礦產勘查學資料：Exploration geology

ME551/GEO551INTRODUCTIONTOGEOLOGYOFINDUSTRIALMINERALS

SPRING2011

BASICCONCEPTS:GEOLOGY,MINING,ANDPROCESSINGOFTHEINDUSTRIALMINERALS

VirginiaMcLemoreOUTLINEDefinitionsLifecycleofamineClassificationofreservesandresourcesGeologyofindustrialmineralsFieldnotesSamplingDEFINITIONSAmineraloccurrenceisanylocalitywhereausefulmineralormaterialisfound.Amineralprospectisanyoccurrencethathasbeendevelopedbyundergroundorbyabovegroundtechniques,orbysubsurfacedrillingtodeterminetheextentofmineralization.Theterms

mineraloccurrenceandmineralprospectdonothaveanyresourceoreconomicimplications.Amineraldepositisanyoccurrenceofavaluablecommodityormineralthatisofsufficientsizeandgrade(concentration)thathaspotentialforeconomicdevelopmentunderpast,present,orfuturefavorableconditions.

Anoredepositisawell-definedmineraldepositthathasbeentestedandfoundtobeofsufficientsize,grade,andaccessibilitytobeextracted(i.e.mined)andprocessedataprofitataspecifictime.Thus,thesizeandgradeofanoredepositchangesastheeconomicconditionschange.

Orereferstoindustrialmineralsaswellasmetals.Generally,industrialmineralsareanyrock,mineral,ornaturallyoccurringsubstanceorcloselyrelatedman-madematerialofeconomicvalue,generallyexcludingmetals,fuels,andgemstones.

“Withoutamarket,anindustrialmineraldepositismerelyageologicalcuriosity”Demandfeedsbackfromtheend-usemarket,totheendproduct,totheintermediateendproduct,andfinallybacktothemineralsupplier.CustomerspecificationsincludephysicalandchemicalandothercriteriaClassificationofmineralresourcesonU.S.FederalLandLocatableMineralsarewhateverisrecognizedasavaluablemineralbystandardauthorities,whethermetallicorothersubstance,whenfoundonpubliclandopentomineralentryinqualityandquantitysufficienttorenderaclaimvaluableonaccountofthemineralcontent,undertheUnitedStatesMiningLawof1872.Specificallyexcludedfromlocationaretheleasableminerals,commonvarieties,andsalable

minerals.

LeasableMinerals

ThepassageoftheMineralLeasingActof1920,asamendedfromtimetotime,placesthefollowingmineralsundertheleasinglaw:oil,gas,coal,oilshale,sodium,potassium,phosphate,nativeasphalt,solidorsemisolidbitumen,bituminousrock,oil-impregnatedrockorsand,andsulfurinLouisianaandNewMexico.SalableMineralsTheMaterialsActof1947,asamended,removespetrifiedwood,commonvarietiesofsand,stone,gravel,pumice,pumicite,cinders,andsomeclayfromlocationandleasing.Thesematerialsmaybeacquiredbypurchaseonly.LIFECYCLEOFAMINEStagesofMiningExploration(discovery)FeasibilitystudyMinedevelopmentExtraction/productionProcessing/beneficiation/millingMarketingClosure/post-mininguse.on.ca/mndm/mines/mg/mgimages/cycle_e.pdfEXPLORATION

Exploration

identificationofareaswithpotentialfordiscoveryofaneconomicmineraldepositgeologygovernsthequestsurveyssamplinggeophysicsdrillingpitsshafts,aditsbase-line/pre-existingconditionsGenerationofnewprojectideas/targetsCorporateobjectivesPreviousexperienceorknowledgeOldminingdistrictsRecentinformationLiterature,includingunpublishedreports,theses,newsreleasesNewdevelopmentsbyothercompaniesLandAccessIstheareaopentomineralexplorationWhoownsthelandfederalgovernmentstategovernmentprivateIndianotherTransportationSAMPLINGANDANALYSESHowareyougoingtosample?Whataretheend-usespecifications?Whatprocessingmustoccur?FEASIBILITYSTUDYFEASIBILITYSTUDYIsthispropertyeconomic?Whatarethereserves?Canweminethisproperty?Canwemarketthisproduct?Whataretheenvironmentalconsequences?Whatisthelandstatus?Newtechnologiesarebeingdevelopedthatwillincreasethechanceoffindinganewdeposit,savemoney,disturblessland,andminimizeaffectsonlocalcommunitiesandcultures.GeologicmethodsRobustthermodynamicandkineticgeochemicaldataandmodelsNeworedepositmodels,especiallyfordepositswithminimalimpactontheenvironmentMoresophisticated3-dimensionalgeologicalandorereservemodelsBettergeohydrologicmodelsrelatingtomineraldeposits,includingindustrialmineralsdepositsGeologicmapsofmineralizedareasDatabasesofmineraldepositsandmineralizedareasGeochemicalandgeophysicalmethods

