Overview of Exploration Geology

Exploration geology is the process and science of locating valuable mineral or petroleum
deposits, ie, those which have commercial value. The term “prospecting” is almost synonymous
with the term “exploration”. Mineral deposits of commercial value are called “ore bodies”
(compared to commercially viable deposits of oil which are called “oil fields”). This course will be
focused largely on mineral exploration, although many of the same techniques are used in
petroleum exploration. 

3  The initial signs of potentially significant mineralization are called “prospects”. 

Through the exploration process, the prospect is investigated to acquire more and more detailed
information. The goal is to prove the existence of an ore body (or oil field in the case of petroleum
exploration) which can be mined (or “developed”). The exploration process typically occurs in
stages, with early stages focusing on gathering surface data (which is easier to acquire), and
later stages focusing on gathering subsurface data, including drilling data and detailed
geophysical survey data.

4  Determining the value of an ore body (or “deposit”) requires determining two main features:  1)
“tonnage” (or volume), and 2)  “grade” (or concentration). The volume is determined by using drill
data to outline the deposit in the subsurface, and by using a geometric models to calculate the
volume.  If the ore body is exposed at the surface, then the dimensions of length and width can
be gathered at the surface, possibly with the aid of some trenching or blasting methods. 
However, most of the volume which must be defined is typically located at depth and requires the
use of extensive drilling or underground excavation methods to define.  The volume is difficult to
delineate because ore deposits often have irregular shapes. The “grade” is the average
concentration determined from numerous assays of drill samples.  The grade can vary
considerably within different parts of the same ore body. 

5  Development usually consists of extensive, close-spaced drilling which outlines the geometry
of the deposit in great detail.  The development stage will also conduct extensive testing, with
some preliminary metallurgical testing, to precisely determine grade of the deposit and the
“recovery” (the amount of metal possible to extract, compared to the total amount of metal
present in the ore body).  The final stage before actual mining or extraction is called “feasibility”. 
During this stage, the actual mining or extraction method is proposed, taking into consideration
all of the economic variables which effect the bottom-line profit (commodity price, milling cost,
transportation cost, labor cost, etc...).  At this stage, a decision is made whether to mine the
deposit from the surface (called “open-pit mining”), or to mine the deposit by tunneling (called
“underground mining”).

6  Mineral seldom occur at the surface and are seldom obvious. 

Most often they are buried, sometimes at considerable depth. Since they are not visible we must
detect their presence indirectly and extrapolate between points where data is known. Many
different techniques can be used to detect an ore body.  This class will discuss the more
important techniques in some detail; others are only briefly mentioned. The most important
techniques used in exploration geology include geological field methods, geochemical sampling
methods, and geophysical methods.  Exploration conducted from the surface is far less
expensive than drilling or underground excavation, so thorough surface exploration usually
precedes either of these activities.

7  The Exploration Process

Exploration for a mineral deposit is usually conducted in a step-wise fashion which progresses
through stages, each of which moves closer to making a valuation of the ore body.  Geological
reconnaissance and surface geochemical sampling prevail in the earliest stage.  Simultaneously
or afterwards, geophysical surveys are typically conducted.   Following surface exploration, the
project moves into the drilling stage.  Drilling may begin with a small number of exploratory drill
holes on select targets.  After this drilling stage, extensive, close-spaced drilling (called 
“development drilling”) is conducted.  Finally, pending good results, “reserve drilling” is
conducted, which is the type of drilling which makes the final assessment of the deposit before
actual mining begins.  Generally, some amount of drilling will continue throughout the life of the
mine, as further definition is required and new information is obtained and used to refine the
deposit model.

8  Exploration MethodsIf bedrock is exposed anywhere at or around a prospect, then surface

bedrock mapping is an essential beginning step for an exploration program.  This would include
mapping and sampling (field geologic methods).  This work focuses on identifying and mapping
outcrops, describing mineralization and alteration, measuring structural features (geometry), and
making geologic cross sections.Geochemical methods involve the collection and geochemical
analysis of geological materials, including rocks, soils and stream sediments.  The results
mapping and sampling may suggest patterns indicating the direction where an ore deposit could
be present underground or at the surface.  Geophysical methods focus on measuring physical
characteristics (such as magnetism, density or conductivity) of rocks at or near the earth’s
surface.  The measured values are then used to compare with the values and models of known
ore deposits. 

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