Exploration & Mining Geology Flashcards
(22 cards)
is an applied science which combines the principles of economic geology and mining engineering to the development of a defined mineral resource
Mining Geology
Mine geologists study ______________ and ____________. They are mainly responsible for ______________ in order to advise on short-term and long-term mine production plans
the relationship between geology and ore formation
locate new mineral resources
assessing and analyzing geological data
may be defined as a rock that contains one or more elements sufficiently above the average crustal abundance to have potential economic value.
Mineral Deposit
Two types of mineral deposits
Metallic Mineral Deposit
Non-metallic Mineral Deposit
refers to a specific volume of material in a mineral deposit that can be mined and marketed at a reasonable profit under the prevailing conditions of the commodity prices, costs and technology
Orebody
is the average concentration of a valuable substance in a mineral deposit
Grade (Tenor)
is the minimum concentration required to achieve the break even point for mine in terms of revenue and costs
Cut-off Grade
the reserves of an orebody are commonly classified
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
refers to the pattern of distribution of the minerals in a host rock, and it varies from being very subtle to quite pronounced
Style of Mineralization
Ore minerals dispersed throughout the host rock
Disseminated
An interlacing network of small and narrow (commonly measured in centimeters), close-spaced ore-bearing veinlets traversing the host rock
Stockworks
Mineralization comprising >50% of the host rock
Massive
An ore zone that is extensive in two dimensions, but has a restricted development in its third dimension
Tabular
Mineralization in veins, commonly discordant to the host rock layering
Vein-type
Mineralization confined to a specific bed and, thus, broadly conformable to the host rock layering
Stratiform
Mineralization discordant to host rock layering, but restricted to a particular stratigraphic interval
Strata-bound
may be defined as mineralized area or region containing mineral deposits of a specific type or a group of deposits that possess features
Metallogenic Province
a geologic time interval of pronounced formation of one or more kinds of mineral deposits
Metallogenic Epoch
The discipline of economic geology encompasses three broad aspects
Scientific Study
Exploration
Exploitation
an understanding of known mineral deposits in terms of their distribution, characteristics, and genesis
Scientific Study
application of the knowledge so gathered and various techniques to the discovery and evaluation of new mineral deposits
Exploration
continued investigation of a deposit being mined for maintaining adequate reserves and optimum grade
Exploitation