data were sampled using geological constraints based on the distance to occurrences and spatial associativity. The results demonstrate that transfer learning, combined with geological constraints applied to the creation of negative datasets, improves model performance and prediction of known deposits while significantly reducing uncertainties. Mineral prospectivity models for predicting potential copper formations were generated using data from the Quebec Government's spatial reference geomining information system, SIGEOM. The case study for this work focused on the geological province of the Superior Craton, which encompasses the vast majority of northeastern Quebec.

Uncontrolled Keywords

mineral prospectivity mapping; transfer learning; quantification of uncertainty; data integration; ineral belts in the Superior Craton Province

Subjects: 1400 Mining and mineral processing > 1400 Mining and mineral processing
1400 Mining and mineral processing > 1401 Mining engineering
2700 Information technology > 2700 Information technology
2700 Information technology > 2713 Algorithms
Department: Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering
PolyPublie URL: https://publications.polymtl.ca/57570/
Journal Title: Ore Geology Reviews (vol. 166)
Publisher: Elsevier
DOI: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2024.105918
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2024.105918
Date Deposited: 25 Mar 2024 14:43
Last Modified: 26 Sep 2024 12:47
Cite in APA 7: Lauzon, D., & Gloaguen, E. (2024). Quantifying uncertainty and improving prospectivity mapping in mineral belts using transfer learning and Random Forest: A case study of copper mineralization in the Superior Craton Province, Quebec, Canada. Ore Geology Reviews, 166, 105918 (16 pages). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2024.105918

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