MRED 301 Mineral Exploration

PART A. Introduction to mining science. The history, the importance and the contribution of mining to civilization. Mining terminology, stages in the life of a mine, the economic value of mineral resources and their life cycle, surface and underground mining, environmental and safety issues.

PART B. Mineral Exploration. Definition and terms, stages of mineral exploration and anticipated results. Drillhole sampling, data coding, recording and evaluation. Mineral resources reserve estimation and classification systems, sampling grids and number of required drillholes. Case studies of drillholes data evaluation and reserve estimation.

Exercises: The course include computational exercises related to the design of sampling grids, evaluation of drillholes data, mineral resources reserve estimation using different methods (Thiesen polygons and triangles, sections), geostatistical methods, as well as the construction of isoparametric curves.