Prospecting and Exploration Flashcards
A solid, naturally occurring mineral aggregate of economic interest from which or more valuable constituents may be recovered.
Ore
It is a geologic incongruity that has the possibility of being an ore deposit.
Anomaly
The intensity of anomaly is __________ to the grade of mineralization
Proportional
A multiplier by which the elemental concentration must be increased on average for it to be mineable at a profit.
Enrichment Factor
The minimum percentage by mass in an economic deposit.
Cut-off Grade
The natural concentration of one or more metallic, non-metallic, and a combination of minerals within the host rock.
Ore Deposit
An ore deposit is defined by the following:
Average Quantity (tonnes) and Average Quality (Grade)
The principal ore mineral recovered.
Prime Commodity
It is recovered as by-products along with the main mineral.
Associated Commodity
These are elements that aid in indicating a certain mineral commodity.
Trace Elements/ Pathfinder Elements
The altered rock mass or primary mineral deposit having an uneconomic concentration of minerals. It is formed in low-grade residuals due to various processes
Protore
These are associated minerals with no significant or of little commercial value.
Gangue Minerals
These are rejects made of gangue minerals and other processing substances coming from a beneficiation plant.
Tailings
These are undesired minerals/elements that create issues in processing and pose penalties due to equipment damage.
Deleterious Substances
Deleterious Substance found in a uranium concentrate
Calcite
Deleterious Substance found in a zinc concentrate
Mercury
The grassroots exploration program where activities are done in new locales.
Greenfield Discovery
It is assigned where discovery is made by enhancing the reserve in strike and dip continuity of a known orebody or an existing mine.
Brownfield Discovery
It is the first stage of the mine cycle where it involves the search for ores and other valuable mineral resources.
Propsecting
A good mineral potential index and political policy index results to:
Investment Attractiveness Index
The mineral deposit is not limited to its grade and quantity but also the factors surrounding and associated with the deposit.
Modifying Factors
These refer to methods that employs actual excavation through probing, test pitting, or drilling methods which is proven successful in coal and non-metallics
Direct Techniques
These refers to techniques that taps the physical properties of deposits such as sounding and penetration tests. This is almost always required for metallic deposits
Indirect Techniques
The second stage where delineation of the deposit happens to determine its size, shape, grade, and profitability.
Exploration