ORE DEPOSIT EXPLORATION:

Stages and Methods

DR. ARIFUDIN IDRUS

Department of Geological Engineering
Universitas Gadjah Mada - Yogyakarta
E-mail: [email protected]
Ore prospecting in
16th century
(Agricola, 1556)
 Definition
 Exploration is an entire sequence of work
ranging from reconnaissance (looking for a
prospect) to the evaluation of the prospect
and finally to the search for additional ore
in a mine (Peters, 1979).
 Definition
 Exploration is an activity to discover a mineral
deposit, determine position, geometry (size,
diameter, depth, volume) and to evaluate the
reserves & economic value of the deposit
through a systematic program from desk
investigation, reconnassaince, initial exploration,
detailed exploration to feasibility study (Idrus et
al., 2008)
 INDUSTRI
PERTAMBANGAN
Penutupan
Tambang/
Eksplorasi/FS Reklamasi
/AMDAL Penambangan Tambang

Konstruksi Metalurgi

IUP Eksplorasi

IUP OP
 Steps in the life cycle of a mineral deposit
 :

1 Mineral exploration: to discover a mineral deposit.

2 Feasibility study: to prove its commercial viability.
3 Mine development: establishment of entire infrastructure.
4 Mining: extraction of ore from the ground.
5 Mineral processing: milling of the ore, separationof ore
minerals from gangue material, separation of the ore
minerals into concentrates.
6 Smelting: recovering metals from the mineral concentrates
7 Refining: purifying the metal.
8 Marketing: shipping the product (or metal concentrate if not
smelted and refined at the mine) to the buyer, e.g. custom
smelter, manufacturer.
9 Closure: before a mine has reached the end of its life, there
has to be a closure management
 Exploration steps
(i) Study phase
(ii) Reconnaissance
(iii) Target testing/exploration
(iv) Pre-feasibility: major sampling and test
work programs
(v) Feasibility study.
The feasibility study confirms and maximizes the
value of the preferred technical and business
option identified in the prefeasibility study stage
 Indonesian national standard (1998)
for Classification of Mineral Resources and Reserves

EXPLORATION
STAGES
Detailed General Prospecting Reconnaissa
Exploration Exploration (1:50.000) nce Survey
Increasing in feasibility

MINING FEASIBILITY
(1:2000) (1:10.000) (1:250.000)

FEASIBLE
Economic
Mining/ PROVEN PROBABLE
Engineering RESERVES RESERVES
Metalurgy
Marketing
Regulation
Environment

MEASURED INDICATED INFERRED HYPOTHYTIC

NOT YET
RESOURCES RESOURCES RESOURCES AL
FEASIBLE RESOURCES

Increasing in geological assurance

Stages of exploration

Moon et al,, 2006

Exploration Road Map - Gold
 Dari eksplorasi sampai tutup tambang

Eksplorasi - Keputusan Untuk Menambang

Lanjut ke
Modeling Estimasi
PENAMBANGAN
Perhitunga Cadangan dan
Ijin-ijin Eksplorasi ? Eksplorasi ? ? ?
Studi Awal ? n Studi
Eksplorasi Umum Detil Kelayakan
Sumberday
Awa;
a
< $ 100 K < $1m $ 1-5 m $ 5-75m $1-2 m $ 1-2 m Stop eksplorasi

Atudi Ijin – Ijin Desain Operasi

Kelayakan ? Desain ?
Penamban ? Fasilitas ? Konstruksi Penambang Penutupan
AMDAL Tambang Tambang an Tambang
gan

< $3-5m $ 1-2 m $ 1-2 m $1-2 m $ 25m-2B

Studi Kelayakan - Penambangan – Penutupan Tambang

$ - perkiraan Biaya yang diperlukan untuk setiap Aktifitas

 What need to be done

Eksplorasi - Keputusan Untuk Menambang

Lanjut ke
Modeling Estimasi
PENAMBANGAN
Perhitunga Cadangan dan
Ijin-ijin Eksplorasi ? Eksplorasi? ? ?
Studi Awal ? n Studi
Eksplorasi Umum Detil Kelayakan
Sumberday
Awa;
a
< $ 100 K < $1m $ 1-5 m $ 5-50 m $1-2 m $ 1-2 m Stop eksplorasi

Geologi Umum Aplikasi IUP Pemetaan Geologi Pemboran SumberdayaModel Geologi Estimasi Cadangan
Status Hutan IPPKH Dan Geofisika -Tereka - Lithology / Seam -Terbukti
Penggunaan Lahan Sosialisasi Sampling -Terindikasi - Quality -Terindikasi
Potensi Mineral/Batubara Uji Parit/sumur -Terukur - Alteration
Pemboran Pemboran Geotek - Density Studi Awal Uji Kelayakan
Eksplorasi Pemboran Metalurgi - Geotechnical - Infrastruktur
- Lingkungan
Estimasi Sumberdaya - Kriteria desain tambang
- Inferred - Penentuan Faktor Tambang
- Indicated - Desain tambang
- Measure - Skeduling
- dll
 What need to be done
Focus exploration
General Detail
Exploration Exploration

