Deep Mineral Resources, Current Research Projects Supported by the Integrated Basis Research Program

摘要

The status of basic research projects dealing with the origins of ore deposits, mineral exploration, and extraction of mineral values by in situ leaching (solution mining), is summarized. Interest in this new technology is spurred by the exhaustion of shallow deposits of high grade ore and the costly, high-energy methods of mining and processing low grade ores. Deep mineral deposits increase in importance as future mineral supplies, provided that science and technology can be developed to exploit them. Mining by in situ methods is a promising alternative means of mineral extraction which offers a significant improvement in miner safety and reduced disturbance of the surface environment. These methods involve injecting leaching solutions into a deep ore body where they react chemically with minerals. Dissolved minerals then flow to the surface via production wells where the metals are recovered by hydrometallurgical processes. Projects reported include solution mining--solution chemistry and rock mechanics--and mineral exploration science--geodynamics, metallogenesis, deep basement and upper mantle investigations, and exploration methods.