Gold mining: Digging for your financial security

 

Basic prospecting is performed in gold mining and mineral exploration to determine whether a mineral resource exists or whether a recognized mineral resource area extends beyond its present borders. Structural mapping finds regions of interest and analyzes the possibility of anomalous gold or other precious metals using GIS technologies and extensive geochemical samples. This procedure enables mining and exploration corporations to select precise target areas.

Some Basic Information on Gold Mining:

Drilling for infill

Infill drilling determines whether the mineral resource is continuous over widely distributed intercepts to boost confidence in the mineral resource. In a laboratory, samples are tested to determine the amount of gold or precious metal in the necessary volume of rock. Infill drilling results produce a mineral resource estimate that determines the confidence level in the mineral resource. All levels of resource definition are included in a resource estimate, including inferred, indicated, and measured values. Measured resources are chosen because they provide the highest level of assurance.

Mineral Resource Inferred

Inferred Mineral Resource is an area in which an estimate of its quantity, grade, or quality is based on geological evidence and minimal sampling and is reasonably assumed but unproven. Examples of sample regions are outcrops, trenches, pits, workings, and drill holes.

Mineral Resource Indicated

Indicated Mineral Resource refers to a portion of a Mineral Resource where qualified individuals can estimate its size, grade or quality, form, and other physical features with a level of certainty that supports the economic feasibility of an ore deposit. Unlike an inferred mineral resource, an indicated mineral resource's grade and geological continuity can be safely assumed based on accurate data from extensive testing.

Mineral Resource Metrics

A measured mineral resource is one where the quantity, grade, density, shape, and physical features of a mineral resource are well documented and may be estimated with sufficient confidence to assist production planning and economic feasibility. The estimate is based on extensive exploration, sampling, and testing data from outcrops, trenches, pits, workings, and drill holes spaced near enough to ensure grade and geological continuity.

Mining engineers use the data from a resource estimate with a high level of indicated and measured mineral resources to design an extraction plan (either open-pit or underground methods) and examine the mineral resource's economic feasibility. If extracting the resource is economically possible, it will go through the mining cycle.

Exploration happens throughout the active mining cycle and extends or returns to known resources. Continuing to develop and de-risk potential resources contributes to the extension of an operational mine's life.

Mining in an Open Pit

Mining companies use the results of exploration drilling to construct a resource model that outlines the portion of the mineral resource from which they will extract or mine. 

Miners employ heavy mining machinery to drill giant steps known as benches, which divide the gold-containing rock (ore) from the gold-free rock (waste). Blasting is then used to break down the rock, making it easier to move. Excavators dig specific mining locations and transport gold-containing ore to stockpiles. The ore stocks will be treated to recover the gold. Waste is transported by truck to a waste rock stack, which can be rehabilitated to fill previously mined areas.

Conclusion

The gold mining process is sophisticated and goes beyond what most people expect – pictures of miners in hard hats laboring underground or operating enormous, noisy mining equipment come to mind. However, mining gold ore is only one phase in the lengthy gold mining process of the first gold mine in India. Extensive exploration and development must occur before miners can recover gold ore. Gold exploration firms conduct several experiments to determine the amount and grade of the ore deposit and a plan for extracting the ore as safely, sustainably, and inexpensively as feasible.