Pemetaan Pemboran Sumberdaya dan cadangan

- Pemetaan Geologi - Terkira
- Jenis Batuan - Terindikasi
- Alterasi - Terukur
- Mineralisasi *)
- Struktur Batubara berdasarkan jarak titik bor dan kondisi geologi;
- Penggunaan GPS Mineral berdasarkan Variografi dan Indikator Krigging
- Pengambilan sampel Soil - QAQC
- Pembuatan Parit dan sumur uji - Test khusus (Coke Test, simple Bottle Role Test etc )
- Bulk Sampling Test ( Metalurgical Test , Column Test, Production Test etc )
Pemboran Awal - Geotechnical Test ( Point Load, WI, Plasticity, etc )
- Membuktikan kemenerusan batuan - Hydrology Test ( Rain Fall, Packer Test etc)
- Contoh yang segar DLL

KEY OF SUCCESS KEY OF SUCCESS

1. Diilakukan oleh Geologist terlatih 1. Diilakukan oleh Geologist terlatih yang berpengalaman kerja di tambang
2. Menggunakan SOP yang benar 2. Alat pemboran yang tepat sesuai keadaan batuan dan geologinya
3. Peralatan yang tepat 3. Pembuatan Rencana pemboran yang baik.
4. Melibatkan Para Ahli dibidangnya 4. SOP yang baik dan benar
5. QAQC
6. Tatacata pengambilan sampel yang benar
7. Melibatkan para ahli dibidangnya
WHAT NEED TO BE DONE
USE RIGHT EQUIPMENT AND PEOPLE
 What need to be done
Focus Drilling program
IF Rv MI Rv IF MI IF

Rv Rv Rv Rv Rv
Concession (IUP) area
MI Rv MI Rv MI MI

Rv Rv Rv Rv Rv
s
s IF Rv MI Rv IF MI IF
s Rv Rv Rv Rv Rv
Detail
General Exploration MI Rv MI Rv MI MI
Exploration s

s IF MI IF MI IF

s
MI MI MI MI
S – Scout Drilling
IF IF IF
IF - Inferred Resource Drilling 800 - 1000 meter drilling
space
MI - Measured and indicated Resource Drilling 400-500 m
drilling space
Rv - Proven and Probable Reserve Drilling < 250 m drilling
space

Red > Good Result

Black – Not Good Result
EXPLORATION METHODS
Geomagnetic Airborne-geomagnetic

Geophysical Ground-geomagnetic
Gravity
Exploration
Refraction
Seismic Reflection
EXPLORATION

Induced Polarization
INDIRECT

Geoelectric (IP)
Self-potential (SP)
Radioactive
Geo-electrical survey
Electromagnetic
Geochemical Bedrock geochemistry
Exploration Soil geochemistry
Hydro-geochemistry
Biogeochemistry/geobotany
Stream sediment
(SS, PC, BLEG) Tracing float
Tracing with panning
DIRECT Trenching
EXPLORATION Surface survey Test pitting
Core drilling
Sub-surface Core drilling
survey Adit test
 Geophysical survey

Airborne geomagnetic survey

 Soil
geochemistry
Frequency distribution
of geochemical data

 Population A 
background value
 Population B 
anomaly value
(mineralized zone?)
 Geochemical
dispersion in soil
Discovery History of the Batu Hijau porphyry

December 1986
Signed Contract of Work

Early 1987 - 1988

Regional geochemical reconnaissance
survey sampled over 900 sites on
Lombok & Western Sumbawa

36 geochemical anomalies, including

Batu Hijau, ranked no. 6

Regional geophysical survey

April 1990
Discovery of “Green Creek’ by
prospecting. Found outcropping Cu
oxides in quartz vein stockwork
associated with Tonalite porphyry.
 Development History of the Batu Hijau porphyry

 1991 - 1996
Deposit drilling

 1996
Joint venture with Sumitomo

 1997
Financing and construction
start

 September 1999
Concentrator start-up

 October 2000
Operational Completion
Geochemistry & Geophysics: Batu Hijau Cu-Au porphyry
Stream Sediment Geochemistry -80 # Cu Stream Sediment Geochemistry -80 # Au
Southwest Sumbawa Southwest Sumbawa
Tanjung Jelenga

