The three major components of mining
(exploration, mining, and processing) overlap sometimes. After a mineral
deposit has been identified through exploration, the industry must make a
considerable investment in mine development before production starts. Farther
exploration near the deposit and more development drilling within the deposit are done while the mining is processing.
In-situ mining, which is a special case that combines aspects of mining and
processing but does not require the excavation, comminution, and waste disposal
steps. Innovatively combined the main components, such as when in-situ leaching
of copper is undertaken after conventional mining has rubblized ore in
underground block-caving operations.
Exploration:
Mineral exploration has been driven mostly by Modern
technology. Many mineral discoveries can be attributed to geophysical and geochemical technologies developed by both industry
and government. New technology, such as tomographic imaging is newly applied to
mineral exploration. Basic geological sciences, geophysical and geochemical
methods, and drilling technologies Research could improve the effectiveness and
productiveness of mineral exploration. These fields sometimes overlap, and
developments in one area are likely to cross-fertilize research and development
in other areas.
Geological Methods:
Underlying physical and chemical processes of formation are common to many metallic and non-metallic
ore deposits. A geologic database would be beneficial not only to the mining
industry but also to environmental scientists.
Most of the metallic ore deposits are formed
through the interaction of an aqueous fluid and host rocks. Along the fluid
flow pathway through the Earth’s crust, the fluids encounter changes in physical
or chemical conditions at some point. That causes the dissolved metals to
precipitate. In research on ore deposits, the focus has traditionally been on
the location of metal depositions, i.e., the ore deposit itself.
Geochemical and Geophysical Methods:
Analyzing the soil, rock, water, vegetation,
and vapor the Surface geochemical prospecting is involved. For example mercury
and hydrocarbons in soil gas, for trace amounts of metals or other elements
that may indicate the presence of a buried ore deposit.
In the discovery of numerous mineral deposits, geochemical
techniques have played a key role, and they continue to be a standard method of
exploration.
