EXPLORATION GEOLOGY (RECONNAISSANCE) Flashcards
Stages of an Exploration Project (Eimon, 1988)
Conceptual Planning
Detailed Planning
Reconnaissance Exploration
Target Appraisal
Exploration Drilling
Assessment Drilling
Mine Dev’t
Extraction
Rehabilitation
What would be the outcome of reconnaissance?
Selection of an Area for detailed Groudnwork
Planning - Regional Selection
Recon - Area Selection
Planning Stage of Activities
1) Selecting Commodity and Type of Deposit
2) Exploration Methods Selection
3) Setting up an Exploration Organization
The process of selecting Drilling areas or targets within licensed blocks
Target Selection
Drilling Proper of the Areas or Targets
Target Drilling
Who are the exploration players?
1) Private Sector - w/ substantial capital based generated either from existing mineral production or from investors on stock markets
2) State Organization - on more centrally directed economies, state run companies, geologic surveys (In PH, PMDC, PNOC, MGB)
Key Factors to Exploration Planning
1) Location and Demand for Products - areas of growth in demand, which for metals are the industrializing countries around the Pacific Rim
2) Metal Prices-
Review of Price cycle
Supply and Demand Forecast
3) Host Country Factors
4) Structure of Mining Industry - Compettition from existing producers which can be a barrier
How does a company chooses its exploration strategy?
Depends on the objects of the company and its willingnes to take risks
What are the two ways of exploration strategies for new entrants into a country?
1) Exploration by Acquisition of existing Prospects (Brownfields) - more costly but lesser risk
2) Grassroots (Green Fields)
Characters of a successful exploration Team
1) People-Oriented High Quality Staff - trained
2) Sound Basis of Operations
3) Creative and Productive Atmosphere
4) high Standard of Performance, Integrity and Ethics
5) Entreperenuerial Acumen - Innovation is forstered in High Risk, Hig Reward Environment
6) MOrale and Team Spirit - have “can do” attitude”
7) High Quality of Communication between top mgmt and geologists
8) Has a Specialist Pre-Devt Group (Exploration to Mine Devt Transiiton Team)
Most effective size of an exploration team?
7-10 Geologists
What is the problem with larger exploration groups?
Tend to become too formalized and bureaucratic which leads to inefficiency
What can be the strategy of large mining groups to remain competitive?
Divide its explorationists into semi-autonomous Groups
What can be the basis of dividing exploration groups
1) Geographical Location
2) Deposit Types
During the Reconnaissance Satage, where is most work carried out?
in the National Head office or State Office
What are the departments under the VP for Explo
Exploration
Geophysics
Geological Reasarch
Staff Functions
Mines Geology
Considerations for Explorations Costs
1) Expenditures within an organization
2) Within the context of a project
Who decides for the budget within the exploration (General Budget)
Exploration Geologist
Who decides for the project specific budget?
Project Geologists
Where are the finances of corporate exploration sourced?
1) Existing Production
2) Investors (Selling shares on stock market)