Abstract
Every mining operation begins with an exploration phase. The exploration procedure adopted varies with the finance available, the type of mineral deposit sought and the geological and geographical environment. Well-organized exploration programmes follow an established pattern beginning with a desk study and ending with the target selection. The target is then evaluated and feasibility studies on the deposit are undertaken. Some companies precede the full feasibility study with a pre-feasibility study when the geological and mining factors are drawn together to outline the likely extent of the project and the form the full feasibility study should take. If the feasibility studies are favourable and all factors are positive the project proceeds to development and eventually to production. The generalized sequence is illustrated in Fig. 11.1 and the component parts are elaborated upon in Table 11.1.
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Edwards, R., Atkinson, K. (1986). The design and implementation of exploration programmes. In: Ore Deposit Geology and its Influence on Mineral Exploration. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-8056-6_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-8056-6_11
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