CHAPTER 1 Rocks and
minerals
Exploration Techniques in
Mining
OBJECTIVE
•To Identify and list various methods in exploring
and prospecting the minerals for mining.
•To explain these methods of exploring mining.
• ALL: To list any two method to explore minerals.
• MOST: To describe the latest techniques used in
exploration of minerals and energy resources.
• SOME:To explain steps to obtain minerals
Starter
Define
a)ore
b)Mineral
Identify the methods used to extract ore or minerals.
KEY TERMS
• ORE-a naturally occurring solid material from which
a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted
profitably.
• MINERALS-a naturally occurring inorganic element
or compound having a characteristic chemical
composition, crystal form, and physical
properties."
Methods of searching
minerals
• Prospecting
Simplest way to find mineral
deposits is to look carefuly
at the rock surface.
• Remote sensing
An area of land can be
photographed from the air
and the images are
analysed for signs of
minerals.
• Satellites
• Mineral deposits are weathered
at the earths surface producing
mineral oxides.These are
recorded by satellites using
unique radiation pattern.
• Valuable mineral ores in the
rocks below the surface can be
located.
• computers are used to process
and analysis the data.
• System works in all weathers.
• The gps records the exact location,geologists then
visit the location to confirm the minerals.
• Once geologists get location they check nearby
location aswell.
• Using satellites large areas can be mapped quickly
at low cost.
• Geophysics
Series of vibrations are sent through earth surface.
Several sensors are laid on ground.
The vibrations create shock waves that travel down the rock
layers and are reflected back to the sensors.
Shock waves record different pattern based on minerals
present,where each minerals will have a unique value/pattern.
• Geochemical analysis:
• Analysing the chemical
properties of rocks (by taking
samples).
▪The samples can be taken
from stream sediments, soil or
rocks (using shallow drilling).
▪ The location of the sample
points can be accurately found
using the Global Positioning
System (GPS).
Activities
TASK 1 TASK 2 TASK 3
Explain how geophysics Describe how remote Research on other
method is used in sensing and satellites innovative ideas used in
identifying mineral. work in identifying identifying minerals.
minerals
Plenary
1.Define:
a)Ore
b)Mineral
c)Prospecting
2)Abbreviation of GPS?
3)Difference between remote sensing and satellites?
