Basic Techniques of Mineral Exploration
Basic Techniques of Mineral Exploration
Basic Techniques of Mineral Exploration
Exploration
Introduction to Basic Techniques
of Mineral Exploration
Learning Objectives:
Background information
Prospecting and Exploration
Pankaj Vaidya Methods of choosing target areas
Sr. Geologist, Techniques of Prospecting and Exploration
Ground exploration method
Regional Training Division Sampling
Geological Survey of India Geochemical Exploration
Geophysical Exploration
Technological
Scout Drilling
Background Information
Exploration Companies search globally for mineral deposits that can be
economically mined and processed. Mineral exploration is made up of a
variety of different activities and techniques that are used to find a
potential discovery – which may one day become an operating mine.
Going from a previously unexplored piece of land ("greenfield
exploration") to a well-defined mineral deposit can take years of work
and huge sums of money. The chance of success is slim, but the
right find can yield large benefits for stakeholders.
There are two main groups of techniques that may be utilized
during mineral exploration programs, depending on the mineral
deposit type and stage of exploration that is being pursued – as
well as the location and budget of the program.
What is Prospecting and Exploration
Mineral Exploration consists of two activities;
The methods employed during either of the activities can not be rigidly
isolated.
Stream Sediments: Covering large areas, should be collected on 1.0km X 1.0 km grid
either of first or second order stream.
Bedrock/Chips/ grooves sampling: BRS should be collected in regular grid pattern in the
form of chips/grooves from the exposed outcrops to identify the anomalous zone or to
determine general grade of deposits.
Grab sampling: Random sampling, carried out in any stage of exploration, quick
approximation of the grade.
Channel sampling: Suitable for uniformly distributed mineralization in the form of veins
stringers and disseminations. The sampling is generally carried out by cutting of
Channels across mineralized body in fresh surface exposures.
Method of collection of Channel samples
Geochemical Exploration
Essential principle of Geochemical exploration: The quantitative determination of
anomalous distribution of certain elements in the surface soil and sub-surface overburden and comparison
with a known background values give an idea of the rocks, mineral deposits hidden below the ground.
It deals with enrichment or depletion of certain chemical elements in the vicinity of mineral deposits
other than barren regions.
Systematic measurement of one or more element or group of element in the earth crust, such rock,
soil, stream or lake sediment constitutes geochemical prospecting in mineral exploration.
Primary Dispersion: if the dispersion takes place, simultaneous with the ore deposition.
Secondary Dispersion: if the dispersion takes place, at a later stage after the ore deposition.
The deep seated Environment: Characterised by high temperature, pressure, restricted circulation of
fluids and low free oxygen content. Magmatic and metamorphic process predominate in this zone. In deep
seated environment, the channel ways and sites of redeposition are generally fissures and intergranular
opening of deep seated rocks.
The surficial Environment: Characterised by low temperature, low pressure, free movement of solution.
Surficial processes such as weathering, erosion and sedimentation predominate this zone. In this
environment, the dispersal of material is through fissures, joints of the surficial or near surface rocks,
through soil, stream sediments, water etc.
Geochemical Exploration (Continued)
Common Practice followed for Geochemical Exploration:-
Collection of rock samples
Collection of soil samples
Collection of Stream Sediment Samples
Collection of Water Samples
The samples should be collected at regular intervals, the grid lines being transverse
to the strike of the suspected zone of mineralisation
Geophysical Exploration
Geophysical prospecting is the search for hidden mineral deposits by the
measurement of certain physical properties of the earth’s surface.
This involves the field measurement of certain properties like
Gravity (Massive Sulphide ore, Iron Ore, Chromite etc.)
Magnetism (Magnetite, Pyrrhotite with base metal)
Electrical conductivity (Metallic Mineral Deposits)
Seismic (to check the capacity of rocks to transmit the earthquake
waves)
Geophysical techniques can be especially useful on properties that have a large amount of
overburden, making it difficult or impossible to access mineralized rock for geochemical analysis.
Certain geophysical methods can detect anomalies 500 metres below surface.
Technological
Trenching:- A trench is a narrow linear excavation which is generally
done to expose concealed outcrop where the soil is not too deep
(upto 4 m). Trenches are usually employed to expose steep dipping
bedrock buried below shallow overburden.
2. While choosing potential target areas in mineral exploration what are the
direct field evidences?