Validation of magnetic exploration in the iron deposit as an exploration key for decision making to continue the operation (A case study)

In the southern part of Alijan-Divandarreh-Kurdistan, magnetic survey has been carried out in two phases for two separate zones called A and B. The magnetic surveys of the first and second phases in the eastern part of zone A have some overlap, so that the western part of the area surveyed in the first stage is the eastern part of zone A. Six vertical boreholes have also been drilled on the anomalies of the first phase in the eastern part of zone A. To make a decision for continuation of development exploration in the second phase, especially drilling of 16 new proposed boreholes in zones A and B, the results of the first stage were evaluated using the results of drilling operation. Based on the results of drilling conducted in the eastern part of zone A, the probability of technical success obtained 60% and probability of economic success compared to similar iron deposits in Kurdistan province is predicted at most 95%. Therefore, the probability of exploration success is 0.57 which is acceptable in the current conditions. In other words, at the moment the possibility of converting the deposit into ore is not very high and drilling of the new proposed boreholes in zones A and B is needed. However, is suggested that the specifications of the new proposed boreholes be revised through the geology of the region and mineralization type. Whereas, new boreholes can be drilled based on the trend of mineralization in the contact between schist and amphibolite.