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Mineral Resource Exploration

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Abstract

This chapter is concerned with the process of analyzing an area to find mineral deposits, which is termed mineral resource exploration. The information collected during exploration is utilized to evaluate the size and quality of an ore deposit and to establish there is an option for it to be mined. Two main phases can be broadly outlined in mineral resource exploration: reconnaissance exploration and detailed exploration. The geological, geophysical, and geochemical methods applied at different stages of mineral resource exploration are described. The methods are organized in order of scale and stage, from remote sensing to drilling, through photogeology, geophysical, and geochemical surveys. Previously, mineral deposit models are applied to predict how and where mineral deposits might occur. Since large databases are generated in geochemical exploration, the main statistical techniques (univariate, bivariate, and multivariate methods) are commented in this heading. Finally, several exploration case studies are summarized to show the main items of mineral resource exploration.

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  1. Faculty of Geology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain

    Manuel Bustillo Revuelta

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Bustillo Revuelta, M. (2018). Mineral Resource Exploration. In: Mineral Resources. Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58760-8_3

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