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Alluvial placer gold deposits that accumulate in streams across the globe are essentially allochthonous sedimentary deposits that are transported from their source to their location of deposition. The purpose of this study was to find placer gold deposits in alluvial sediments along the Indus River in the NW Himalaya of Pakistan. The investigated region was divided into five clusters based on river morphology. The research focused on mineralogical distribution, sediment source, gold transport distance, elemental composition, and gold concentration in river sediments. Throughout, during the deposition at point and channel bars, the mixed source of alluvial sediments was revealed by its mineralogical composition. However, the SEM analysis demonstrated that the gold grains had a high flatness index, indicating that they had been transported a significant distance. The elemental composition of several samples revealed a significant concentration of silicon dioxide, iron oxide, and alumina oxide transported from the Himalaya. The study of the trace elements indicated gold and related base metals with granitic provenance were transported from an acidic/granitic source. Based on gold concentration, it is demonstrated that the left riverbank (clusters C1, C2, and C3) has a higher concentration of gold deposits and higher potential for economic gold exploration than the right bank (clusters C4 and C5) due to the lower velocity of running water in the study area. The findings revealed that the studied area has good potential for commercial exploration of gold resources, and the workflow can be adopted in any region with a similar geological setting and morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For effective commercial development of deposits, an increase in the information content of operational exploration is required. In recent years, the range of methods used to obtain complete and reliable information about the structure and properties of the rock mass of a developed field include remote methods of high-frequency electrical prospecting, in particular, the ground penetrating radar (GPR) method. The paper presents a methodological experience in the interpretation of GPR data of sandy river sediments based on the identification of radar facies. In the considered area, four types of radar facies have been identified that characterize the structure of sandy deposits and the morphology of the river bed. The criteria for identifying radar facies were used to analyze wave patterns of loose sediments in a sand and gravel pit and a placer gold deposit. Experimental GPR investigations are presented by data from a sandy-gravel pit (Warsaw, Poland) and from a placer gold deposit (Yakutia, Russia). As an example, a GPR section along the Paplin quarry and its interpretation, with the identification of GPR facies, is presented. A cross-sectional GPR profile of the dredging landfill is considered for the placer gold deposit. The analysis of the wave pattern was carried out, geological boundaries were highlighted. Based on the interpretation results, the characteristics of the rocks were given. It was noted that according to the GPR data, it is possible to identify zones of uplift of bedrock, which can affect the course of the dredge. As a result of using GPR in a swampy area where drilling was impossible, a deep three-layer section was obtained. The presented results of the successful use of GPR investigations and methodological approaches in the interpretation of data, show the promise of using the GPR method in assessing mining and geological conditions, in particular, placer deposits. At the same time, the efficiency of obtaining data can further contribute to the optimization of technology and increase the efficiency of field development.