Geology Geologists and Prospectors

Transcription

1 Geology Geologists and Prospectors David Lefebure and JoAnne Nelson BC Geological Survey April 17, 2008 Ministry of Energy and Mines

2 Geology - A type of Geoscience is the study of the Earth, the materials of which it is made, the structure of those materials, and the processes acting upon them. Mineral exploration geologists concentrate on understanding mineral resources to find new resources to direct mining activities to assist with mitigating environmental impacts to provide expertise related to earth resources

3 Types of Minerals Geoscience Mapping the rocks and soils (geology) Scanning the earth s crust (geophysics) Analysing for metal or mineral (geochemistry)

4 Finding Minerals Geologists and Prospectors Geologist: by understanding the rocks Prospector: by leaving no stone unturned but we all like the shiny stuff!

5 How About Right Next Door? Don MacIntyre Lorne Warren

6 Geoscience Exploration Discovery Development Production Reclamation Life Cycle of Mining

7 Geoscience Exploration Discovery Development Production Reclamation Life Cycle of Mining Geologists involved

8 Who Provides Public Minerals Geoscience? BC Geological Survey Geological Survey of Canada Geoscience BC Universities

9 Up Close and Personal with Rock

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11 Role of Public Minerals Geoscience 1. Provide starting point for prospectors, geologists, companies and government - 2. Generate new mines to provide high-paying jobs, economic base for communities and pay taxes Gov t maps, reports, advice

12 Grassroots Exploration Prospectors rock!

13 BC Geoscience Databases 1 No orld! w he in t 2006/07 MapPlace MapPlace Digital Digital Geology Geology MINFILE MINFILE ARIS ARIS Lithogeochem Lithogeochem BC BC Age Age Data Data Deposit Deposit Profiles Profiles COALFile COALFile Regional Regional Geochem Geochem Mineral Mineral Potential Potential Geoscience Geoscience Reports Reports Geoscience Geoscience Maps Maps Digital Geology Map of British Columbia (Massey et al., 2006)

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15 First Prospectors and Geologists Aboriginal peoples have a long history of using/trading rocks, minerals and metals. Stone, obsidian, copper, gold, jade, agate and precious stone were highly prized. About 2000 B.C. an Egyptian, Captain Haroeris, discovered turquoise on a 3 month Sinai expedition. Theophrastus, Aristotle s pupil, produced first mineralogy text - Book of Stones. The first reasonable theories of ore genesis in 1500s by Georgius Agricola.

16 Prospecting Field School Osooyos

17 Minerals - A Hidden Resource Difficult to predict where to find new mines. Expensive to find them. Numerous of examples of finding mines in unexpected places and after many years of exploration. Afton (BC) and Hemlo (Ont.) mines under Trans Canada highway Diamonds in Canada

18 Pennies from Heaven Everybody stand up. If you found a penny in the room today, stay standing, please sit down. Those of you who found the pennies are observant and looking beneath your feet. Natural prospectors! If you found a penny with a dime or a coloured dot on one side, stay standing. If you have the penny with the coloured dot, come on up, you found the mine.

19 Early Stage Exploration

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22 Geologists Often Project Leaders Exploration Field Crew Dease Lake area

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24 Geologist in Trench

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26 Advanced Stage Exploration

27 Geologists Discussing Drill Core

28 Equipment with Trench

29 Snowfield Silver Standard Resources Inc. >2 g/t Au >0.5 g/t Au 50 m

30 Drilling to Define a Resource Main Zone East Zone Design Pit 700 m

31 Mine Development

32 Kutcho Creek

33 Mining

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36 Geologist s Tools Rock hammer Hand Lens Acid Compass GPS Computers (GIS) Maps

37 A geological map is a picture of the rocks that make up the face of the earth.

38 Walking, walking, walking. The colours pick out rocks of different types and ages. The map is built by taking detailed observations.

39 Terrace Preliminary Data Release Free CD s at the Terrace booth. Google-Earth compatible geology, mineral showings, rock assays, more. Partnership between BC Geological Survey and Terrace Economic Development Authority

40 Geologists work for: natural resource companies environmental companies government agencies, non-profit organizations universities. Many geologists do field work at least part of the time. Others work in laboratories, classrooms or offices. All geologists write reports, do calculations and use computers.

41 Geology - a Rewarding Career Requires a university/ college degree in geology Pre-college students can take courses in earth science, geography, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics Some geologists earn masters and/or doctorate degrees, ( for example, paleontology, mineralogy or volcanology)

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