Hand-heldanddown-holeanalyticalinstrumentsImprovedcross-boreholecorrelationmethodsandcharacterizationBetterunderstandingofelementmobilityinsoilsandwaterDrones(unmannedaircraft)forairbornegeophysicalmethodsLow-cost,seismicmethodsBetterinterpretationofremotesensingandhyperspectraldata(LivoandKnepper,2004)Moresophisticated3-dimensionalgeochemical,hydrological,andgeophysicalmodelsUNMANNEDAIRBORNEMAGNETICS

(MagSurveyLtd.,http://www.magsurvey.co.uk/)Drillingtechnologies

ApplicationofexistingpetroleumandgeothermaltechniquestomineralexplorationImprovementsindrillingmethodsRequiredgeologicdatasize,shape,andvariabilityoftheoredepositlocationinformationlithologymineralogy--abundanceandmorphologyalterationstructuralrockcompetencydataReportonreservesDataDensityIntegrationofGeologicalInformationListing/RecordingofDataSetDataAnalysisSampleSupportEconomicParametersMineralresourceModelInterpolationMethodMineralResourceValidationEvaluationofpotentialorebodyOregrade:lotsofdifferentunits,cut-offgrade,homogeneityBy-products:commonlycriticaltosuccess;Au,Ag,WCommodityprices:forcastingthefutureMineralogicalform:nativevssulfidevsoxidevssilicateEvaluationofpotentialorebodyGrainsizeandshape:McArthurRiver200Mt,10%Zn,4%Pb,0.2%Cu,45ppmAgUndesirablesubstances:As,Sb;calciteinacidleachableUoresSizeandshapeofdeposits:undergroundvsopenpit;Fig1.16Orecharacter:hardvssoft(blasting,wallsupport)costandsafetyEvaluationofpotentialorebodyCostofcapitalLocation:infrastructureandtransportationEnvironmentalconsiderations:VERYimportantTaxation:involvedsubject:depreciation,Politicalfactors:nationalization,foreignexchangeMINEDEVELOPMENTMINEDEVELOPMENTlowercostssitedevelopmentconstructionestablishinfrastructuredeveloptheminesurface(openpit,stripmining)underground(roomandpillar,shrinkagestope)solution/leachingPROCESSING/BENEFICIATION/

MILLINGOPERATIONS

Processing/beneficiation/millingExtraction/miningcrushing(primary,secondary)grindingconcentration(gravityseparation,flotation,leaching,SX-EW)smeltingrefiningoptimizestheconsumptionofenergynewtechnologiesCBMM’snewplantforFeNbcrushingandpackaging(June1999)isfullyautomated.Manualhandlingwaseliminatedandreplacedbyarobot.

.br/english/sources/mine/operat/f_operat.htmMARKETINGMARKETINGTransportationCustomerspecificationsClean,recyclableandeasilytransportableChangingmarketslowcostproductshavehighlevelsofperformanceminimalenvironmentalimpactsCLOSURE/POST-MININGUSECLOSURE/POST-MININGUSEReclamationSustainingpost-mininguseClose-outplansResponsibilitiesofthegeologistExploration--discoveryFeasibilitystudy--orebodyevaluation,reservesMinedevelopment--minedesignandplanningExtraction/production--gradecontrolProcessing/beneficiation/millingMarketing--developamarketClosure/post-mininguse--environmentalgeologyJUNIORCOMPANYPropertythatcanbesoldtoinvestorsHighassaysPopularcommodityCurrentmodelRarelywillmineatthislevel--expectstoselltoaminingcompanyMID-SIZECOMPANYMusthaveinvestorappealMediumtolargereservesShorttermproductionataprofit--mustgeneratecashflowMaymineifthedepositissmallenoughLARGECOMPANYworldclassorebodyMANUFACTURINGANDCHEMCIALCOMPANIESSpecificdepositstomeetspecificproductspecificationsMinesnotasimportantasspecificationsandlongtermsupplyCLASSIFICATIONOFRESERVESANDRESOURCESRESERVESInferred:ThatpartofaMineralResourceforwhichtonnage,gradeandmineralcontentcanbeestimatedwithalowlevelofconfidence.Indicated:ThatpartofaMineralResourceforwhichtonnage,densities,shape,physicalcharacteristics,gradeandmineralcontentcanbeestimatedwithareasonablelevelofconfidence.Measured:ThatpartofaMineralResourceforwhichtonnage,densities,shape,physicalcharacteristics,gradeandmineralcontentcanbeestimatedwithahighlevelofconfidence.RESERVESProbable:TheeconomicallymineablepartofanIndicatedand,insomecircumstances,MeasuredMineralResource.Proven:TheeconomicallymineablepartofaMeasuredMineralResource.“Amineraliswhereyoufindit.Itmaynotbethemostsuitableplaceintheworld.”

