Stages in the

Life of a Mine
Prospecting
• First stage in the utilization of a mineral deposit
• Search for ores and valuable minerals
• Have the potential of being an ore body
Due diligence
• Due diligence is an investigation or audit of a
potential investment or product to confirm all facts,
such as reviewing all technical and financial
records, plus anything else deemed material.
Reconnaissance
• Identification of favorable targets
• An examination of all or part of an area
accomplished in sufficient detail to make
generalizations about the types and distributions of
historic properties that may be present” within a
given project area
Exploration
• Second stage in the life of a mine
• Determines as accurately as possible the size and
value of a mineral deposit utilizing techniques
similar to but more refined than those used in
prospecting
• Activities of evaluating a geologic prospect to
determine its size, shape, grade, and economic
potential
Grassroots exploration
• Relies on the predictive power of ore genesis
models
• When a geologist has a conceptual idea about
where a mineral deposit may be and spends money
to see if the mineralization is really there
• Search for new deposits in an unexplored area
Economic Mineral Deposit
• See Resource and Reserve
Sustainable Development
Responsible Mining