Gold Discovery: 10 Basic items needed for a successful transition from exploration to a mine.

I dug up an old memo written in 1983 by Neil Muncaster, Vice President of Exploration for Tenneco Minerals Company.  I worked for Neil in the mid-to-late 1980's.  At that time most geologists, especially exploration geologists, did not use computers.  He commented to me that if he had a geologist using a computer to contour geochem or other assay data he would fire them.  He also wanted to see individual assays on cross sections, not composites or mineralized intercepts.  Mostly he was a ore finder, whether directly or in managing exploration departments as the VP.

This is a copy of that brief memo...

 

 

The memo is rather dated.  Now with GPS and GIS geologists routinely have real-world coordinates.  Software like Leapfrog https://www.leapfrog3d.com/  and GeoReka  http://www.geo-reka.com/ puts high tech computer modelling in the hands of exploration geologists. 

 

It has been my experience that the greatest weakness in exploration "discoveries" is the lack of early metallurgical testing.  Hot cyanide assays and bottle roll test for gold extraction are inexpensive and should be done a soon as ore-grade intercepts are made.

 

This is a good check list for projects that have ore-grade intercepts and for projects just getting started.  Best of luck with your drilling projects!