Karin Olson Hoal (khoal@mines.

edu)
Colorado School of Mines, Golden USA
and KOH Consulting LLC, Golden USA

SEG 2014:
Building Exploration Capability for the 21st Century

100 yrs effort

50 yrs term

7 university programs

10s of labs, geometallurgists

Annual conferences Brisbane, Santiago

(Still no consensus on definition)

Focus on project value: Diverse teams and

Focus
full project information

CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 2

 Technical Financial
Models Models

Grade Resource
distribution estimation

Ore Risks and

variability uncertainties

Ore Capital, op.

costs, cash
extractability flows, G&A
Transport,
energy, CO2
water, social
CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 3
 Vann, 2011
Geo Mining Met
Spatial: 3D Time: plan, Linear:
variability schedule Simple process
CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 4
 Orebody
Grade
eng.
Mine
Sustainability
Economic
TRIAD Geologist Mine2
Mill
Financials Process

Process
options Market Flex mills
Infrastructure

CSM, KOHC
Mine2Mkt SEG Keystone 2014 5
 Ore Quar-
Quar- Through Cu Recovery
type tile put Var. # (b) 100

Projected Cu Recovery (%)

1 Lower 5371 95
15% 6
Upper 6179 90

2 Lower 5454 85
18% 5
Upper 6448 80

3 Lower 5506 75
15% 13
Upper 6353 70 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Ore type
4 Lower 5499
17% 4
Upper 6411

CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 6

 GeM Project AMIRA P843, Walters et al.
CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 7
 Los Bronces, Toro et al., 2013

CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 8

 Lithology+ Oxidation
alteration +leaching
Fracturing
Stru Jointing
Leached cap
Transitional/m
Ore
Mixed
Oxide
Hypogene
Qz veining, Sericitisation Silicification Fracture freq
Alt potassic, propylitic,
argillic
Granite rhyo porphyry
Lith Rhyolite porphyry Breccias
Qz monzonite
Qz monzonite porphyry

CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 9

 A×b (crush) BWI (grind) Ai (abrasion)

Au Rec Ag Rec Zn Rec

CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 10
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 Gypsum/anhydrite Primary ores

Secondary

Clays

CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 13

 Met: Throughput

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Lithology
Dike
Porphyry
Bx 1
Bx 2
Diorite porph
Diorite
QFP
Andesite
Ore zone
Total leach
Partial leach
Secondary
Primary
Primary w anhy
Alteration
K
QS
CS
EP
CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 14
 Corescan

Zeiss 3D xray mic

CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 15

 Recovery value
factor
f(x%sulphideS,
Throughput y%oxidised/Feoxides Cut-
Cut-off grade
value factor species, zqtz:clay)
value factor
f(xab, yqtz
f(x%libAu..,
vein%,
y%vein/dissem,
zfeedgrainsize) zsphga/gan(tot))
$$
(NPV, CF,
costs,
impacts)

CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 16

 Geology Hardness
CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 17
 dike Au shell Au shell
dike
clay

Au >40% locked in py

clay

CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 18

 Sillitoe, 2010

CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 19

 Decision basis:

Grade (data)

Potential (model)

Extractability
geologically informed
spatial sampling
and testwork

Davis and Samis, 2011

CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 20
 1. Expanded, most relevant role – job security

2. Lead in communications, team building

3. Focus on value

4. Always test for variability

5. Re-evaluate ‘ore types’ continually

6. Recovery, TP in geological context

7. Link 3D model with flexible schedule, design

CSM, KOHC SEG Keystone 2014 21