Course description
This course provides a 360º wide-angle perspective on the exploration, evaluation, valuation and reporting on raw material deposits. It is built upon a multidisciplinary approach with the cross-fertilisation of economical, geological and engineering concepts in the exploration until mining process.
The approach discussed in this course integrates the circular economy paradigm in the early stages of mineral projects: the exploration, (e)valuation and reporting process is designed a priori to maximize the use of all the resources contained in mineral deposits, in a no-waste, maximum renewable energy use approach.
Participants are especially encouraged to bring, share and analyse their own experiences and material during the course. Rather than presenting and discussing an ideal textbook mineral exploration and evaluation program, the course integrates the latest technical and paradigm developments with real-life datasets and cases in a hands-on discussion and analysis of specific topics:
- Trends in: society, economy, climate, critical raw materials, responsible sourcing, blockchain.
- Mineral deposits models and evaluation models.
- State-of-the-art and future trends in remote sensing, geophysical, geochemical and geological exploration (including sampling).
- Risk and financial models: mineral projects risks, country risk, mineral assets valuation models.
- Reporting to society and the markets: international standards, issues and challenges.
Course content
The organization of the themes discussed in the work sessions is as follows:
Day 1
Morning: Trends - society, economy, climate, critical raw materials, responsible sourcing, blockchain. Market forces. Mineral deposits models.
Afternoon: Presentation of the cut diamonds case – group assignment. The Penedono gold case - group assignment.
Day 2
Morning: A curious mind and other tools (geology and tectonics, geochemistry, geophysics, remote sensing, sampling). Exploration – methodologies and techniques. Evaluation models – geostatistics and data science.
Afternoon: The Luachimo alluvial diamond deposits – group assignment. The ESCOM case – group assignment.
Day 3
Morning: International resporting standards and guidelines: resources, reserves and valuation. Valuation models – exploration assets. Valuation models – (in or close to) production assets.
Afternoon: The Borba marble quarries case – group assignment. Final discussion.
Type of training
The course is combining classroom lectures, computer-based work, group work and self study.
Objectives and outcome
Participants in the course will learn to:
- Plan exploration programs based on the mineral deposit target type, the external environment they are located in, the perceived risks and market forces, designing the information to collect as a reliable basis to develop a no-waste (integral resource exploitation) mining project.
- Use international reporting standards.
- Analyse and evaluate a mineral project’s risk.
- Select and use the appropriate method for the valuation of mineral assets.
Language
English
