Task: Searching for Lodes
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2.2 Searching for a Deposit
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Finding a deposit is a truly scientific undertaking that involves geology, physics, chemistry and reasoning. |
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2.2.1 Choosing the Mineral Resource
The first step in prospecting is deciding which mineral resource to search for. While this may seem trivial, it is actually very important, for the entire prospecting campaign will depend on it.
Searching for gold, petroleum or graphite involves different prospecting techniques. Furthermore, these natural resources are found in very diverse geological terrain.
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Gold, Petroleum and Graphite. |
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Most metals such as gold, copper, nickel, zinc, tin and niobium are usually found in igneous terrain.
Industrial minerals such as asbestos, talc, mica, graphite and wollastonite occur in metamorphic terrain, while salt and potash are found in sedimentary terrain.
Construction materials such as limestone, sand, gravel and clay are found in sedimentary terrain. Marble, slate and schist occur in metamorphic terrain. Granite, an igneous rock, appears in the form of massifs in virtually any type of terrain.
Fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas are found chiefly in sedimentary terrain.
