The future of research in exploration

The Mineral Deposit Research Unit (MDRU) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) organized a research meeting recently on the theme “The future of research in economic geology.” The purpose was to seek new ideas from researchers and the mining industry on the role and direction of research and its application to exploration.

The presentations were concluded in a similar vein with an antipodean perspective from Dick Henley of Etheridge and Henley Geoscience Consultants of Australia. Henley examined the past role of research in exploration and illustrated the difficulty of spotting “winners.” He suggested that the next 10 years will see some advances in exploration tools and significant advances in data handling and imaging, an improved application of genetic pathways for ore deposit systems and their application to exploration, and continued upgrading of exploration teams. All are dependent on the insight and ability of exploration management.

For MDRU, the meeting confirmed support for the unit within the industry. There was unanimous approval for the style of collaborative research adopted by MDRU, involving a broad conceptual approach supported by detailed deposit/case studies. Additional integrated studies involving geophysics and environmental problems such as acid rock drainage will be pursued. The focus of MDRU, however, will continue to be island arc metallogeny and related exploration problems in a western Canadian context and similar environments in the Circum-Pacific region.

— John Thompson is director of MDRU, Department of Geological Sciences, University of British Columbia.

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