The Basics of Geological Exploration
Geological Exploration is essentially the process of assessing the geological qualities of an area to determine what may be present in the soil and rock. The first step is to perform a desktop review of publicly available datasets, which give an indication of what minerals and rocks may be present in a particular location. Next, it’s necessary to identify where the deposits are located, within a minimal margin of error, via methods such as air track or sonic drilling.
After actively exploring an area, you enter a planning phase that focuses more on planning and permitting. Now that you know where the deposits are and have confirmed they are economically viable, what is the ideal route to reach them? After completing the assessment, a geological engineering team can propose one or more plans for mining the area and procuring the resources.
While you might not expect foresters, attorneys, nature enthusiasts and large equity firms to have a common interest, they do. Geological exploration is important to each of these groups and individuals, albeit for different reasons.
Anyone with a stake in nature, either a personal or economic one should know the basics of geological exploration.