Mineral Exploration: Discovering and Defining Ore Deposits

SEG Discovery ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Dan Wood, AO ◽  
Jeffrey Hedenquist
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Specific Objective ◽  
Current Century ◽  
The Many ◽  
Mineral Concentrations

Editor’s note: The Geology and Mining series, edited by Dan Wood and Jeffrey Hedenquist, is designed to introduce early-career professionals and students to a variety of topics in mineral exploration, development, and mining, in order to provide insight into the many ways in which geoscientists contribute to the mineral industry. Abstract For economic geologists, mineral exploration has a specific objective: the discovery of mineral concentrations that can be recovered economically to provide resources essential for society. This was achieved consistently until the first decade of the current century, but exploration since then has been wealth destructive. This outcome is a major issue for the mining industry unless reversed. We believe the technologies presently used to discover ore deposits will be as useful in making future discoveries as they were previously. However, we argue that a new approach is required in how exploration is conducted and in how these and emerging technologies are applied. The required changes in approach include improved business models for conducting exploration and acceptance that fewer deposits are likely to be discovered near the surface. We argue that discovery of deeper deposits will be facilitated if exploration teams (1) seek to identify subtle evidence of mineralized rock recognizable within 500 m of the surface, (2) conduct follow-up investigations with a clear understanding of the volumetric dimensions of the discovery target, and (3) drill boldly as a critical exploration tool. We propose that improving the way geoscientists think when exploring—being more predictive—is the immediate key to increasing the number of discoveries.

The Social Dimensions of Mineral Exploration

SEG Discovery ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 16-28
Author(s):  
Sarah Mackenzie ◽  
Jo-Anne Everingham ◽  
Pam Bourke
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Strategic Investment ◽  
The Social ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Many ◽  
Positive Engagement

Editor’s note: The Geology and Mining series, edited by Dan Wood and Jeffrey Hedenquist, is designed to introduce early-career professionals and students to a variety of topics in mineral exploration, development, and mining, in order to provide insight into the many ways in which geoscientists contribute to the mineral industry. Abstract Geoscientists are often the first point of contact a local community has with a company conducting mineral exploration. The behavior of the geoscientists and the interest they take in understanding the local community and stakeholders will have ramifications well beyond their direct exploration activities. This article highlights some of the positive and negative impacts exploration can have for local communities (in part drawing on interviews with experienced geoscientists and others involved in exploration). The article explores the increasing complexity of deposits in terms of environmental, economic, social, and political parameters and the increasing scrutiny by local stakeholders and the international community. We argue that, although geoscientists are not social performance specialists, they still need the awareness, tools, and capabilities to understand and manage the social aspects of their exploration activities commensurate with the stage and resourcing of the project. We propose three interrelated aspects of social performance that can be applied during mineral exploration: meaningful and positive engagement, acquiring and documenting a social knowledge base, and strategic investment in the community. Two case studies provide cautionary examples of failure to do so and two case studies highlight how, through careful engagement and strategic collaboration, mutually beneficial and positive relationships can be built from early exploration.

Geotechnical Engineering for Mass Mining

SEG Discovery ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 22-31
Author(s):  
Andre van As
Keyword(s):  
Rock Mass ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Mass Behavior ◽  
Geotechnical Monitoring ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
The Many ◽  
Geotechnical Model

Editor’s note: The Geology and Mining series, edited by Dan Wood and Jeffrey Hedenquist, is designed to introduce early-career professionals and students to a variety of topics in mineral exploration, development, and mining, in order to provide insight into the many ways in which geoscientists contribute to the mineral industry. Abstract The rock mass response to mining is governed by the rock mass characteristics and the mining-induced changes that drive its behavior. To be able to study and accurately predict the response of the rock mass to mining, it is imperative that both the orebody and the enclosing country rocks are well characterized through the collection and analysis of large quantities of good-quality, representative geologic, structural, geotechnical, and hydrogeological data. These are the fundamental constituents of a good geotechnical model whose reliability improves as the mining project matures and moves from exploration and study phases, passes the decision to develop, and proceeds into construction and then operations. Each phase provides greater exposure to the rock mass, reduces uncertainty, and increases reliability in the geotechnical model and in an understanding of the rock mass behavior. The quest of the geotechnical engineer is to understand the rock mass behavior and is no different from that of the geologist who defines the mineral resource, and it warrants (at the very least) the same level of rigor in data collection, analysis, and reporting. Just as the geologist continues to improve the orebody model through grade reconciliation during mining, so the geotechnical engineer must continually revisit and calibrate the geotechnical model during the operational phase of mining through geotechnical monitoring. The increasing demand by investors and stakeholders that the performance of a mine does not deviate from plan due to unforeseen geotechnical surprises warrants a significant shift in the level of geotechnical data collection, analyses, and rock mass monitoring through all stages of study and operations. This demand warrants supporting budgets and assurance processes that are commensurate with the complexity and extent of the geotechnical uncertainties.

