Ores drive operations: Economic geology is the foundation for geometallurgy (geomet)

Economic geology and geometallurgy are intimately linked. Geologists understand the value in knowing the details of ore variability, the formation of mineral deposits, the continuity and the spatial distribution of ore types, and the mineral and textural characteristics that control grades. Beyond exploration and discovery, however, explorers may not recognize that the geological knowledge developed around a mineral prospect is also of great value to the miners and metallurgists, reclamation and environmental specialists, and economists and investors who are interested in developing the discovery. Geometallurgy is the interdisciplinary method that links geological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of mineral deposits to the mining, processing, and metallurgical activities that are involved in the development of mines. Geometallurgy is not a new field, but recent developments in analytical capabilities and the ability to conduct predictive, statistical data analysis and modeling of very large data sets have made geometallurgy an impactful and widely used method for optimizing mining operations. While there are many approaches, depending upon the nature of the ore deposit and the mine operating conditions and goals, the most important step explorers can take is to establish partnerships with the other areas of specialization in the project (mining, metallurgy, environmental, economics) and work together to understand the critical factors to use in order to best develop the deposit. Representative sampling of geological variability and understanding the controls of throughput and recovery in the mining operation are fundamental to making projects more effective. Here, we describe some of the technical drivers of geometallurgy as well as workflows and outcomes of which explorers should be aware. For exploration and prefeasibility timelines, information on spatial ore characteristics can provide some preliminary assessment of the processibility of a deposit. These steps can be taken in advance of, during, and in partnership with mine designers and plant flowsheet developers and may help avoid large capital expenditures made on erroneous assumptions of ore characteristics.