Title: Mineral Exploration Geology III Course 10160 2002
1Mineral Exploration Geology III Course
101602002
- Dr. Solomon Buckman
- Rm H2-24
- Email Solomon.Buckman_at_unisa.edu.au
- My Background
- BHP Cannington Ag/Pb/Zn, MIM Mount Isa
Cu/Pb/Zn - Phd Hong Kong Tectonics and Gold
Mineralization of NW China - Sons of Gwalia, WA Au Exploration, Hargraves
Au/Cu
2Week 1An Introduction to Mineral Exploration
- Mineral exploration is a high-risk enterprise
- Mineral exploration is inherently difficult
because it incorporates numerous geological
variables and processes that have been operating
for millions/billions of years - Mineral exploration is a multi-disciplinary field
incorporating geology, geochemistry geophysics
to aid in the discovery of ore deposits
3The Australian Mineral Industry
- Mineral industry is Australias largest export
earner 43.8 billion - 1999-2000 and contributed
4.75 billion in taxes, royalties and transport
levies - Among the top 3 producers of the 10 most valuable
minerals (Au, diamonds, Zn, Ta Ni) in the world
- The value of the minerals industry has helped
Aust become the 6th wealthiest country, per
capita - Benefits extend beyond export profits to the
development of regional infrastructure,
manufacturing and IT - Over the past 20 yrs the resource sector has
contributed 500 billion to Austs wealth
4Australias Mineral Production Rates
Source AGSO, 2001. Australias Mineral
Exploration. http//www.agso.gov.au/pdf/minerals/p
mseic_28jun01.pdf
5Australian Industry Exports
6Australian Exploration
- In 2000, Australia attracted 17 of the worlds
total exploration expenditure
7Exploration
WMC attributes its growth entirely to successful
exploration which, in turn, is attributed to the
successful application of geological science.
Roy Woodall, former Director of Exploration, WMC,
1983. mines formed probably the most efficient
industry in Australia, by international
standards, but a big section of the public and
many politicians came to think that the dazzling
procession of mineral discoveries had depended
more on luck than on effort and ingenuity.
Geoffrey Blainey, historian, 1993.
8Background Mineral Resources
- Our mineral resource crisis mineral consumption
is growing even faster than the population - Most minerals are used in more developed
countries (MDC) with relatively small consumption
in less developed countries eg MDCs account for
16 of population but consume 70 of world
aluminium, copper, and nickle, 58 of world oil,
48 gas and 37 coal. - As the standard of living in LDCs increases they
will begin to increase consumption of their
minerals - Our civilization is based on mineral resources
- If global population increases as rapidly, the
pressure to find and produce minerals will be
enourmous, as will the potential pollution
related to their extraction and use.
9Case Study Olympic Dam
10Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves
- Go to http//www.jorc.org/main.php?action4 to
download a copy of the JORC Code and Guidelines
for reporting Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves
11Factors Controlling Mineral Availability
- Geologic Factors - constant
- Engineering Factors decreasing ie technology
- Environmental Factors increasing rapidly
- Economic Factors variable
12Minerals and Global Economic Patterns
- The impact of minerals on the global economy is
enormous. Primary (not including recycling) fuel,
metal and industrial mineral production are worth
700, 500 150 billion (Fig 1.7, 1992)
13The New Era of World Minerals
- Traditional geologic, engineering and economic
constraints are being joined by limitations
imposed by environmental considerations. Dealing
with these many factors to supply the next
generation with mineral resources will require
compromises based on a full understanding of the
issues.
14Mineralogy of Economic Deposits
15Mineral Deposit Geology
- Nature and Morphology of Orebodies
- Size and shape
- Discordant orebodies
- Regularly shaped veins, faults, pipes, chimneys
- Irregularly shaped disseminated, stockwork
- Irregular replacement skarn
- Concordant orebodies
- Sedimentary hosts BIFs, limestone replacement
- Igneous hosts VMS, layered intrusives
- Metamorphic hosts Kanmantoo
- Residual deposits - bauxite
16Discordant regularly shaped orebodies
17Discordant irregularly shaped orebodies
18Sedimentary Hosts
Limestone replacement parallel to bedding and a
limited development perpendicular to it,
therefore stratiform.
Stratabound any type of orebody, concordant or
discordant, which are restricted to a particular
part of the stratigraphic column
19(No Transcript)
20Mineral Deposit Geology
- Wall rock alteration
- Alteration halo eg garnet Cannington Ag-Pb-Zn
- Plate tectonics and the global distribution of
ore deposits - Metallogenic provinces and epochs
- Mineral deposits in the principle plate tectonic
regimes
21Mineral deposits in the principle plate tectonic
regimes
- Continental interior basins, intra-continental
rifts and aulacogens - Inland seas Kupfershiefer copper shales,
Bushveld Complex
22Ocean basins and rises
23Passive continental margins
- Mississippi Valley type stratiform sandstone
hosted Cu-Pb-Zn deposits
24Subduction related settings
25Strike-slip settings
26Collision related settings
- S-type granites - uranium
27Mineral Exploration
28(No Transcript)
29(No Transcript)