scholarly journals SOME PROBLEMS OF ELECTRICAL GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING METHODS USED FOR EXPLORATION OF ORE DEPOSITS

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3S) ◽  
pp. 731-747
Author(s):  
V. A. Kulikov ◽  
A. G. Yakovlev ◽  
V. A. Polikarpova
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Geophysical Methods ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Induced Polarization ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Navigation Systems ◽  
Geophysical Prospecting ◽  
Electrical Prospecting ◽  
Satellite Navigation Systems ◽  
2D And 3D

Electrical geophysical prospecting methods are widely used at different stages of geological exploration. In the last two decades, new computer technologies and satellite navigation systems were successfully introduced in the geophysical industry. As a result, exploration technologies have improved, and new geophysical methods have been developed, such as electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and spectral induced polarization (SIP) methods. An important role in ore geophysics is played by magnetotelluric (MT) methods. In this article, we focus on the issues of methodology and interpretation of electrical prospecting data for solving ore exploration problems. Special attention is paid to the induced polarization (IP) method that is most widely used in mineral exploration and mining industry as one of the most important and most dynamically developing techniques of ore geophysics. In addition, the issues of correct choices of survey scales and the use of automatic 2D and 3D inversion programs are considered.

Error-Proofing Diamond Drilling and Drill Core Measurements

SEG Discovery ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 23-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Orpen ◽  
David Orpen
Keyword(s):  
Human Error ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Depth Measurement ◽  
Core Recovery ◽  
Core Depth ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
The Many

Editor’s note: The Geology and Mining series, edited by Dan Wood and Jeffrey Hedenquist, is designed to introduce early-career professionals and students to a variety of topics in mineral exploration, development, and mining, in order to provide insight into the many ways in which geoscientists contribute to the mineral industry. Abstract The diamond drill is the most productive tool available for the earth scientist to explore and map the subsurface. However, the quality of the information obtained for analysis and modeling depends on how well the processes involved are understood so as to eliminate systematic and human error and effectively minimize the variables causing random error. This overview of the quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures required to manage these errors starts with the planning phase of a drilling program and goes through drill rig setup, borehole depth measurement, core recovery measurement, core depth registration, core orientation, borehole survey, and borehole path reconstruction. An outline follows of the methods used in the logging process to accurately depth reference the data recorded from both core and bore, as well as to ensure that the angles measured for structures are verified and correctly rotated to derive their in situ dip and dip direction or plunge and trend. To conclude, the provisions required for effective audits of the drilling and logging QA/QC processes are discussed: testing for inconsistencies, certifying that standards have been achieved, reporting on weaknesses, and making recommendations for improved performance.

Geology and Mining: Mineral Resources and Reserves: Their Estimation, Use, and Abuse

SEG Discovery ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon M. Jowitt ◽  
Brian A. McNulty
Keyword(s):  
Capital Investment ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Critical Metals ◽  
Reserve Estimation ◽  
Change Over Time ◽  
Regulatory Constraints ◽  
Reserve Estimates ◽  
Over Time

