Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INTRODUCTION
But as for us, though we
may not have perfected
the whole art of the
discovery and
preparation of metals, at
least we can be of great
assistance to persons
studious in its
acquisitions
- AGRICOLA De Re Metallica, 1550
1
SYLLABUS
• Introduction to Exploration and Mining Geology – Mineral Discoveries
• The Global Mining Business and Mineral Economics
• Historical Perspective of Global and Philippine Mining Industry
• Mineral Deposit Types in the Philippines
• The Mining Cycle, Greenfields vs. Brownfields
• Philippine Mining Operations
1.Overview of Mineral Deposits and Mining
2.Metallic mines
3.Non-Metallic Mines
4.Coal mines
5.Quarries
• Exploration, Feasibility and Mine Development
1.Stages of Mineral Exploration
2.Mineral Exploration Methods
1.Prospecting/ Remote Sensing
2.Exploration Geochemistry
3.Exploration Geophysics
4.Geologic Mapping
5.Drilling and Core Logging
6.Sampling and Assaying
7.Computer Methods
8.Reporting of Exploration Results and Mineral Resources
3.Feasibility, Financing and Mine Development
2
SYLLABUS
• Mining Methods and Procedures
1.Mining Methods
1.Small-Scale Mining
2.Large-Scale Mining Operation
1.Underground Mining
2.Surface Mining
3.Other Mining Operations
2.Mineral Processing (Beneficiation), Smelting & Refining
3
What is Mining ?
Mining was the second of man’s endeavors — agriculture was the first
4
Why do we need mines ?
Houses
Cars
Toothpaste
Plumbing
Wiring
Planes
Electronics
Jewelry
Glass
Appliances
Cellphones
……
6
What is Mining Geology?
Mining Geology is an adjunct field of Economic Geology that helps to
locate and manage the Earth's natural resources, such as petroleum and
coal, as well as mineral resources, which include metals and non-metals.
7
Mineral Economics & The Global Mining Industry
How much metal is available?
8
Mineral Economics & The Global Mining Industry
How much metal is available?
9
Mineral Economics & The Global Mining Industry
EARTH’S RESOURCES
• Metallic
• Non-Metallic
• Energy
• Water
Geologic Resources
Geologic resources - valuable materials of geologic
origin that can be extracted from the Earth
11
Types of Geologic Resources
12
What is a mineral?
A solid naturally-occurring compound having a definite
chemical composition
Examples:
quartz - SiO2 (an oxide)
hematite - Fe2O3 (another oxide)
chalcopyrite - CuFeS (a sulphide)
What is ore?
Rocks, minerals or metals in sufficiently high concentration
to be profitable to mine and process using current
technology and under current economic conditions.
Concentration factor
Ratio of ore material concentration to average crustal concentration
Mode of occurrence
A desirable commodity must occur in a mineral form that is readily
processed to produce the commodity
Associated, unwanted mineral material (gangue) and waste after
processing (tailings) must be considered in economic assessment
14
Mineral Resource :Basic Concepts
Gold
Distribution of Au in the crust = 3.1 ppb by weight
3.1 units gold / 1,000,000,000 units of total crust
= 0.00000031% Au
Concentration of Au needed to be economically
viable as a deposit = few g/t 3 g / 1000kg =
3g/ 1,000,000 g = 0.00031% Au
Need to concentrate Au at least 1000-fold to be a
viable deposit
Rare mines can be up to a few percent gold
(extremely high grade)
Gold (Au) is almost 1,000,000 times less abundant than iron (Fe)
15
Mineral Resource :Basic Concepts
Ore deposits require
Source for metals (or other elements)
Means of concentrating elements into usable quantities
Ore Minerals
Native elements (Au, Ag, Cu, Pt, diamond, sulfur)
Sulfides and sulfosalts (pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena)
Oxides and hydroxides (magnetite, chromite, corundum, hematite,
rutile)
Geyser or hot
spring
Hydrothermal solutions
entering veins in rocks Ore deposit
Alteration of rocks by
heat and pressure
Intrusion
17
Ore Deposit Geology
Concentration
Note for comparison:
Metal (% by weight)
Silicon 28%
Aluminum 8.0
Oxygen 47%
Iron 5.8
Copper 0.0058
Nickel 0.0072
Zinc 0.0082
Uranium 0.00016
Lead 0.001
Silver 0.000008
Gold 0.0000002
18
Ore Deposit Geology
Zinc 4
-2
10 Silver
Uranium 0.3
Lead 5 -3
10
Gold
Silver 0.01 -4
10
-7 -5 -3 -1 1 3
10 10 10 10 10 10
Gold 0.0001-0.001 Crustal Concentration
19
Ore Deposit Geology
21
Mining Cycle
22
Exploration and Mineral Discovery
23
What is Mineral Exploration?
24
Do all exploration projects find mineral deposits ?
27
Responsible Mining Methods
Underground Mining
28
Beneficiation
Means of separation of ore mineral from waste material (or gangue minerals)
Also known as Liberation
30
Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Mining
• Community
• Livelihood
• Economy
• Soil
• Water
• Forest
• Indigenous
Rights
31
The Philippine Mining Industry
20°
Benguet Corp. - Kelly Mines
Lepanto Consolidated - Mankayan Mine
Benguet Corp. - Chico Mines
CAGAYAN
Small-scale mining
IIILLLLLL
IIIIIIPPP
PPPPPP
Alamag
PPPIII
IIIN
NN
NN
NEEE
EEE
FFFFFF
CAP IZ
Heritage Mining
Crau Mineral
Resources Corp.
Kromico
Maricalum Mining Corp. Vel-ore 10°
Cagdianao Mining Corp.
Philex Gold - Bulawan Mine
Rio Tuba Mining Corp. South Seas Mining PHILNICO (NONOC)
Large-scale mining
LEGEND: 5°
Gold Deposit
Chromite Deposit
Copper Deposit
Nickel Deposit
125°
115º
120º