Exploration
Exploration is a fundamental step in a mining project. Due to the high human, financial and equipment costs in the mining process, the importance of systematic and appropriate exploration is determined. Various methods and techniques can be used to discover deposits. Integration of exploration data can reduce the risk of operation. The most important exploration data are: geology, remote sensing, geochemistry, geophysics and drilling. It is important to note that "although the methods of exploration of deposits are almost known, but often, appropriate techniques for exploring each deposit are unique to that deposit and can hardly be generalized to other deposits. Understanding this important principle; highlights the need to use an experienced exploration team. Existence of experienced personnel and has up-to-date knowledge; Technical and technological capabilities; Zar Yab Negareh Koroush Company has become a well-known designer and operator of mining exploration. We can provide a special plan for each exploration case with the lowest risk and maximum reliability. Implementation of exploration projects from A to Z is within our power and expertise. All exploration services, including the design and implementation of geology, remote sensing, geochemistry, geophysics, core drilling and … with experienced and specialized staff, up-to-date equipment and the highest international standards are the specialty of Zar Yab Negara Kourosh Company.
Geological data provide valuable information such as tectonic, petrological, alteration models, and the nature of ore bearing fluids. A thorough understanding of the plate tectonic position of each area and its relationship to possible mineralization is one of the first steps in mine exploration. Magmatism varies in different tectonic regimes. Slight tholeiitic, calc-alkaline, alkaline and ophiolite magmatism have occurred in the subduction zone of the continental margin and the subduction zone of the arch islands. Porphyry mineralization types (copper, molybdenum, copper-gold, copper-molybdenum, and tin-tungsten, gold-copper and gold); Skarn (iron, tungsten, molybdenum, copper, and lead-zinc-silver); Gold-silver epithermal; Carlin Gold; Kuroko massive sulfide and chromium ophiolites are dependent on subduction zones. In continental collision zones, acidic S-type magmatism has occurred, and greisen (tin) and skarn (tin) type deposits are among the possible mineralization in this tectonic position. In the divergent regime, intercontinental rifts are the site of a variety of mineralization, including diamond kimberlites, carbonatites, and sedex lead and zinc deposits, while inter-oceanic basalts in the divergent regime are potential for the occurrence of ophiolite chrome-platinum and Cyprus massive sulfide mineralization. The transition tectonic regime has the potential to form vein mineralization of copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver.
Understanding the relationship between petrology and mineralization is crucial in understanding the deposit exploration environment. Diamond deposits depend on kimberlites; the most important trace element deposits have been found in carbonatites, and chromite deposits are dependent on mafic and ultra-mafic rocks such as peridotite and harzburgite. Alteration is one of the valuable geological data in mine exploration.
Alteration is used both to identify the appropriate site of mineralization and to understand the type of mineralization and its spread. Some types of mineralization have a very significant relationship with alteration, such as porphyry type deposits, massive sulfide type and epithermal type.
Understanding the nature of ore bearing fluids is an important and intelligent step in understanding the exploration environment and possible mineralization in the environment. Recognizing the properties of ore bearing fluids can be complex and a specialized process. Information such as ore formation temperature, depth of formation, fluid composition and flow pattern of ore bearing fluids are specified. These parameters help to understand the main position of mineralization and its economic potential. The composition of fluid inclusions in general can be determined by micro thermometry and more precisely by its chemical analysis. Knowledge of the formation temperature of deposits is not only important for determining the source, but also for exploration purposes. In this way, it is determined whether the hydrothermal fluids of the deposit were hot or cold, and if they were hot, their cooling was gradual or sudden. The slow cooling process of the fluids causes the ore body to expand more in the vertical direction. Comparison of physicochemical properties of fluids inclusions in exploration deposits where the potential for economic mineralization is unknown with fluids inclusions in similar well-known deposits can reduce the cost of diamond drilling and chemical analysis of samples and optimize drilling network design.
Electromagnetic waves absorb and reflect specific wavelengths when they strike the earth's surface, depending on the type of rock, soil, water, and vegetation. Rocks are composed of different minerals and the properties of electromagnetic absorption and reflection of minerals are different from each other, so by processing satellite data, rocks and some of their minerals can be identified. A variety of image processing methods including band ratio, principal component analysis, and supervised and unsupervised classification can be useful for identifying alteration zones and associated minerals. It should be noted that different methods that have been used to identify alteration in different parts of the world, taking into account variables such as vegetation, climatic effects and the composition and texture of rocks in different regions have limitations and it is necessary to use appropriate methods in each region according to these variables.
It is a fact that there is a need to explore deep and blind mineralization today and this demand will increase in the future. Therefore, the urgent need for mining exploration knowledge is more advanced techniques. Geochemical studies provide valuable data for mine exploration. Technical sampling and preparation of geochemical maps of an area that show tectonic, petrological and alteration characteristics of mineralization potential, leads to a better understanding of the mineralization system and its location and expansion. Exploration geochemistry is done in different ways and techniques. Litho geochemistry, hydro geochemistry, gas geochemistry, soil geochemistry, geobotany, micro bio geochemistry are all general topics for exploration geochemistry studies. Identifying appropriate methods and techniques for any type of mineralization, exploration area and methods of analysis and statistical and geostatistical analysis requires specialized knowledge and experience and in this case, it will be an effective tool in the implementation of a successful mine exploration project.
Geophysical data are valuable in the mine exploration process. Aerial geophysical data taken at the regional scale over a large area can be used to detect anomalies in the early stages of exploration (reconnaissance and prospecting). Land geophysical data is also used in the general and detailed stages of exploration. After recognizing the tectonic position, petrological characteristics and alteration of the area, suitable geophysical methods and techniques can be used to find the blind mineralization site, its shape, extent and depth. The highest cost in the mine exploration process is related to drilling and in fact, on the one hand, it is based on the analysis of other exploration data (geology, geochemistry, geophysics) and on the other hand, it is the basis for obtaining very important exploration data and understanding mineralization and its geometry. In addition to the need for standard exploration data and its specialized analysis, the selection of the appropriate type of drilling rig, the appropriate drilling technique and project management in this sector, is very effective in reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
Thus, it can be said that different exploration data are all like links in a chain; a chain called the mine exploration process. In this chain, all links are important and specialized analysis of all data ensures the precision accuracy and of the mining exploration process, which is the basis for the continuation of the mining chain in the sectors of extraction, mineral processing and mineral commodities trade.