Editor’s note: The Geology and Mining series, edited by Dan Wood and Jeffrey Hedenquist, is designed to introduce early-career professionals and students to a variety of topics in mineral exploration, development, and mining, in order to provide insight into the many ways in which geoscientists contribute to the mineral industry. Abstract Resource and reserve estimation is a critical step in mine development and the progression from mineral exploration to commodity production. The data inputs typically change over time and reflect variations in geoscientific knowledge as well as the modifying factors required by regulation for estimating a reserve. These factors include mineral (ore) processing, metallurgical treatment of the ore, infrastructure requirements for mine and workforce, and the transportation of processed products to buyers; others that will affect the production of metals and/or minerals from a deposit include economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social, and governmental factors. All are needed by the mining industry to quantify the contained mineralization within mineral deposits that likely warrant the significant capital investment required to build a mine. However, these resource and reserve data are estimates that change over time due to unpredicted variations in the initial inputs. Paramount to the two estimates are the quality and accuracy of the geologic inputs and the communication of these to the professionals tasked with making each estimate. Geostatistical processing of the grade of the resource has become a dominant element of the estimation process, but this requires transparent and informed communication between geologists and mining engineers with the geostatistician responsible for mathematically processing the grade data. Regulatory constraints also mean that estimated resources and reserves seldom capture the full extent of a mineral deposit. Similarly, co- and by-product metals and minerals that are commonly produced by mines may not be captured by resource and reserve estimates because of their limited economic contribution. This suggests that reporting standards for co- and by-products—particularly for the critical metals that may have a sharp increase in demand—need improvement. Finally, the importance of these data to the mining industry is such that informing investors and the broader public about the nature of resource and reserve estimates, and the meaning of associated terminology, is also essential when considering the global metal and mineral supply, and the role of mining in modern society.

Upernavik 98: reconnaissance mineral exploration in North-West Greenland

1999 ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjørn Thomassen ◽  
Johannes Kyed ◽  
Agnete Steenfelt ◽  
Tapani Tukiainen
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Original Series ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
North West ◽  
One Year

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Thomassen, B., Kyed, J., Steenfelt, A., & Tukiainen, T. (1999). Upernavik 98: reconnaissance mineral exploration in North-West Greenland. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 183, 39-45. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v183.5203 _______________ The Upernavik 98 project is a one-year project aimed at the acquisition of information on mineral occurrences and potential in North-West Greenland between Upernavik and Kap Seddon, i.e. from 72°30′ to 75°30′N (Fig. 1A). A similar project, Karrat 97, was carried out in 1997 in the Uummannaq region 70°30′–72°30′N (Steenfelt et al. 1998a). Both are joint projects between the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) and the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (BMP), Government of Greenland, and wholly funded by the latter. The main purpose of the projects is to attract the interest of the mining industry. The field work comprised systematic drainage sampling, reconnaissance mineral exploration and spectroradiometric measurements of rock surfaces.

Qaanaaq 2001: mineral exploration reconnaissance in North-West Greenland

2002 ◽  
pp. 133-143
Author(s):  
Bjørn Thomassen ◽  
Peter R. Dawes ◽  
Agnete Steenfelt ◽  
Johan Ditlev Krebs
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Original Series ◽  
West Greenland ◽  
North West ◽  
Ice Caps ◽  
High Plateau ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Inland Ice

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Thomassen, B., Dawes, P. R., Steenfelt, A., & Krebs, J. D. (2002). Qaanaaq 2001: mineral exploration reconnaissance in North-West Greenland. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 191, 133-143. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v191.5141 _______________ Project Qaanaaq 2001, involving one season’s field work, was set up to investigate the mineral occurrences and potential of North-West Greenland between Olrik Fjord and Kap Alexander (77°10´N – 78°10´N; Fig. 1). Organised by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) and the Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (BMP), Government of Greenland, the project is mainly funded by the latter and has the overall goal of attracting the interest of the mining industry to the region. The investigated region – herein referred to as the Qaanaaq region – comprises 4300 km2 of ice-free land centred on Qaanaaq, the administrative capital of Qaanaap (Thule) municipality. Much of the region is characterised by a 500–800 m high plateau capped by local ice caps and intersected by fjords and glaciers. High dissected terrain occurs in Northumberland Ø and in the hinterland of Prudhoe Land where nunataks are common along the margin of the Inland Ice.

scholarly journals Mineral Physicochemistry Underlying Feature-Based Extraction of Mineral Abundance and Composition from Shortwave, Mid and Thermal Infrared Reflectance Spectra

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 347
Author(s):  
Carsten Laukamp ◽  
Andrew Rodger ◽  
Monica LeGras ◽  
Heta Lampinen ◽  
Ian C. Lau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Reflectance Spectra ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Infrared Reflectance ◽  
Vibrational Modes ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mineral Assemblages

