If you’re looking into mining stocks, it can be easy to just focus on the end product. It is important to know the whole extraction process of any resource whether it’s gold, uranium or silver. The location, the commodity and even the size of each billion dollar project will vary, but five stages are universal to all mines.
A geologist is a scientist who studies solid, liquid and gaseous material on the Earth. They also study processes which shape these materials. The mining geologist’s job is to map out valuable mineral deposits. He will do this by using aerial photographs, geophysical surveys, and field maps.
They are also involved in planning the Richard Warke west Vancouver expansion of mines. These geologists evaluate and locate potential deposits, whether they are precious metals (including gold), industrial minerals (such as gemstones), pigments, or construction materials.
A geologist is responsible for recording all information about the rocks on the surface. They will search for boundary lines between rock types, structures, faults and signs of deformation. Geologists will search for ore minerals and evidence that metal-rich liquids are passing through rock. They also record mineralised veins.
Companies will also use the data in order to narrow down and prioritize their drilling activities. This allows them to select more targeted areas, where mineral and rock samples may be needed. The high-resolution mapping of geological features can help to delineate likely areas for mineralisation, leading to deposits.
For mineral exploration, geophysical measurements are made to obtain information about rocks and sediments. Geophysical firms use magnetic, radiometric electromagnetic, and gravity surveys in order to detect any responses that could indicate the presence or absence of mineral deposits.
The physical properties are measured by exploration geophysics to identify the mineralisation type. This technique is used to map subsurface features of an area, understand the rock unit distribution, as well as to identify structures like faults, foldings and intrusive structures.
An assay is a type of chemical analysis used to determine the amount of metals or nonmetals in a particular sample. Water, vegetation, soils, sediments, rock, and other geological materials, can all be analysed chemically.
Assay labs are able to provide multi-element and single element analyses using different methods. The rock and soil sample is crushed, powdered or fused in an acid solution, then analysed by a number of different methods. Aqueous fluids and rocks interact to form most of the metallic ore. The baseline samples taken are used to assess hydrologic conditions as well the natural abundance of toxic elements within rocks, soils, or waters.
Analyse soil, rock and water samples, as well as vegetation or vapour, for trace elements or metals that might indicate the presence a hidden ore deposit. Geochemical techniques played an important role in locating numerous mineral deposit and are still used today as standard methods of exploration.