Termite species variations and their importance for termitariabiogeochemistry: towards a robust media approach for mineralexploration

摘要

Termitaria (termite mounds) are a widespread and abundant compo-nent of tropical savannah ecosystems in northern Australia. Despite their abundancevery little systematic research has been carried out on the application of termitariasampling to mineral exploration in this region. Multi-element biogeochemistry oftermitaria from species with the most abundant epigeal mounds (Nasutitermes triodiae(N. triodiae), Drepanotermes rubriceps (D. rubriceps) and Amitermes vitiosus (A. vitiosus)) ischaracterized and compared. Differences in the biogeochemistry of termitaria builtby different species are identified in this biogeochemical study of the termitaria at theTitania Au Prospect, situated proximal to a palaeochannel system in a highlyprospective area in northern Australia. In particular, elevated levels of Mo and Au inthe coarse sand fraction of the D. rubriceps mounds are observed. Mineralization isexpressed in the biogeochemical characteristics of termitaria through ,up to 15 m oftransported regolith, particularly in the fine, silty-clay fraction of the mound samples.This is particularly obvious for Au, As, Zn and Ni, which all show relatively highanalytical concentrations within material sampled from termitaria of N triodiae.These findings show that termitaria can successfully delineate buried mineralization,reinforcing the role that soil biota, such as termites, play in forming surfacegeochemical anomalies above mineralization buried by transported regolith.