U.S.SenatorLarryCraig,explainingwhyheisseekingtoliftlimitsonminewastedumpingon

publiclands

Industrialmineraldepositsdiffersignificantlyfromother,moretypicalmetallicmineraldepositsandevenamongstthemselves.Customerspecificationsforindustrialmineralproductsarefrequentlybased

solelyonphysicalpropertiesratherthan,orinadditionto,chemical

characteristics.

Anindustrialmineralmayhavemultiplemarketapplicationsoritmaybe

includedinmultipleend-products.Itisessentialtodeterminethephysicaland

chemicalcharacteristicsoftheindustrialmineralinsufficientdetailthatits

appropriatenessforeachintendedmarketcanbeassessed.

Determinationofthechemicalandphysicalcharacteristicsofanindustrialmineralofteninvolvesproceduresandteststhatarenotpartofthenormalactivityofananalyticallaboratory.

Thepropertiesofanindustrialmineraloccurrencecanvarymarkedlyfromlocationtolocationandevenwithinthesamedeposit.Inparticular,manyindustrialmineralsdepositsaresubjecttoanuggeteffect.

Publishedspecificationsandstandardsforindustrialmineralsshouldbeused

primarilyasascreeningmechanismtoestablishthemarketabilityofanindustrialmineral.Thesuitabilityofanindustrialmineralforuseinspecificapplicationscanonlybedeterminedthroughdetailedmarketinvestigationsanddiscussionswithpotentialconsumers.

GEOLOGYOFINDUSTRIALMINERALSDEPOSITSGeologyprovidestheframeworkinwhichmineralexploration

andtheintegratedproceduresofremotesensing,geophysics,

andgeochemistryareplannedandinterpreted.

FactorsimportantinevaluatinganindustrialmineralsdepositCustomerspecificationsDistancetocustomer(transportation)Oregrade--concentrationofthecommodityinthedepositBy-productsCommoditypricesMineralogicalformGrainsizeandshapeFactors--continuedUndesirablesubstancesSizeandshapeofdepositOrecharacterCostofcapitalLocationEnvironmentalconsequences/reclamation/bondingLandstatusTaxationPoliticalfactorsTYPESOFMINERALDEPOSITSEpigeneticmineraldepositformedmuchlaterthantherockswhichencloseit

Syngeneticmineraldeposit

formedatthesametimeastherocksthatencloseit

Whydoweclassifymineraldeposits?

Whydoweclassifymineraldeposits?geologicalconditionsofformationhowtheyformedwheretheyformedexplorationSimpleclassificationmagmaticsedimentarysupergenemetamorphicDepositGroups

