Economics

The grade of the mineral can vary dramatically due to depth. Geologists will use this information to
define the economic limits, to ensure there is return on investment when mining the mineral.

At one point in an operation, mining becomes unprofitable because the grade of the metal is too
low – the value of the metal in the ore is less than what it costs to mine it. Grade control stops
businesses from running at a loss.

Milling
The milling process is designed to be as efficient as possible by being performed at a specific
grade. When mining in a high-grade zone, it is possible for some of the metal to be lost unless it is
blended with low grade metal.

Profitability
Grade control technology improves efficiency, increasing the productivity and profitability of an
operation. Grade control systems allow machinery to operate at a continuous pace, rather than
having to stop for a grade checker to come and measure the excavation, as with conventional
equipment  – a process that often needs reworking. It also decreases the need to do prep work
and to check the grade after the deck. The overall benefit is that it will save you time (and thus
money), without compromising on accuracy.

How does it work?

Drilling machinery provides the operator with real-time grade guidance while they are drilling. What
this means is that they are given information about the desired depth, slope and alignments (which
was traditionally given to them by a specialist inspecting the site). Drilling samples are sent to
laboratories for geologists to access the grade.

 is the process of drilling holes, usually in close proximity to check the

quality & grade of the ore while mining is underway. This is commonly carried
out after the ore body has been identified and is used to help define the mine
model.EXPLORATION Processes AND Stages
Exploration- activities related to establishing a mineral deposit through geological, geophysical and
geochemical methods.

It is preceded by Prospecting and followed by Planning and Development

GEOLOGICAL Methods
drilling
trenching
pitting
Aditing

GEOPHYSICAL Methods
Gravity
magnetic
electrical
Seismic

Mineral exploration stages

1. Study Phase- this is whereby we choose a potential target area,study the demand and supply then
draw up budget.
2. Reconnaissance- this is whereby we acquire land, consult available literature, conduct geochemical
exercises, prospecting, mapping and limited drilling.
3. Target testing- this is where we do detailed mapping, geochemical and physical surveys along with
trenching, pitting and drilling. If successful, it will lead to a study which will establish whether
there could be a viable project that would justify the cost of progressing to the prefeasibility
stage.
4. Prefeasibility stage- this is where major sampling and test work programs including mineralogical
examinations of ore.
5. Feasibility study- ensures drilling, assaying and pilot plant test work will continue.
This study confirms and maximizes value of preferred technical and business options identified in
the Prefeasibility stage.

Drilling is the subsurface collection of earth material (i.e., rock or soil) using a mechanical tool called
a Drill Rig.
Main uses of Drill Rig are:
Exploration and development of mineral & fossil fuel (coal, gas and oil) deposits: ore zone samples,
stratigraphy, RMR etc
Blast-hole drilling
Foundation tests, soil sampling and grout hole drilling

Drilling stages include:

1.Reconnaissance- Regional stratigraphy, or lithological information
2.Target Area Investigation- Subsurface information on stratigraphy and zoning
3.Target Testing- Drill-holes reveal presence or absence of mineralisation
4.Pre-production- Detailed resource/reserve calculation, geotechincal and metallurgical investigation
mine development guidance
5.Mining- To block out additional reserves and provide information for planning
6.Imminent Depletion- An air of desperation finished or not?

Popular drilling methods are Diamond core, Rotary and Percussion.

The reason for core drilling is to collect samples from the subsurface.
The solid rock is cut into a cylindrical rod using the drill bit/crown.
The bit cuts and pushes cylindrical sample into the core barrel until the latter is full (usually 3m in
length).
To bring the sample out of drill-hole, there are two methods: conventional and wire line methods.

With conventional equipment:

The entire drill string with the core barrel is required to be hoisted out of the hole every 3m run. To
take the core sample out
This is followed by lowering back the drill string to start drilling the next run.
Hoisting of the drill string is required to be done each time the drill bit has to be changed or for
cementing of hole.
Not suited to deep holes.

