Method of Comparable Values: A New Approach for Efficient Exploration Target Selection in Small-Scale Mining
Small-scale mining is an important source of income for many communities worldwide. However, many small-scale mining enterprises lack good management and mining practices and the limited funds available for exploration are often allocated inefficiently. This paper introduces a method of comparable v...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Natural resources research (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2021-06, Vol.30 (3), p.2029-2046 |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Small-scale mining is an important source of income for many communities worldwide. However, many small-scale mining enterprises lack good management and mining practices and the limited funds available for exploration are often allocated inefficiently. This paper introduces a method of comparable values: a practical, low-cost and effective method for prioritization and selection of exploration targets in small-scale mining. The proposed method combines local geological mapping with a geological uncertainty assessment tool that indicates the risk associated with geological uncertainty for each target. By properly selecting exploration targets, small-scale miners can reduce the project risks and maximize the value resulting from investment that is more effective in exploration. The method of comparable values was applied to a small-scale project in a block of six manganese-rich claims in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The proposed method resulted in proper target selection with a time reduction of 50% and a cost savings of 76% when compared with those of traditional geological mapping work. |
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ISSN: | 1520-7439 1573-8981 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s11053-021-09855-z |