EXPLORATION OF MINERAL DEPOSIT

AREA SELECTION

•Area selection is the most crucial part of mineral exploration. Selecting the most suitable area, geological field and terrain will assist in making the exploration easy, cheap and quick.

Iron ore deposit. This is an example of a suitable area for

exploration.

DEFINITION

•Mineral exploration is the process of finding ore to mine. It is an intensive, organized and professional form of mineral prospecting.

An exploration drill.

EXPLORATION METHODS: GEOPHYSICS

•Geophysics uses physical methods to measure the surface properties of the Earth.

Examples include geodesy, magnetic and electrical techniques.

EXPLORATION METHODS: REMOTE SENSING

•This term generally refers to the use of aerial sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth.

Today, satellites are widely used to take snapshots of the area around the deposit in question.

EXPLORATION METHODS: GEOCHEMICAL METHODS

• In mining exploration, geochemistry is used to identify the anomaly that is found within the area of the mineral deposit.

Two computer generated views of Agnico eagle’s Suurinkuusiku gold mining project showing both

surface and underground mining.

RISK

• The prices of minerals and exchange rates are constantly changing

• Poor access to exploration areas as a result of remoteness or difficult terrain

• Poor weather conditions over a prolonged period which might negatively affect exploration activities and the timing of earning revenues

GREENFIELDS AND BROWNFIELDS

• The area in a mining exploration is being coducted is termed either a greenfield or a brownfield.

A greenfield generally means an unspoilt area.

A brownfield is an area that was already drilled or explored upon. It is almost always located nearby a known ore deposit.

EXTRACTION

The ultimate goal of mineral exploration is

the extraction, and profitable sale of

minerals.

NEW WORDS

• Prospect- search for mineral deposits

• Intensive- very thorough

• Crucial- of great importance

• Suitable- right for a particular purpose

• Field- an area of open land

• Terrain- a stretch of land seen in terms of it is physical features: rough terrain

• Assist- support to something

• Method- a way of doing something

• Measure- find out the size of something be comparing it with a standard

• Include- contain something as part of a whole

• Aerial- existing in the air

• Refer- describe something

• Satellite- an artificial object placed in orbit round the earth

• Snapshot- an informal photograph

• Prolonged- continuing for long time

• Infrastructure- the basic structures needed for a society to function

• Anomaly- something that differs from what is normal

• Due- needing to be paid

• Uncertainty- not reliable

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ATTENTION