GS 673: Mineral Exploration

Syllabus​

Distribution of ore deposits in space and time. Ore types and crustal evolution. Design of exploration programmes based on the concept of ore-types. Stages of exploration and objectives. Prospecting criteria and selection of areas for exploration during reconnaissance and initial follow-up. Geological setting and prospecting criteria for important deposits. Gold deposits, massive sulfide deposits, porphyry copper deposits, tin-tungsten deposits associated with acid magmatism, Mississippi Valley type deposits, and uranium deposits. Integration of data sets for evaluation of mineral potential.
Geological aspects of drilling borehole location, planning of drilling operations, borehole surveys, correction of deviated boreholes and directional drilling, core-sampling and assaying. Economic classification of mineral resources, calculation of in-situ reserves from borehole data. Underground sampling and calculation of blocked reserves. Introduction to geostatistical estimation of reserves.

Texts/References

  • Peters, W.C. Exploration and Mining Geology, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1987
  • Marjoribanks, R.W. Geological Methods in Mineral Exploration and Mining, Chapman & Hall, London, 1997
  • Chugh, C.P. High Technology in Drilling and Exploration, Oxford & IBH, New Delhi, 1992
  • Rose, A.W. Hawkes, H.E. and Webb, J.S. Geochemistry in Mineral Exploration, Academic Press, London, 1979
  • Kuzvart, M. and Bohmer, M. Prospecting and Exploration of Mineral Deposits, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1986
  • Edwards, R.P and Atkinson, K. Ore Deposit Geology and its Influence on Mineral Exploration, Chapman & Hall, New York, 1986
  • Evans, A.M. Introduction to Mineral Exploration, Blackwell Science, Oxford, 1955