Study of Scientific Thinking Pattern of Geological Prospecting

When evaluating mineral project applications and preliminary survey reports, experts often come across obscure prospecting ideas or inappropriate prospecting methods. However, as the core of mineral exploration work, the two aspects are vitally important in overall planning. Guided by prior metallogenesis phenomenon and professional knowledge, experts give their advice and recommendations on a regional basis. Their major concern includes important steps such as geology information integration, prospecting information gathering, the choice of prospecting ideas and methods, projects scheduling, work arrangements, implementation and supervision. The crucial prospecting ideas, methods and arrangements are often determined by the region's unique geological background. Each kind of geology leads to specific characteristics and patterns of mineralization. In reality, researchers often fail to integrate different methods as geological, geophysical, geochemical or remote sensing, therefore unable to find prospecting clues by the metallogenic regularity indicated in the gathered information. Based on long-term exploring experience, we are able to classify the prospecting ideas into 6 steps: ① information gathering and integration; ② information classification and processing; ③ 3D simulation of prospecting information; ④ identification of mineral position and characteristics, selection of appropriate physical and chemical methods for specimen; ⑤ selection of engineering verification methods; ⑥ correction of errors between scientific speculation and facts.