Reflectance spectroscopy allows cost-effective and rapid mineral characterisation, addressing mineral exploration and mining challenges. Shortwave (SWIR), mid (MIR) and thermal (TIR) infrared reflectance spectra are collected in a wide range of environments and scales, with instrumentation ranging from spaceborne, airborne, field and drill core sensors to IR microscopy. However, interpretation of reflectance spectra is, due to the abundance of potential vibrational modes in mineral assemblages, non-trivial and requires a thorough understanding of the potential factors contributing to the reflectance spectra. In order to close the gap between understanding mineral-diagnostic absorption features and efficient interpretation of reflectance spectra, an up-to-date overview of major vibrational modes of rock-forming minerals in the SWIR, MIR and TIR is provided. A series of scripts are proposed that allow the extraction of the relative intensity or wavelength position of single absorption and other mineral-diagnostic features. Binary discrimination diagrams can assist in rapidly evaluating mineral assemblages, and relative abundance and chemical composition of key vector minerals, in hydrothermal ore deposits. The aim of this contribution is to make geologically relevant information more easily extractable from reflectance spectra, enabling the mineral resources and geoscience communities to realise the full potential of hyperspectral sensing technologies.

Overburden geochemical signature of the Lac des Iles platinum group element deposit, northwestern Ontario, Canada

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 1151-1168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J Barnett
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Soil System ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Rock Fragments ◽  
The North ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Airborne Contamination ◽  
The Many ◽  
Lac Des Iles

Many previously published studies of the behaviour of Pt and Pd in till and soils have been done in areas of complex stratigraphy or very thin overburden cover, making the interpretation of soil results difficult because of the many variables associated with these settings. At the Lac des Iles mine site in northwestern Ontario, there are excellent exposures of the overburden in a series of exploration trenches. Glacial dispersal trains can be observed in till (C horizon) geochemistry (e.g., Ni, Cr, Cu, and Co). Regional geochemical dispersal trains of elements, such as Ni, Cr, Mg, and Co associated with the North Lac des Iles intrusion, can be detected for about 4 km beyond the western margin of the Mine Block intrusion. Entire dispersal trains range from 5 to 7 km in length and about 1 to 2 km in width. The dispersal of North Lac des Iles intrusion rock fragments tends to mask the response of the Mine Block intrusion. Dispersal trains of Pt and Pd are not well defined and tend to be very short, <1 km in length, due to the initial low concentrations of these elements in C-horizon till samples from the Lac Des Iles area. An exception to this is the Pd dispersal train originating from the high-grade zone that is up to 3 km long. Pd, Pt, Ni, and Cu appear to be moving both within and out of the soil system downslope into surface and shallow groundwater. It is suggested that these elements, to varying degrees, are moving in solution. Airborne contamination from mine operations of the humus has adversely affected the ability to determine the effectiveness of humus sampling for mineral exploration at Lac des Iles. The airborne contamination likely influences the geochemical results from surface water, shallow groundwater, and near-surface organic bog samples, particularly for the elements Pd and Pt.

scholarly journals Towards Net Zero export credit: current approaches and next steps

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Hale ◽  
Andreas Klasen ◽  
Norman Ebner ◽  
Bianca Krämer ◽  
Anastasia Kantzelis
Keyword(s):  
Business Models ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Export Credit ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Climate Targets ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
The Many ◽  
The One ◽  
Investment Portfolios ◽  
Export Credit Agencies

As the world economy rapidly decarbonises to meet global climate goals, the export credit sector must keep pace. Countries representing over two-thirds of global GDP have now set net zero targets, as have hundreds of private financial institutions. Public and private initiatives are now working to develop new standards and methodologies for shifting investment portfolios to decarbonisation pathways based on science. However, export credit agencies (ECAs) are only at the beginning stages of this seismic transformation. On the one hand, the net zero transition creates risks to existing business models and clients for the many ECAs, while on the other, it creates a significant opportunity for ECAs to refocus their support to help countries and trade partners meet their climate targets. ECAs can best take advantage of this transition, and minimise its risks, by setting net zero targets and adopting credible plans to decarbonise their portfolios. Collaboration across the sector can be a powerful tool for advancing this goal.

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