Twenty Golden Rules of Mineral Exploration

Rules to live by if you are a mineral exploration geologist in the business of finding orebodies.
Full videos for each rule are available here:
geologyupskill.thinkific.com/...

[@aureaphilos]

This video reminds me of when I was studying mineral exploration at the South Dakota (USA) School of Mines. We were privileged to get a tour inside the Homestake Gold Mine, the deepest mine in North America. Waste Rock from the open pit section of the mine was used as the base of the highway to several national parks in the hills, including Mount Rushmore National Memorial; the waste rock had an average grade of 0.25 ounces/ton, which was not economical. Fast forward 10-20 years, and we were viewing the mineralization on the 6350 level (1935 meters); Gold prices had risen to the point that Homestake was mining 0.10 oz/ton almost 2 kilometers beneath the surface, and STILL making a profit! I remember the staff geologist lamenting, "I wish we had that roadbed waste rock back onsite to process." Love your videos, Nick.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Yes. Those fancy 3D models give the impression that orebodies have hard boundaries, but the real world is a lot more fuzzy!

[@LandmineMapper]

"If you are looking for Ore Deposits the best guide there is.... is the shadow of a head frame!" Needs a pause and a long Laos "Derrrrrrrrrrrr" after that one. Love it all.

[@wiregold8930]

Really appreciate your vids! As a mining engineer and metallurgist, I would add: Never let your sample bag out of your control. (Thinking BreX)

[@GeologyUpSkill]

BreX is the nightmare of every exploration manager and shareholder, but interestingly, chain of custody control actually contributed to the disaster because it was implemented and, as a result, people trusted the assays. The guy bagging the samples was the problem!

[@dalesims8686]

Hey Nick - nice work and great to see the Mt Isa landscape and geology again - makes my heart sing. Just a word of caution - if you are looking in the shadow of a transported headframe it might not be that exciting. The P49 shaft headframe you point to is now in the tourist mine in Isa CBD rather than on the lease ~3 km away where it did all its work servicing the Isa Lead mine upper levels. But hey Mt Isa does cast a long shadow! Nice to see it again though - thanks very much.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Interesting point Dale! Literal interpretation of axioms is dangerous in a world as complex as geology. Never the less, like you, I cannot escape the evidence of the staggering metal budget throughout the Mt Isa block. It casts a very long shadow!

[@robertfindlay2325]

Rule number 2. Absolutely 100% correct. I would suggest that there should be another rule; don't ignore structural mapping as well as what slickenlines on faults andthe mesoscopic fault geometry, including fault-related tension gashes tell you. It could explain why that expensive drill-hole didn't find the target. However, that is after the fact; do the structural stuff before drilling.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Yep. Most metal ore was deposited by hydrothermal fluids and most of those fluids got there via structural plombing.

[@socialismo52]

Man, this is so true. I worked as an exploratory geologist for a couple years. I'm switching back to a cartography job to build up defects in my skillsets. I do have a question. "Look for ore, dont try to disprove it's existence". I had someone tell me the opposite, but his reasoning was it becomes easy to start acting as a prospector and "putting a mine in every blank space on the map" Love "don't think too much about who mapped an area and why they quit." Lol. I've gone down that dark place. "Look for ore deposits and not mineralization" Have fallen into this trap.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

There are an awful lot of blank spaces on the map. Disproving all of them will take more time than you have left on this planet!

[@danbrearley7059]

6&8 my favourite - great work 👌🏻

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Thanks. Sometimes the simple stuff is the most important!

[@sabpaj2824]

I love your work

[@keithwood6459]

#21: Don't take existing geologic maps as gospel. Check for yourself. They sometimes have incorrect or dubious aspects like structural interpretations, formation/lithology calls, and poorly located features. Every geologic map has room for improvement, and the bit they missed might be the bit that makes the difference.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

If it doesn't look right, it's a target.

[@ghanimena3821]

Best advices thanks !! great video😄

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Thanks Ghani. I hope it helps you to find an ore deposit!

[@johnnysilverado3234]

Excellent work

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Thanks!

[@alishafipourgeologist4520]

Great 👍

[@ahmedbahaa7261]

Thanks mate , very informative I would appreciate your advice for training place for exploration, I want to start my journey in minerals exploration

[@GeologyUpSkill]

The best place to learn is where the teachers are really enthusiastic about geology. Send some emails to the schools where you would like to study and tell them what asp[ect of geology you would like to study. The response you get will tell you if they love rocks as much as you.

[@aradawg]

G'day mate, do you plan on making a video or have any suggestions for resources to identify sulfides? I've found a vein with black clay, solid rocks with dark metallic mineralization amongst the clay, and having trouble identifying it. Cheers!

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Actually working on a series of mineral ID videos now. Some of them will be sulphides.

[@aradawg]

@@GeologyUpSkill legend! Keep up the good work, great presentation and you clearly know your stuff

[@victorhernandez4613]

Hello, Nick. I need more information about it. Where can I get it? In my university the information about gold is scarce. Do you have more information about it, please.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

There is plenty of good information on the internet, including KZbin. Just search "Geology of Gold Deposits". Here is a little bit from my channel if you are interested in Alluvial gold deposits kzbin.info/www/bejne/rV7YkJuXjNCJos0

[@wolfgangleyh2861]

Classic home truths!

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Ignore them at your peril!

[@snoosebaum995]

you are very lucky to even find mineralization , rule 21, live in australia

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Go where the elephants are...

[@snoosebaum995]

@@GeologyUpSkill you know , i could have learned more from you or an equivalent than any time spent at some damned university

[@GeologyUpSkill]

I try to make videos about the stuff that isn't taught at university. The uni stuff is a foundation to build on.

[@kopanomabalane9688]

so what did you use on drilling?

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Diamond or RC depending on the target type and depth.

[@SenorTucano]

Oops I’ve just found deposit number 5 this week

[@TheSmackAttackMusic]

"It'll only cost ya a couple of bucks." *clicks on link* TWENTY BUCKS C*NT FUCKEN HELL MATE LMAO

[@GeologyUpSkill]

If it saves you a single drill hole in the wrong place you will be laughing all the way to the bank!

[@TheSmackAttackMusic]

@@GeologyUpSkill yea I agree but 20 bucks isn't what I would call a couple of bucks lol

[@piecartbox]

Trust but verify geochem.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Verify is the operative word!

[@aaronmcmahon8612]

Complete crap!

[@nicktate2089]

That's rule #20!

[@jagers4xford471]

Complete Crap, lol... But not your videos, 1st rate mate.

[@GeologyUpSkill]

Thanks very much. Sifting through crap to find gems of knowledge is the art of exploration geology.