Exploration and Mining

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• discuss the economic and industrial factors that affect exploration and mining;
• describe major types of mineral deposits and the exploration methods used to identify them;
• describe the stages of the exploration process and the mine cycle;
• describe and use appropriate sampling methods to collect soil and rock samples;
• use geochemical and geophysical data to identify possible drill targets;
• identify exploration safety risks and prepare an emergency response plan;
• describe the process of gaining tenure and access to an exploration property;
• describe best practices for engagement with Indigenous groups;
• prepare maps and cross-sections to display exploration information;
• calculate a simplified reserve estimate;
• describe mining methods and technologies for extracting and processing minerals;
• explain geological tasks in a mine or exploration property, including mapping and core logging;
• discuss environmental concerns and mitigation strategies used in exploration and mining.