Digital Geosciences and Quantitative Mineral Exploration

• DOI: 10.1007/s12583-021-1440-0
• Publication Date: 2021-04-12T03:13:31Z
• Authors: Pengda Zhao; Yongqing Chen
• Keywords: Mineral exploration; Pace; Mineral resource classification; Economic geology

The idea of mineral exploration, which is called "exploration philosophy" in the Western countries, is the thoughts, the methodology, technology, goals and organization that guide mineral exploration. The three basic elements of mineral exploration are "what to find", "where to find" and "how to find". The concept of mineral exploration is gradually changing with the development of these three elements that provide a powerful driving force to change mineral exploration concepts, methods and technology. Innovation of mineral exploration concepts is the result of continuing exploration and development keeping pace with the times. The combination of "mathematical geology" and "information technology" can be called "digital geology". Digital geology is the data analysis component of geological science. Geological data science is a science that uses the general methodology of data to study geology based on the characteristics of geological data and the needs of geological field work. Digital mineral exploration is the application of digital geology in mineral exploration to reduce ore-finding uncertainty.