With wireline drilling equipment:

The core barrel holding the core sample is brought out of the hole without removing the entire drill
string assembly out of the hole.
To retrieve the core sample out of the hole, an overshot secured on the end of a wire line is lowered
into the hole
The overshot attaches to the back of the core barrel inner tube and the wire line is pulled back.
In the process the inner tube disengages itself from the core barrel and is pulled out of the hole with the
sample.
The wire line rods are made of fine high-tensile steel. This makes them thin, so that the core can be as
large as possible.
Thus in wire line drilling:
More time is available for actual drilling and speedier progress can be achieved.
Hoisting of the drill string is required to be done only when the drill bit has be changed, or for some
other reasons such as when cementing of hole is required.
For this reason wire line drilling is especially suited to drilling deep holes (e.g. in coal formations)- up
to 1 000m
The drill rods have couplings that are nearly flush inside and designed so that the inner tube of the core
barrel and the overshot can be run inside the rod.

Geological Mapping-
There are 4 types of maps: Reconnaissance, Regional geology, Large-scale and Special purposes.

Geological reconnaissance maps

Reconnaissance maps are made to find out as much as possible about the
geology of an area as quickly as possible. They are usually made at a scale
of 1:250 000 or smaller, sometimes very much smaller. Some reconnais
sance maps are made by photogeology, that is by interpreting geology from
aerial photographs, with only a minimum of work done on the ground to
identify rock types and to identify dubious structural features, such as lin
eaments. Reconnaissance maps have even been made by plotting the main
geological features from a light aircraft or helicopter with, again, only brief
confifirmatory visits to the ground itself. Airborne methods are particularly
useful in regions where fifield seasons are short, such as in northern Canada
and Alaska.

Regional geological maps

Reconnaissance may have given the outline of rock distribution and general
structure; now the geology must be studied in more detail, most commonly
at a scale of 1:50 000 or 1:25 000, although any resulting map will probably
be published at 1:100 000.
Regional geological maps should be plotted on a reliable base. Unfortu
nately, in some countries, geological mapping outstrips topographic coverage
when there is a sudden economic interest in a specifific area and geologists
must then survey the topography themselves. An accurate geological map
loses much of its point if superimposed on an inadequate topographic base.
Regional geological mapping done on the ground may be supported by
systematic photogeology, and it should be emphasised that photogeological
evidence is not inferior to information obtained on the ground although it
may differ in character. Some geological features seen on aerial photographs
cannot even be detected on the ground while others can even be more conve
niently followed on photographs than in surface exposures (see Section 4.10).
All geological mapping should incorporate any techniques which can help in
plotting the geology and which the budget will allow, including geophysics,
pitting, augering, drilling and even the use of satellite images where available.

Detailed geological maps

Scales for detailed geological maps may be anything from 1:10 000 and larger.
Such maps are made to investigate specifific problems which have arisen during
smaller-scale mapping, or from discoveries made during mineral exploration,
or perhaps for the preliminary investigation of a dam site or for other engi
neering projects. In Britain 1:10 000 is now the scale used for regional maps
by the Geological Survey to cover the whole country, replacing the older
‘6 inches to the mile’ series (1:10 560). Few countries match this detail for
their regional topographic and geological map coverage. This is also the scale
most commonly used by British students for their own mapping projects.

Specialised maps
Specialised maps are many and various. They include large-scale maps of
small areas made to record specifific geological features in great detail. Some
are for research, others for economic purposes, such as open pit mine plans at
scales from 1:1000 to 1:2500; underground geological mi plans at 1:500 or
larger; and engineering site investigations at similar scales. There are many cal
and geochemical maps; foliation and joint maps; and sampling plans. Most
are superimposed over an outline of the geology, or drawn on transparencies
to be superimposed on geological maps, to study their relationship with the
solid geology.

GRADE CONTROL