Geological Mapping
Geological mapping is the process of a geologist physically going out into the field and recording geological information from the rocks that outcrop at the surface. Information the geologist looks for will include: boundaries between different rock types and structures e.g. fault-lines and evidence of the rocks undergoing deformation.
Prospecting
When mapping as part of mineral exploration, prospecting is accompanied, and both activities go hand-in-hand. It is the process of collecting rock specimens from the field, usually taken across a mineralised location to get a representation of how the metal concentration varies across the potential ore zone.
Portable X-ray Fluorescence
Depending on the budget of the company conducting the work (this equipment is usually > $20,000), a pXRF instrument may be taken into the field for a mapping-prospecting campaign. Gold mining and mineral exploration begin with preliminary prospecting to establish whether a mineral resource exists or whether a recognized mineral resource area extends past the current boundaries.XRF stands for X-ray fluorescence, meaning an X-ray is shot from the tool to interact with the test surface, which will then bounce back a second x-ray wave (fluorescence) of a measurable energy – which will be specific to each element on the periodic table.
What Comes After?
Mapping and prospecting are one of the first physical steps taken in a field area by geologists – especially where knowledge of the bedrock geology is limited. This is because it is a relatively inexpensive way to give good information on whether or not to invest in progressing exploration in a licence area any further. This is the nature of all mineral exploration methods, that initially inexpensive methods are used to test whether there is a warrant for further, more advanced exploration, or conversely 'ticking-off' an area as economically uninteresting.
Step 1
Infill drilling
Step 2
Inferred Mineral Resource
Step 3
Measured Mineral Resource
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