.bc.ca/Mining/Geoscience/MineralDepositProfiles/ListbyDepositGroup/Pages/default.aspxOrganicResidual/surficialPalcerContinentalsedimentsandvolcanicsSediment-hostedChemicalsedimentMarinevolcanicassociationEpithermalVein,brecciaandstockworkMantoSkarnporphyryUltrmafic/maficCarbonatitesPegmatitesMetamorphic-hostedGems,semi-preciousstonesIndustrialrocksotherLithologyUnconsolidateddepositsSedimentaryrocksVolcanicrocksIntrusiverocksRegionallymetamorphosedrocks.bc.ca/Mining/Geoscience/MineralDepositProfiles/LithologicalListing/Pages/default.aspxCommodity.bc.ca/Mining/Geoscience/MineralDepositProfiles/Pages/ListingbyCommodity.aspxClassificationofindustrialmineralsEnd-useandgenesis(Bates,1960)Byunitpriceandbulk(Burnett,1962)Unitvalue,placevalue,representativevalue(Fisher,1969)Chemicalandphysicalproperties(Kline,1970)Geologicoccurrenceandend-use(Dunn,1973)Geologyoforigin(HarbenandBates,1984)Alphabetical(HarbenandBates,1990,Carr,1994)Somedepositsareformedbymorethanoneprocess(placers,somenephelinesyenites)GeneticprocessesthatleadtotheconcentrationofmineralsHydrothermalmineraldepositsformedinassociationwithmagmaandwaterMagmaticmineraldepositsconcentratedinigneousrocks(crystallizationversessegregation)Sedimentarymineraldepositsprecipitatedfromasolution,typicallyseawaterPlacerdepositssortedanddistributedbyflowofwater(orice)andconcentratedbygravityResidualmineraldepositsformedbyweatheringreactionsattheearth'ssurfaceGeneticprocesses--continuedLateralsecretionordiffusionofmineralsfromcountryrocksintofaultsandotherstructuresMetamorphicprocesses,bothcontactandregionalSecondaryorsupergeneenrichmentwhereleachingofmaterialsoccursandprecipitationatdepthproduceshigherconcentrationsVolcanicexhalativeHydrothermalmineraldepositsformedinassociationwithmagmaandwaterMagmaticmineraldepositsconcentratedinigneousrocks(crystallizationversessegregation)/faculty/fischer/105_info/105_E_notes/lecture_notes/Mineral_Resources/MR_images/pegmatite.jpeg/faculty/fischer/105_info/105_E_notes/lecture_notes/Mineral_Resources/MR_images/kimberlite_pipe.jpeg/bul/b2156/b2156.pdfSedimentarymineraldepositsprecipitatedfromasolution,typicallyseawater

/faculty/fischer/105_info/105_E_notes/lecture_notes/Mineral_Resources/MR_images/death_valley_salt_flats.jpgPlacerdepositssortedanddistributedbyflowofwater(orice)andconcentratedbygravityBeachplacersandstonedepositsaretabular,strataboundREE-Ti-Nb-Zr-Th(U)deposits.Residualmineraldepositsformedbyweatheringreactionsattheearth'ssurface--bauxitefromAustraliaLateralsecretionordiffusionofmineralsfromcountryrocksintofaultsandotherstructuresMetamorphicprocesses,bothcontactandregional

Skarns

:8080/~meinert/Hedley.gifSecondaryorsupergeneenrichmentwhereleachingofmaterialsoccursandprecipitationatdepthproduceshigherconcentrations

Volcanicmassivesulfidedeposits

/files/AandO/Humphris_ODPLegacy.pdf/files/AandO/Humphris_ODPLegacy.pdfShapeoforedepositsTabularTubularDisseminatedIrregularreplacementStrataboundOpen-spacefillingFIELDNOTESFieldNotesNotwritingdownyourobservationscouldresultinmisseddatabeingrecordedandleadtoinaccurateconclusionsabouttherocksbeingstudied.Fieldnotesallowyoutowritedowndescriptionsoffossils,minerals,orrockswhiletheyarebeingcollected.ThissavestimeSketchesarealsohelpfulininterpretinggeologicevents.Fieldnotescanbealegaldocument,andmustbesavedforfuturereference.

FieldNotesRecorddate,time,location,who,weatherDescribelocalitySketchPhotographsLocationDirectionDescriptionOthernotes,comments,futureworkFieldNotesIfyouareunsureofthenameofarock,fossil,ormineral,makeadescriptionofit,butdonotnameituntilyoucanconfirmitsidentity.DetaileddescriptionthicknessofthebedsdescribetherocksrecordanyfossilsormineralsStrikeanddip,trenduniquefeatures(layered,cross-bedding,ripplemarks)FieldNotesCollectsamplesDateLocationPhotographDescriptionLithologyUnitifknownPurposeofsamplingSAMPLING

WHYSAMPLE

Explorationstagetolocateeconomicmineraldeposits,drilltargets.Developmentstagetodeterminereserves.Productionstagetomaintaingradecontrol.Environmentalmonitoring,compliance.SAMPLINGMEDIAAvarietyofsamplingmediacanbetestedsolidliquidairbiologicalCOMPONENTSOFASAMPLINGPLANDefinequestionsandobjectivesDevelopsiteconceptualmodelsCostsandpotentialconsequencesofnotsamplingIdentifytypesofdataandinformationneededDefineconfidencelevelandquantityofdatarequiredtoanswerquestionsDesignthesamplingplanCOMPONENTS—continuedDevelopprotocolsConductanorientationorpilotstudybeforeimplementationConductsamplingplanAnalyzeandmanagedata(interpretation)Makedecisions(riskmanagement)Educateandinformthepartiesinvolved1.DEFINEQUESTIONSANDOBJECTIVES

