A review of regional mineral resource assessment methods

Economic Geology
By:  and 

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Abstract

Over 100 papers on regional mineral resource assessment of nonfuels are classified according to method(s) used and form(s) of product in order to help identify possible methods for future assessments. Types of products that have been used include: tons of metal; tons of rock and associated grade; gross value; potential; number of deposits; probability of one or more deposits; tons of rock, grade, and number of deposits by type; potential supply; and net value. Assessment methods considered are: time-rate, crustal abundance, cumulative tonnage versus grade, simple subjective, complex subjective, Bayesian, frequency, trend, geometric probability, multiple regression, discriminant analysis, modified component, multivariate logistic, cluster analysis or pattern recognition, and simulation.Selection of a method to be employed in an assessment should be based on: (1) appropriateness of the product to the problem, (2) limitations in resources, such as information or time available for the assessment, (3) the level of uncertainty and acceptability of biases in the assessment, and (4) the need for verification of results and acceptance of the method.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title A review of regional mineral resource assessment methods
Series title Economic Geology
DOI 10.2113/gsecongeo.76.5.1006
Volume 76
Issue 5
Year Published 1981
Language English
Publisher Society of Economic Geologists
Description 10 p.
First page 1006
Last page 1015
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