MODULE 1

INTRODUCTION
TO MINERAL
EXPLORATION
EM366: MINERAL EXPLORATION
 I. Introduction to Mineral Exploration
TOPICS TO BE II. Definition
COVERED Mineral and Rock
Ore
Ore Deposit
Prime Commodity, Associated
Commodity and Trace Element
Protore
Gangue Minerals and Tailings
Deleterious Substance
II. Stages of Exploration
 GOOD EXPLORATION PLANNING AND DECISION
MAKING - MEASURE RISK AND REWARD; PERSIST
WHERE THE GEOLOGY IS ENCOURAGING AND WHERE
THE REWARDS WILL BE LARGE; RECOGNIZE WHEN
YOU HAVE FAILED.
- CAMERON R. ALLEN, COMINCO LTD.
WHAT IS MINERAL
EXPLORATION?
Prospecting & Exploration are activities that will
investigate an evidence (outcrop / prospect) of
mineral occurrence and outline its size and
character.
Prospecting & Exploration are activities that
involves the collective efforts of geologists,
geophysicist, geochemists, metallurgists, mining
engineers, chemists, lawyers, and politicians.
PROSPECTING AND
EXPLORATION
PROSPECTING

– search for ore or for geological occurrence that have the

potential of being an ore body

EXPLORATION

– defined as the activities of evaluating a geologic prospect

to determine its size, shape, grade, and profit potential.
BASIC STEPS IN MINING

PROSPECTING FEASIBILITY DEVELOPMENT EXPLOITATION MINING

AND STUDY CLOSURE,
- to create access to - to operate the
EXPLORATION an ore body and mine or conduct REHABILITATION,
- to evaluate
- to find define the financial viability, building of mine large-scale RECLAMATION
extent & value of technical & plant and production of ore
equipment - to make mined out
ore where it is financial risks, and
areas suitable for
located make decision
future use
(“orebody”) whether to develop
or not the mine
project
DEFINITION OF TERMS

MINERAL ORE DEPOSIT

- are naturally occurring substance that have a – a natural concentration of one or more minerals
chemical composition and distinct physical within the host rock.
properties.
HOST/ COUNTRY ROCK
ROCK – are considered mother rock where the mineral is
- are aggregate of minerals enclosed/deposited/confined.

ORE GANGUE MINERAL

– a naturally occuring mineral aggregate of - valueless minerals in an ore
economic interest from which one or more
TAILINGS
valuable constituents may be recovered by
treatment. – rejects of the process plant which are composed
of the gangue minerals
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

PROSPECT FLOATS
– surface indication of mineralization that requires - are mineral exposures consisting of loose or traces
investigation. of mineral remnants found downslopes of a mineral
deposit.
ANOMALY
- a geologic feature esp. in the subsurface MINERAL EXPLORATION
distinguished by geological, geophysical or - is the process undertaken by mining companies or
geochemical means different from general corporations in finding an ore deposit viable to mine.
surroundings and is often of economic value (e.g.
magnetic anomaly). PRIME COMMODITY
GOSSANS - is the principal ore mineral recovered from the
– are ferruginous deposit filling the upper part of mines.
some mineral veins forming superficial cover over
masses of pyrite. It consist mainly of hydrated iron
ASSOCIATED COMMODITIES
oxides and has resulted from removal of sulfur as – are the associated minerals recovered as by-
well as copper and other sulfides originally present. products along with the main mineral.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

TRACE ELEMENTS PROTORE

– a number of valuable contained – an altered rock mass or primary mineral deposit having
in all ore deposits in smaller uneconomic concentration of minerals. It may be further enriched by
quantity that can be recovered natural processes to form ore. These are low-grade residual deposits
during processing of ore. formed by weathering, oxidation, leaching and similar alteration.

DELETERIOUS SUBSTANCES
– any undesirable substances
occassionally associated in
metallic ore minerals that pose
extra processing cost and penalty
on the finished product.
 STAGES OF EXPLORATION
RECONNAISSANCE LARGE AREA PROSPECTING PROSPECTING
- is the “grassroots” exploration - a blend of Reconnaissance and - is the systematic process of
for identifying enhanced Prospecting activities incuding searching promising mineral
mineral potential or initial general detailed exploration targets identified during
targets on a regional scale. Reconnaissance.
Activities include: The objective is more
Activities include: 1. Detailed Geological Mapping definitive exploration for
1. Remote Sensing 2. Rock Chip and Soil Sampling increasing geological
2. Airborne and Ground 3. Close-Spaced ground confidence leading to further
exploration
Geophysical Survey geophysics
3. Regional Geological 4. Reverse Circulation and
Overview Diamond Drilling on wide-
4. Map Checking/ Mapping spaced section lines
5. Geochemical Survey 5. Resource Estimation of
6. Test Pitting and Trenching Inferred or Possible Category
 STAGES OF EXPLORATION... CON'T
GENERAL EXPLORATION DETAILED EXPLORATION ON-GOING EXPLORATION
- the initial delineation of an - conducted before the start of - Diamond drilling is a
identified deposit mining phase or mine continuous process
development throughout the entire life of
- The objective is to establish the the mine to supplement
major geological features of a deposit, - involves three-dimensional reserve for the depleted ore.
giving a reasonable indication of delineation to outline firm Exploration continues during
continuity and providing an estimate contact of the orebody, RQD for the mine development and
of size with high precision, shape, mine stability, planning and production.
structure and grade preparation of samples for pilot
plant metallurgical test work - This is primarily conducted
- Estimates are in the Indicated and by underground diamond
Inferred Category drilling to enhance reserve
down dip and in the strike
-The activity ends with preparation of direction.
broad order of economic of "Pre-
Feasiblity" or "scoping" study
STAGES OF EXPLORATION
FACTORS IN PLANNING AN EXPLORATION PROGRAM

LOCATION OF DEMAND FOR PRODUCTS

METAL PRICES

HOST COUNTRY FACTORS - CHOICE OF

COUNTRY OF OPERATION

THE STRUCTURE OF THE MINING

INDUSTRY - BARRIERS TO THE ENTRY OF
NEW PRODUCERS ARE COMPETITION OF
EXISTING PRODUCERS AND NEED FOR
CAPITAL TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIES OF
SCALE
PHILIPPINE MINERAL
REPORTING CODE
- sets out the minimum standards, recommendations and
guidelines for Public Reporting in the Philippines of Exploration
Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves
PHIL. MINING ACT
PERMIT REQUIRED TO CONDUCT EXPLORATION
ACTIVITIES UNDER THE MINING ACT:

EXPLORATION PERMIT

•The Permittee is granted the right to undertake exploration activities, including

baseline environmental information.

Period : 2 years
Renewal : Nonmetallic mineral exploration - Like period but not to exceed a
total term of 4 years.
Metallic mineral exploration - Like period but not to exceed a total
term of 6 years.

Approving Authority:
Original term – MGB Regional Director upon clearance by MGB
Director
1st Renewal – MGB Director
2nd Renewal – MGB Director
3rd Renewal – DENR Secretary
ACTIVITY # 1

READ THE PMRC 2007 AND ANSWER THE FOLLOWING

QUESTIONS:
1. What is PMRC? What is its purpose?
2. What are the governing principles of PMRC? Explain.
3. What are the qualifications of a Competent Person?
4. What is a Mineral Resource? Give the types of Mineral
Resource.
5. What is an Ore Reserve? Give the types of Ore Reserve.
6. When does a Mineral Resource become an Ore Reserve?