To open a mine, the area must be judged economical to mine. This means that it will make you money (as opposed to spending millions of dollars to find one dollar worth of minerals). To do this, a geologist must come and find where there is a high chance finding minerals, to lower the cost (Clark, et.al., 2006).
Here are the steps geologists use to find an ore body.
Here are the steps geologists use to find an ore body.
- A magnetometer is used to detect the magnetic field produced by ore bodies such as those of nickel, iron and copper (Clark, et.al., 2006).
- A satellite and aerial photos are used to detect the geologic structure (Clark, et.al., 2006).
- A GIS is used to analyze and present the collected information (Clark, et.al., 2006).
- Geologists will then go into the bush or tundra to collect rock samples and send them to the lab to be analyzed to determine whether or not it is economical to mine the area (Clark, et.al., 2006).
- A Geiger counter is used to detect radioactive minerals (Clark, et.al., 2006).
- If all the tests are passed, the land can then be drilled to find minerals in the ground (Clark, et.al., 2006).
magnetometer - used to detect a magnetic field
satellite - an object in space orbiting the Earth that gives us information, such as images
aerial photographs - photographs taken above by a plane
GIS - geographic information system, which is used to organize and present data
Geiger Counter - detects radioactive minerals
satellite - an object in space orbiting the Earth that gives us information, such as images
aerial photographs - photographs taken above by a plane
GIS - geographic information system, which is used to organize and present data
Geiger Counter - detects radioactive minerals