Exploration of Mineral Deposits

Exploration is known to include a whole complex of investigations carried out for determining the industrial importance of a deposit. The main task is to determine the quality and quantity of mineral and the natural and economic conditions in which it occurs. The exploration of the deposit is divided into three stages, namely preliminary exploration, detailed exploration and exploitation exploration.

The aim of preliminary exploration is to establish the general size of a deposit and to obtain an approximate idea of its shape, dimensions and quality. At this stage the geological map of the deposit is corrected and a detailed survey of its surface is completed.

The information on the preliminary exploration is expected to give an all-round description of the deposit which will enable the cost of its detailed exploration to be estimated.

The following points should be taken into consideration: 1) the shape and area of the deposit; 2) its depth and angles of dip and strike; 3) its thickness; 4) the properties of the surrounding rock and overburden; 5) the degree of uniformity of distribution of the mineral within the deposit and the country rock, etc.

Preliminary explorations can make use of exploratory openings such as trenches, prospecting pits, adits, crosscuts and boreholes. They are planned according to a definite system, and some are driven to a great depth.

All the exploratory workings are plotted on the plan. These data allow the geologist to establish the vertical section of the deposit.

The quality of the mineral deposit is determined on the basis of analyses and tests of samples taken from exploratory workings.

The method of exploration to be chosen in any particular case depends on the thickness of overburden, the angle of dip, the surface relief, the ground water conditions and the shape of the mineral deposit.

The task of the detailed exploration is to obtain reliable information on the mineral reserves, their grades and distribution in the different sectors of the deposit. Detailed exploration data provide a much more exact estimate of the mineral reserves.

Mine or exploitation exploration is known to begin as soon as mining operations start. It provides data for detailed estimates of the ore reserves of individual sections. It facilitates the planning of current production and calculating the balance of reserves and ore mined.

The searching and discovering of new mineralized areas are based on geological survey and regional geophysical prospecting. The results of these investigations provide data on iron-bearing formations and new deposits for commercial extraction.

In detailed exploration both underground workings and borehole survey are used. Core drilling with diamond and carbide bits is widely used. Non-core drilling is also used in loose rocks in combination with borehole geophysical survey.

One of the main methods to explore coal deposits is also core-drilling. Modern drilling equipment makes it possible to accurately measure bed thickness and determine structure of beds, faults and folds. Recording control instruments are attached to drilling rigs which allow the geologists to get reliable samples good for nearly all parameters of coal quality to be determined.

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1.    The purpose of preliminary exploration is to determine the mineral reserves and their distribution in the different sectors of the deposit.

2.    The properties of the surrounding rock and overburden should be taken into consideration during the preliminary exploration.

3.    The purpose of the detailed exploration is to find out the quantity (reserves) of the deposit.

4.    Exploitation exploration facilitates the planning of current production.

5.    Both core drilling and non-core drilling are widely used.

6.    Recording control instruments allow geologists to get reliable ore samples.

       2.    Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

ВАРИАНТ 7

ассеss -n доступ

affect - v воздействовать (на что-л.); влиять; syn influence

barren - а непродуктивный; пустой (о породе)

chute- n скат, спуск; углеспускная выработка; жёлоб

compare- v (with) сравнивать, проводить параллель

contribute - v способствовать, содействовать; делать вклад (в науку); make a (one's) ~ to smth.сделать вклад во что-л.

cross-section- n поперечное сечение, поперечный разрез, профиль

develop- v разрабатывать (месторождение); развивать (добычу); производить подготовительные работы; development -n подготовительные работы; развитие добычи; развитие

drift- n штрек, горизонтальная выработка

ensure- v обеспечивать, гарантировать; syn guarantee

face- n забой; лава

floor- л почва горной выработки, почва пласта (жилы); quarry~ подошва карьера; пол, настил

govern- v править, управлять; руководить; определять, обусловливать

inclination- n уклон, скат, наклон (пластов); наклонение; seam~ падение (пласта); наклон (пласта)

incline- n уклон, бремсберг, скат; наклонный ствол; gravity~ бремсберг

inclined- а наклонный; flatly~ слабо наклонный; gently ~наклонного падения; medium~ умеренно наклонный (о пластах); steeply~ крутопадающий

level- n этаж, горизонт, горизонтальная горная выработка; штольня; уровень (инструмент); нивелир; ватерпас; горизонтальная поверхность

recover- v извлекать (целики); выбирать, очищать; добывать (уголь и т.п.); восстанавливать

remove- v удалять; убирать; устранять; перемещать; removal -n вскрыша; выемка; уборка (породы); извлечение (крепи); перемещение; overburden- удаление вскрыши

rib- n ребро; выступ; узкий целик, предохранительный целик; грудь забоя

roof- n крыша; кровля выработки; кровля пласта (или жилы); перекрытие; ~ support -крепление кровли

shaft- n шахтный ствол; auxiliary ~ вспомогательный ствол; hoisting~ подъемный ствол; главный шахтный ствол

tabular - а пластовый (о месторождении); пластообразный; плоский; линзообразный; syn bedded, layered

waste- n пустая порода; отходы; syn barren rock

well- n буровая скважина; колодец, источник; водоем; зумф

capital investment -капитальные вложения

gate road -промежуточный штрек

in bulk -навалом, в виде крупных кусков

metal-bearing -содержащий металл

production face/working -очистной забой

productive mining -эксплуатационные работы

in view of -ввиду чего-л., принимая во внимание что-л.

with a view to -с целью