Geological methods in mineral

exploration

GEOLOGICAL
MAPPING
 IMPORTANCE OF EXPLORATION?

 Establish baseline/background conditions

 Find alteration zones
 Find ore body
 Determine if ore can be mined or leached
 Determine if ore can be processed
 Determine ore reserves
 Locate areas for infrastructure/operations
 Environmental assessment
 Further understand uranium deposits
 Refine exploration models
 STEPS

 Define mineral deposit model

 Select area
 Collect and interpret regional data
 Define local target area
 Field reconnaissance
 Reconnaissance drilling
 Bracket drilling
 Ore discovery
 Select Area

 How do we select an area to look for mineralization?

 Areas of known production

 Areas of known ore mineral occurrences

 Favorable conditions for the particular mineralization

 DATA COLLECTION

 Historical data
 State, federal surveys
 University research programs
 Archives
 Company reports
 Web sites
 Published literature
 Prospectors
 What is geologic mapping

 A way to gather & present geologic data. (Peters, 1978)

 Shows how rock & soil on the earths surface is
distributed. (USGS)
 Are used to make decisions on how to use our water,
land, and resources. (USGS)
 Help to come up with a model for an ore body. (Peters, 1978)
 What is geologic mapping continues
Mineralization along folds
Geological mapping in the Yilgarn Craton
Australia
• To better understand the
geological features of an
area
• Predict what is below the
earth’s surface
• Show other features
such as faults and strike
and dips.
 Geologic mapping
 In the mine life cycle, geologic mapping falls under
Exploration, but it effects all of the life cycles
 Although it is an aspect of exploration and goes on all
the time
Closure
Ongoing
Operations Post-Closure

Temporary Exploration
Closure Future
Land Use
Mine
Development
Operations
(McLemore, 2008)
 Geological mapping

 Geological mapping is commonly the first mineral

exploration method undertaken on the ground

 This involves a visit by a geologist to look at rock

outcrops and to observe the location, orientation and
characteristics of the rocks or sediments exposed at the
surface

 It may involve vehicle access to a property, taking and

recording measurements and walking across the area

 Details of the texture and mineralogy of the various rock

types and structures most be recorded
 Geological mapping
 Also samples most be collected and numbered
systematically

 The information gathered is used to prepare a geological

map of the exploration area

 It is important to start by mapping the anomaly isolated

from the air borne survey

 The goal is to generate a geological map that shows the

various rock types present the different types of
structures in the area as well as the relationships between
the rock types and the different structures
 Geological mapping

Mapping Artisanal mining

 Geological mapping tools

 Field notebooks
 Rock hammer
 Hand Lens (10x or Hastings triplet)
 Pocket knife
 Magnet
 Clip board
 Pencils (2H-4H) and Colored Pencils
 Rapidograph-type pens and Markers
 Scale-protractor (10 and 50 or 1:1000 and 1:4000)
 Belt pouches or field vest
 30 meter tape measurer
 Brunton pocket transit
 GPS/Altimeters
 Camera
 Types of scale

A ratio that relates a unit of measure on a map to some

number of the same units of measure on the earth's surface.
A map scale of 1:25,000 tells us that 1 unit of measure
represents 25,000 of the same units on the earth's surface.
One inch on the map represents 25,000 inches on the
earth's surface.
One meter or one yard or one kilometer or one mile on a map
would represent 25,000 meters or yards or kilometers or
miles, respectively, on the earth's surface.
 Types of scale continues
Map Scale One cm on One km on One inch on One mile on
the map the Earth is the map the Earth
represents represented represents represented
on the map on the map
by by
1:2,000 20 meters 50 166.67 feet 31.68
centimeters inches

1:25,000 250 meters 4 2,083.33 2.53 inches

centimeters feet

1:100,000 1,000 1 1.58 miles 0.634

meters centimeter inches

1:5,000,000 50,000 0.02 78.91 miles 0.013

meters centimeters inches
 Steps in geological mapping

 Most mineral deposits are found in districts where

there has been mining before, an earlier geologist has
noticed something of importance there, or a prospector
has filed a mineral claim
 Literature Search:
 Library (University, Government, Engineering, or Interlibrary
loans)
 State and National bureaus of mines and geological surveys
(may have drill core, well cuttings, or rock samples available to
inspect)
 Mining company information
 Maps and aerial photographs
 Is the information creditable? Is it worth exploring?
 Steps in geological mapping

 Mapping is costly and time consuming, so an area of

interest needs to be defined
 Reconnaissance helps narrows a region to a smaller
area of specific interest
 Reconnaissace in the U.S. usually begins at 1:250,000-
scale
 This large scale mapping can zone-in on areas of
interest that can then be geologically mapped in detail
(this is usually done on a 1:10,000 or 1:12,000-scale).
 Individual mineral deposits can be mapped at a
1:2,000 or 1:2,400-scale to catch its smaller significant
features.
 Detail geological mapping

 When mapping, we want to be quick, because time is

money, but not too quick as to make a mistake or
miss something.
 Along with mapping occurs drilling, trenching,
geophysics, and geochemistry
 Samples can be analyzed for Uranium
concentrations. This gives a better idea of where to
explore more or drill in an area.
 Map production

 The conventional pen and paper approach of map

presentation has been superseded by computerized
drafting that allows the storage of information in
digital form.

 Computer packages, such as AUTOCAD, a computer-

aided drafting package, are widely used in industry.
 Map production

 Maps and plans can be produced to scale and

different features of the overall data set, held on
different layers in the computer, can be selected for
viewing on the computer screen or printed as a hard
copy.

 The data can also be transmitted to more

sophisticated Geographical Information Systems
(GIS), for example ArcGIS or MapInfo, that allow the
inquisition of data.
 Geochemical survey

 Geochemical surveys are undertaken to target areas

for further exploration. The surveys usually involve
the collection of soil, rock and/or sediment samples.
These samples are sent for laboratory analysis to
identify areas of potential mineralisation. The
surveys may comprise:
 Geochemical survey
 Soil sampling – Hand-held
tools such as shovels, picks and
hand augers are used to collect
samples of soil and subsoil.
 Samples are typically collected
on a regular grid pattern and
involve collection of small
(approximately one kilogram)
samples of soil.
 Power augers, either hand  Sampling programs undertaken
operated or vehicle-mounted, using hand tools are supported
may be used. by a four-wheel motorbike or
vehicle. Holes excavated during
the program are typically back-
filled and vegetation replaced
immediately following
sampling.
 Geochemical survey
 Stream sediment sampling –
Approximately two kilogram
samples of sediment are
collected within drainage lines.

 Three samples are usually

taken at the junction of two
creeks: one downstream of the
junction and two upstream of
the junction (in each of the
merging drainage lines).

 Samples are typically extracted

using hand tools and may be
sieved during collection.
 Rock chip sampling – Up to a  Channel sampling – A series of
few kilograms of rock material samples of soil or rock are
from outcrops are collected collected along the face of the
using hand-held tools. excavation.
 This may be a road cutting, the
 Rock chip samples will usually face of an open-cut or
be collected during geological underground mine, a trench or
mapping programs. similar