Techniques in Mineral Exploration

In: Springer eBook Collection

Abstract

1 Introduction: Mineral Resources and Exploration -- 1.1 Growth in Mineral Production -- 1.2 Metal Prices -- 1.3 Patterns of Production and Consumption -- 1.4 The Nature of Mineral Exploration -- 1.5 Mining and the Environment -- 2 Geological Mapping and Prospecting -- 2.1 The Importance of Geological Mapping and Prospecting -- 2.2 Traditional Prospecting Methods -- 3 Photogeology and Remote Sensing -- 3.1 Photogeology -- 3.2 Side-Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR) -- 3.3 Satellite Photographs and Imagery -- 3.4 Thermal Imagery -- 3.5 Other Remote Detection Methods -- 3.6 Air Sampling Methods -- 4 Geochemical Prospecting -- 4.1 Distribution of Elements -- 4.2 Primary Dispersion -- 4.3 Secondary Dispersion -- 4.4 Soil Types -- 4.5 Statistical Treatment of Data -- 4.6 Drainage Surveys -- 4.7 Soil Surveys -- 4.8 Vegetation and Water Surveys -- 4.9 Analytical Methods -- 5 Deep Sampling Methods -- 5.1 Pitting and Trenching -- 5.2 Auger Drilling -- 5.3 Hand-Held Percussion Drills -- 5.4 Wagon Drilling -- 5.5 Banka Drilling -- 6 Geophysical Prospecting -- 6.1 Gravity Surveying -- 6.2 Magnetic Surveying -- 6.3 Resistivity Surveys -- 6.4 Induced Polarization (IP) Surveys -- 6.5 Electromagnetic (EM) Surveying -- 6.6 Self-Potential (SP) Surveys -- 6.7 Equipotential (EP) Surveys -- 6.8 Magneto-Telluric (MT) Surveys -- 6.9 Seismic Methods -- 6.10 Radiometric Surveying -- 6.11 Geothermal Methods -- 6.12 Well-Logging Techniques -- 7 Drilling Methods -- 7.1 Percussion Drilling -- 7.2 Churn Drilling -- 7.3 Diamond Drilling -- 7.4 Rotary Drilling -- 8 Surveying -- 8.1 Chaining -- 8.2 Compass and Tape Surveys -- 8.3 Determination of Elevation -- 8.4 Plane Table Surveying -- 8.5 Surveying Calculations -- 8.6 Measurements with a Theodolite -- 8.7 Measurement of Distance -- 8.8 Astronomical Surveying -- 9 Ore Reserve Calculations -- 9.1 Ore and Ore Reserves -- 9.2 Plan Methods -- 9.3 Cross-Sectional Methods -- 9.4 Steeply Dipping Ore Bodies -- 9.5 Ore Bodies of Variable Dip -- 9.6 Use of Ore Blocks -- 9.7 Cut-Off Grades -- 9.8 Tonnage Factor -- 9.9 Sampling for Grade Determination -- 10 Evaluation of Prospects -- 10.1 Mineral Dressing -- 10.2 Smelting and Refining of Ores -- 10.3 Mining Methods -- 10.4 Economic Feasibility Studies -- 10.5 Examination of Properties.