1. The Future of Mineral Resources

2. Mineral Resources
Mineral resources are abundant in the crust but reserves
are less so because some are expensive to extract, technology
may not be available or they may lie in inaccessible areas.
Two ways of increasing supply of mineral resources is to:
Exploration of new resources
ii) Improve the recovery / exploitation of existing reserves

3. Exploration for new resources
The following areas may provide future opportunities to exploit new reserves:
Alaska – Contains metal and hydrocarbons but is protected by the
ANILCA 1980.
2. Antarctica – probably hides a host of mineral wealth, but at present
is protected to 2050 by the Antarctic Treaty System – after that
may become a World Park?
3. Deep ocean – Has huge potential to mine deposits such as manganese
nodules, although lack of internationally agreed mining rights within international water is putting off investors investing in mining companies that want to develop new technologies.

4. Geologists seeking (prospecting) for valuable resources use a range of techniques:
Desk Study
Field Mapping
Remote Sensing
Exploration Drilling (Boreholes)

5. 1. Desk Study

6. Desk Study Office based exercise generally inexpensive
Involves gathering published and available information
Identifies broad areas where deposits are likely to occur

7. Desk Study-Sources of Information
Satellite Images
Aerial Photographs
Topographical Maps
Geological Maps
Mining Records
BGS and USGS Reports
Geoscience Data Index
National Surveys
Site Investigation Reports
Borehole Logs

8. 2. Field Mapping

9. 3. Remote Sensing Aerial Photos Seismic Surveys Geochemical Surveys
Magnetic Surveys
Gravity Surveys

10. a. Aerial Photos

11. Desk Study-Satellite Images – False Colour
Satellite image showing the Geology of Iceland

12. Desk Study-Satellite Images – True Colour
Satellite image of Namib Desert

13. Desk Study - Aerial Photographs - Colour

14. Desk Study – Aerial Photographs - Black & White

15. Desk Study – Aerial Photographs

16. Desk Study – Aerial Photographs – Infra-Red

17. b. Seismic Surveys

18. c. Geochemical Surveys

19. d. Magnetic Surveys

20. e. Gravity Surveys

21. 4. Boreholes

22. Increasing use of Existing Reserves
Bingham Canyon mine landslip
Mechanised Mining
Recycling
Increasing use of Existing Reserves
Substitution
Evaporation and Electrolysis of copper leachate
Exploitation of Low Grade Ores
Thiobacillus bacteria. Used to extract copper from copper sulphide on low grade tips