Exploration

Explore aims to locate the presence of economic deposits and establish their nature, extent, and grade. The investigation may be divided into:

• Green fields
• Brown fields
• Operational/Mine Site

Exploration techniques include:

• Geological surveys
• Geophysical prospecting (may be ground, aerial, or both)
• Soil and grab samples, geochemical, boreholes, and trial pits
• Surface or underground headings, drifts, or tunnels

The surface discovery of coal or another mineral only proves its superficial existence and further work is needed to establish its quality and extent. The term “exploration” is sometimes applied to this extension of the discovery work.