EXPLORATIO

N
TECHNIQUES
GEOLOGY FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS

GEO 100
 OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the reporting/discussion the
students will be able to;
● Define what is exploration techniques.
● Know the purpose of exploration techniques;
● Identify the following types of exploration
techniques; and
● Determine the sub surveys of each exploration
techniques
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
01
DEFINITION OF
EXPLORATION 02
TECHNIQUES
PURPOSE OF EXPLORATION
TECHNIQUES
03

TYPES OF EXPLORATION
TECHNIQUES.
WHAT IS EXPLORATION TECHNIQUES?

Exploration is the process of searching for deposits of minerals, coal, oil or gas. Information
gathered during exploration is used to assess the location, size and quality of the deposit to
determine if it can be recovered in an economically feasible way.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of exploration is to search for a significant deposit of minerals or petroleum that
is worthwhile value to extract, process and sell.
 DID YOU KNOW?
that exploration techniques has four types?
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY GEOLOGICAL DESKTOP GEOCHEMICAL
MAPPING SURVEY SURVEY
1. AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY 1. SOIL SAMPLI

2. GROUND BASED SURVEY 2. STREAM SEDIMENT

SAMPLING
3. MAGNETIC GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
3. ROCK CHIP
4. RADIOMETRIC GEOPHYSICAL SAMPLING
SURVEY
4. CHANNEL SAMPLING
5. GRAVITY SURVEY
5. COSTEARING
6. ELECTRO MAGNETIC SURVEY ( TRENCH
SAMPLING)
7. SEISMIC SURVEYS
6. BULK SAMPLING
8. INDUCED POLARISATION SURVEYS

9. DRILLHOLE SURVEY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY:
Geophysical surveys may help in the
development of resources without the
need for sampling, and they are
normally carried out with minimum
surface disturbance. Different kinds of
geophysical surveys use different
applications and facilities to measure
different physical properties of the
Earth. Geophysical surveys may be
carried out on the ground or from the
air.
AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY :

Magnetic , radiometric,
gravitational are examples of
airborne geophysical
surveys. Low-flying
helicopters or light airplanes
fly in a grid pattern, with
measuring instrument
mounted on the aircraft or
towed underneath or behind.
 GROUND BASED SURVEYS:
Seismic, magnetic, radiometric,
gravitational, and electromagnetic
surveys are examples of ground-based
geophysical surveys. A survey can range
from a single geophysicist or a team of
geophysicist or and technicians walking
the survey area to the use of quad bikes,
light cars, or seismic trucks, depending
on the type of survey.
MAGNETIC GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS:

Magnetic surveys are used to track changes in the

Earth’s magnetic field caused by magnetic
minerals. These surveys are delicate enough to
pick up on small changes in the amount of
magnetic minerals present .
RADIOMETRIC GEOPHYSICAL
SURVEYS:

Radiometric surveys measure gamma rays, which are

constantly emitted from the Earth as a result of the
decomposition of some commonly found radiogenic
minerals.
GRAVITY SURVEYS:
To quantify changes in rock density in the Earths crust, a
gravimeter measures the gravity field. These surveys are
sensitive enough to detect minute changes in the field, and
they can understand and map the locations of various rocks
or geological formations with varying densities.
ELECTROMAGNETIC(EM) SURVEYS:

Electromagnetic surveys generate an electromagnetic

field and measure changes in conductivity in the near-
surface soil and rock in three dimensions. Variations in
conductivity can be used to detect metallic minerals as
well as to learn more about groundwater and salinity. A
small crew uses transmitting and receiver cables to
take ground readings.
SEISMIC SURVEYS:

Seismic surveys track vibration as it travels across the

Earths crust. Seismology fundamentals are used in ground-
based seismic surveys to make picture of the geology
underneath the surface.
INDUCED POLARISATION (IP) SURVEYS

IP surveys establish an electric field in the ground and

measure the chargeability and resistivity of the region
beneath the surface of the Earth. The method can be used to
detect differences in resistivity caused by aquifers, metallic
minerals, and other rock types. A small field crew uses
transmitting and receiver wires to take readings .
 DRILLHOLE SURVEYS:
Drillhole surveys entail the use of a thin wire rope
to lower a variety of scientific instruments down
exploration drillholes or boreholes. These sondes
may measure rock properties such as measuring
magnetic, radiometric, or electrical information
from the rocks inside the borehole. This type of
survey is commonly used in the exploration of
petroleum and coal.
GEOLOGICAL MAPPING:

GEOLOGICAL MAPPING
Geological mapping is the process of locating and identifying rock types and geological
structures in relation to landforms and topography. It sometimes the first method of
exploration used on the ground, and it may take place at a local comprehensive scale or a
regional scale. A geologist will frequently visit the region of interest to look at rock outcrops
and observe the location, orientation, and features of the rocks or sediments visible at the
surface. It may include gaining access to a property with a light vehicle, taking
measurements, and collecting small samples from rock outcrops, soils, or streams for
chemical analysis. This data will then be used to create a geological map of the exploration
region, which will show the distribution of rock types and structures.
 DESKTOP SURVEYS:

Desktop survey entail studying available geological

information for a particular area of interest. This may entail
investigating and analysing previous company exploration
reports, exploration data and published geological
information. This procedure enables an exploration
company or prospector to make an informed decision prior
to applying for a license or beginning real field work.
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS:

Geochemical surveys are used to identify areas for further

investigation. Soil, rock, and/or sediment samples are typically
collected as part of the surveys. These samples are sent to a
laboratory for analysis in order to determine prospective
mineralization zones.
 SOIL SAMPLING

To retrieve soil and subsoil samples, hand tools such as

shovels, picks and hand augers are used. Samples are
frequently collected on a regular grid pattern and consist of
small soil samples. Hand-operated or vehicle-mounted power
augers may also be used.
STREAM SEDIMENTS
SAMPLING
Within drainage pipes, two kilogram
samples of sediments re gathered. Three
samples are typically collected where two
creeks meet: one downstream and two
upstream of the meeting point( in each of
the merging drainage lines). Hand tools are
commonly used to gather samples, which
may be sieved during collection.
ROCK CHIP SAMPLING

Rock chip sampling is a process of mineral exploration in

which rock chip samples are taken from outcroppings, or
exposed bedrock. These rock chips are then sent to a
laboratory to determine their mineral makeup to help
inform mineralization in the area.
 GEOCHEMICAL SURVEY
CHANNEL SAMPLING:

Channel sampling is a technique

used by geologists to collect small
chips of rock over a specified
linear interval. The objective is to
cut a linear channel across the
vein or orebody for the most
representative samples possible
over the designated interval.
Channel sampling is important
because it allows for a
representative sample to be
acquired, which is not biased.
 GEOCHEMICAL SURVEY:

COSTEANING (TRENCH SAMPLING)

Trench sampling (also called costeaning) is a form of

geochemical sampling where a shallow trench is dug then
the exposed rock mapped, analyzed and sampled.
Costeaning is only used in exploration for some minerals,
including gold and lead.
 GEOCHEMICAL SURVEY:
BULK SAMPLING

Bulk sampling is define as the “process of extracting a

small fraction of material from a large bulk sufficiently
representative for the intended purpose”.

Coning and quartering repeatedly divides a sample into

halves until the desired sample size is achieved.
https://
www.usgs.gov/programs/national-cooperative-geologic-mapping-program/in
troduction-geologic-mapping

https://www.cxsltd.com/services/technical-services/channel-sampling/

https://www.archean-gms.com/page.php/Geochemical%20Survey

https://
www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/geophysical-su
rvey

REFERENCES:
thank you