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Julian Vearncombe, SJS Resource Management
Wednesday, 19 August 2015
In the mining industry, legacy exploration data (hard copy and digital) are central to mergers and acquisitions, and are the basis on which future exploration programmes are planned. Digital legacy data may be checked algorithmically for obvious errors such as drill collars positioned above or below the surface, assays less than zero or samples beyond the drill string. This is essential, but misses the critical understanding and confirmation that comes come from field validation and the re-collection of geology data. We view data validation as a precursor to building a picture of the geology, enabling geology and grade to be related in 3D.
Here we comment on modern exploration management of legacy data, illustrated by a recent case study where digital and material legacy data and new techniques and technologies are used in combination to identify the fourth largest (CRIRSCO-code compliant) tungsten project. This was achieved without direct drilling costs, making it perhaps one of the cheapest Resource announcements ever.