Identifysources,transport,andeffectsofpotentialcontaminationofsoilanddrainagequality.Validatepredicativemodels.Validatemitigation/remediation/reclamationefforts.Preventativeandremediationmonitoring.Establishbackgroundorexistingconditions.Identifyimpactedareasvs.pristineareas.PotentialuseofwaterinoperationsOperationalcompliancemonitoring.Validatereclamationefforts2.DEVELOPSITECONCEPTUALMODELS

ReviewexistingdataClimaticdataPhysicaldataGeology(mineralogy)Hydrogeology(Surface-groundwaterinteraction)MininghistoryandimpactsofmineworkingsBiologyOtherdataavailable3.COSTSANDPOTENTIALCONSEQUENCESOFNOTSAMPLING

Avoidbeingdatarichbutinformationpoor.Publicperceptionsofrisk.Perceptionsofchemicalsassociatedwiththeminingindustry,suchascyanide.Somelong-termandwidespreadenvironmentalproblemsshouldbeconsideredrelativelyhigh-riskevenifthedataonwhichtheriskassessmentisbasedaresomewhatincompleteanduncertain.4.IDENTIFYTYPESOFDATAANDINFORMATIONNEEDED

Whatsamplingmedia(solid,liquid,biological/wetlands,air)?Whataresources,transportmechanisms,andreceptors?Whatotherparametersmustbemonitored?Whattypeofsampleistobecollectedandisitrepresentativeofsampling?Whatfieldmeasurementsarerequired?Whatisthefeasibilityofsampling?5.DEFINECONFIDENCELEVELANDQUANTITYOFDATAREQUIREDTOANSWERQUESTIONSWhatistheconfidencelevelneeded?Howmanysamplesarerequiredtogettheneededresults?Whatistheprecisionrequired?6.DESIGNTHESAMPLINGPLAN

QA/QCDataformatSafetyissues(OSHAvs.MSHAvs.local,statevs.goodneighbor/employer)Samplelocation,numberofsamples,andfrequencyofsampling,properlabelingofsamples(sitespecific)Whatconstituentsorparametersarerequiredforeachmedia7.DEVELOPPROTOCOLS

CollectiontechniquesSamplecollectionObservationalfielddataModifysamplingplananddeviationsOpportunisticsamplingContaminationHandling/transportPreservationandstorage(fromfieldtolaboratory)7.DEVELOPPROTOCOLS—continuedSamplepre-treatmentinthelaboratoryFiltrationSamplepreparationSampleseparationArchival/storageAnalyticalproceduresandtechniques8.ORIENTATIONORPILOTSTUDYClearunderstandingoftargettypeUnderstandingofsurficialenvironmentsNatureofdispersionfrommineralizedareasSampletypesavailableSamplecollectionproceduresSamplesizerequirements8.ORIENTATIONORPILOTSTUDYSampleinterval,depth,orientation,anddensityFieldobservationsrequiredSamplepreparationproceduresSamplefractionforanalysesGeochemicalsuiteforanalysesDataformatforinterpretation9.CONDUCTSAMPLINGPLAN(PROGRAMIMPLEMENTATION)

10.ANALYZEANDMANAGEDATA

ReportingdataPresentationofdataInterpretationDatainterpretationapproachesStatisticalSpatialGeochemicalGeological10.ANALYZEANDMANAGEDATA—continuedReportinganddisseminationWhatbecomesofdata(storage)CommondataformatsUsethedataReliabilityandlimitationsoffindingsEvaluatethedata(statistics)11.MAKEDECISIONS(RISKMANAGEMENT)

12.EducateandinformthepartiesinvolvedDATAVERTIFICATION“Allanalyticalmeasurementsarewrong:it’sjustaquestionofhowlargetheerrorsare,andwhethertheyareacceptable”(Thompson,1989).DEFINTIONSPrecision--thedegreeofagreementamongrepeatedmeasurementsofthesamecharacteristic.Precisionismonitoredbymultipleanalysesofmanysampleduplicatesandinternalstandards.Accuracy--measureshowcloseyourresultsaretoatrueorexpectedvalueandcanbedeterminedbycomparingyouranalysisofastandardorreferencesampletoitsactualvalue.Analyzingcertifiedstandardsasunknownsamplesandcomparingwithknowncertifiedvaluesmonitorsaccuracy.Completeness--thecomparisonbetweentheamountofvalid,orusable,datayouoriginallyplannedtocollect,versushowmuchyoucollected.Comparability--

theextenttowhichdatacanbecomparedbetwe