Mineral Exploration
Mineral Exploration is the first and most critical stage in the mining cycle, carried out prior to extraction. Its objective is to identify, evaluate, and determine the economic viability of a mineral deposit.
The mining cycle generally consists of three main stages:
Mineral Exploration
Mining / Mineral Extraction
Mineral Processing
What is the objective of exploration?
Discovering new mineral deposits
Determining the type of mineral
Estimating quantity (tonnage) and grade
Assessing the economic viability of extraction
Reducing investment risk
Exploration Methods
1) Geological Methods
Study of rocks, structures, faults, and alterations.
2) Geochemical Methods
Analysis of element concentrations in soil, water, or rock.
3) Geophysical Methods
Magnetometry
Electrical Resistivity
IP (Induced Polarization)
Seismography
4) Exploratory Drilling
RC Drilling
Core Drilling (the most accurate method)
“We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it factorial non.”
Rebert Kosta