Jereweh Hijrah Tanjung Jelenga

Hijrah
Jereweh Jereweh
Jereweh

Teluk Benete Benete

Teluk Benete
> 10 ppb
Benete

MALUK > 50 ppm > 30 ppb

C.o.W Boundary Gold Ridge
> 100 ppm MALUK
C.o.W. Boundary > 120 ppb
Teluk Maluk
> 1000 ppm Teluk Maluk
Sekongkang
Gold Ridge PROSPECT LOCATION
Katala Prospect location Katala
Sekongkang
Sekongkang

Tanjung Amat Bambu

Lower Sejorong
BATUHIJAU
NORTH
Tanjung Amat
Lower Sejorong
BATUHIJAU
Tanjung Mangkun
Tongo W E Tanjung Mangkun
Bambu NORTH
Sejorong Tongo Veins Teluk Puna
Teluk Puna S Sejorong
W E
0 6Km
0 S 6Km
Teluk Puna
P R OJ E CT Teluk Puna
P R O J E C T

Airborne
Airborne Radiomet
Radiometrics
rics -- Pot
Potassium
assium
Southwest Sumbawa
Tanjung Jelenga

Jereweh
Jereweh
Hijrah
Teluk Benete Benete

MALUK > 1.5 % Potassium

C.o.W Boundary
Teluk Maluk
Prospect location
Gold Ridge
Katala
Sekongkang
Sekongkang
Bambu Vein
Tanjung

NORTH
Amat
Lower Sejorong BATUHIJAU
Batu Hijau NORTH
W E Tanjung Mangkun
Tongo W E
S Sejorong Teluk Puna
0 5Km S
0 6Km

P R O J E C T P R OJ E CT Teluk Puna
 Batu Hijau Surface Signatures
Soil Geochemistry - Cu ppm Soil Geochemistry - Au ppb
Batu Hijau District - Sumbawa Batu Hijau District - Sumbawa
NORTH

W E

BATUHIJAU BATUHIJAU
0 1000m
< 500 ppm > 1000 ppm
P R O J E CT P R O J E CT

BATUHIJAU

P R O J E CT
Aeromagnetic survey:
Tumpang Pitu (LS & porphyry), East Java
 Hydrothermal Alteration:
Tumpang Pitu LS epithermal gold deposit
 BLEG STREAM
SEDIMENT SURVEY

 PT. Hibualamo Jaya

concession area is exactly
located in the northern to
NE-part of the PT. NHM
(Gosowong mine)
 COMPLETED
EXPLORATION WORKS
1. Preliminary mapping:
 Surface geological mapping, scale 1 : 50.000
 Mapping of alteration zone within area
prospect, scale 1 : 25.000
2. Collecting altered and mineralised rock samples.
3. Preparation and analysis of representative
samples in laboratory
4. BLEG geochemical survey
LOCAL GEOLOGY
Hydrothermal Alteration
 BLEG GEOCHEMICAL SURVEY
Objectives:
 To determine the dispersion pattern of secondary Au
and Ag (floating gold and silver) in stream sediments,
which are, assumed as geochemical anomalies to
deliniate the occurrences of primary Au deposits in
study area.
 To localize the geochemical anomaly area based on
BLEG stream sediment data, as a reference in
recommending the prospect area for detailed
exploration. The detailed exploration could be soil
geochemistry and aero-magnetic geophysical survey
to determine the primary occurrence of gold deposits
in the study area.
 Scopes of BLEG survey
 Sampling of mud portion in stream sediment using
BLEG sampling method at several representative
sampling points within the IUP region with a total of
120 samples.
 Preparing, processing and analyzing the field data.
 Analyzing of BLEG samples at PT. Intertek Utama
Services laboratory using the CNO2 method for Au
and Ag with detection limit at 0.01 ppb respectively
 Determining the most prospect area on the basis of
Au and Ag geochemical anomalies
 BLEG SURVEY-Field work procedures

Collecting sample mud – fine sand

grained along the river, weighting about 2 Sieving the sample to collect the fine
kg fraction

Stirring up the mud with the Packing and draining the BLEG
magnafloc solution samples
BLEG sampling: 120 samples
 Gold anomaly

Gold (Au) anomaly: one BLEG sample

displays Au grade above threshold
value i.e 49.2 ppb of Sample HU-IV/23
 Silver anomaly

Four BLEG samples show Ag grade above

threshold value which is classified as silver
anomaly including 140 ppb (Sample HU-
I/26), 132 ppb (Sample HU-IV/32), 112 ppb
(Sample HU-IV/34) and 88 ppb (Sample
HU-IV/23).
A Mineralizing Continuity from
Gosowong Goldfield?
Gosowong gold deposit
…need a compact team work…