ISO 22932-4:2023

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 22932-4
First edition
2023-05
Mining — Vocabulary —
Part 4:
Prospecting and exploration
Exploitation minière — Vocabulaire —
Partie 4: Prospection et exploration
Reference number
© ISO 2023
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
Bibliography .42
Index .43
iii
Foreword
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iv
Introduction
0.1 General
The ISO 22932 series has been prepared in order to standardize and to coordinate the global use of
technical terms and definitions in mining, for the benefit of the experts working on different types of
mining activities.
The need for the ISO 22932 series arose from the widely varying interpretation of terms used within
the industry and the prevalent use of more than one synonym.
A geological study is generally carried out in the following four main stages: reconnaissance,
prospecting, general exploration and detailed exploration (for definition of each stage see below).
The purpose of the geological study is to identify mineralization, to establish continuity, quantity, and
quality of a mineral deposit, and thereby define an investment opportunity.
0.2 Reconnaissance
A reconnaissance study identifies areas of enhanced mineral potential on a regional scale based
primarily on results of regional geological studies, regional geological mapping, airborne and indirect
methods, preliminary field inspection, as well as geological inference and extrapolation.
The objective is to identify mineralized areas worthy of further investigation towards deposit
identification. Estimates of quantities should only be made if sufficient data are available and when an
analogy with known deposit of similar geological character is possible, and then only within an order of
magnitude.
0.3 Prospecting
Prospecting is the systematic process of searching for a mineral deposit by narrowing down areas of
promising enhanced mineral potential.
The methods utilized are outcrop identification, geological mapping, and indirect methods such as
geophysical and geochemical studies. Limited trenching, drilling, and sampling may be carried out.
The objective is to identify a deposit which will be the target for further exploration. Estimates of
quantities are inferred, based on interpretation of geological, geophysical and geochemical results.
0.4 General exploration
General exploration involves the initial delineation of an identified deposit. Methods used include
surface mapping, widely spaced sampling, trenching and drilling for preliminary evaluation of mineral
quantity and quality (including mineralogical tests on laboratory scale if required), and limited
interpolation based on indirect methods of investigation.
The objective is to establish the main geological features of a deposit, giving a reasonable indication of
continuity and providing an initial estimate of size, shape, structure and grade. The degree of accuracy
should be sufficient for deciding whether a prefeasibility study and detailed exploration are warranted.
0.5 Detailed exploration
Detailed exploration involves the detailed three-dimensional delineation of a known deposit achieved
through sampling, such as from outcrops, trenches, boreholes, shafts and tunnels.
Sampling grids are closely spaced such that size, shape, structure, grade, and other relevant
characteristics of the deposit are established with a high degree of accuracy. Processing tests involving
bulk sampling may be required.
A decision whether to conduct a feasibility study can be made from the information provided by
detailed exploration.
[SOURCE: Controller General Indian Bureau of Mines]
v
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 22932-4:2023(E)
Mining — Vocabulary —
Part 4:
Prospecting and exploration
1 Scope
This document specifies the commonly used terms in mine prospecting and exploration. Only those
terms that have a specific meaning in this field are included.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
Prospecting
3.1.1
aeromagnetic prospecting
airborne magnetic prospecting
technique of geophysical exploration (3.2.8) of an area using an airborne magnetometer (3.1.1.1) to
survey (3.6) that area
[SOURCE: Reference [1], modified — "airborne magnetic prospecting" has been added as a term.]
3.1.1.1
magnetometer
instrument for measuring magnetic intensity
Note 1 to entry: In ground magnetic prospecting (3.1.8.6), magnetometer is an instrument for measuring the
vertical magnetic intensity.
Note 2 to entry: In airborne magnetic prospecting (3.1.1), magnetometer is an instrument for measuring the total
magnetic intensity. Also, an instrument used in magnetic observatories for measuring various components of the
magnetic field (3.8.4) of the Earth.
Note 3 to entry: Magnetometer is sensitive instrument for detecting and measuring changes in the Earth's
magnetic field, used in prospecting (3.1.10) to detect magnetic anomalies (3.1.2.10) and magnetic gradients in
rock formations.
[SOURCE: Reference [1], modified — Notes 1, 2 and 3 to entry were originally part of the definition.]
3.1.2
anomaly
geological feature, especially. in the subsurface, distinguished by geological, geophysical, or geochemical
means, which is different from the general surroundings and is often of potential economic value
EXAMPLE A magnetic anomaly (3.1.2.10).
[SOURCE: Reference [1], modified — EXAMPLE was originally part of the definition.]
3.1.2.1
botanical anomaly
local increase above the normal variation in the chemical composition, distribution, ecological
assemblage, or morphology of plants, indicating the possible presence of an ore deposit (3.10.31) or
anthropomorphic contamination
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.2.2
geochemical anomaly
secondary anomaly
concentration of one or more elements in rock, soil, sediment, vegetation, or water that is markedly
higher or lower than background
Note 1 to entry: The term may also be applied to hydrocarbon concentrations in soils.
[SOURCE: Reference [1], modified — Note 1 to entry was originally part of the definition.]
3.1.2.3
gravity anomaly
difference between the observed value of gravity at a point and the theoretically calculated value
Note 1 to entry: It is based on a simple gravity model, usually modified in accordance with some generalized
hypothesis of variation in subsurface density as related to surface topography.
[SOURCE: Reference [1], modified — Note 1 to entry was originally part of the definition.]
3.1.2.4
ground geophysical anomaly
geophysical anomaly (3.1.2) that is mapped instrumentally at the surface of the ground
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.2.5
hydrochemical anomaly
anomalous patterns of elements contained in ground or surface water
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.2.6
hydromorphic anomaly
anomaly (3.1.2) where the dynamic agents are aqueous solutions, which brought the elements to the
site of deposition (3.10.12)
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.2.7
intense anomaly
anomaly (3.1.2) whose elemental values rise sharply to one or more well-defined peaks
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.2.8
isanomalic line
line of equal value of an anomaly (3.1.2)
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.2.9
isostatic anomaly
difference between the observed value of gravity at a point after applying to it the isostatic correction
and the normal value of gravity at the point
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.2.10
magnetic anomaly
variation of the measured magnetic pattern from a theoretical or empirically smoothed magnetic field
(3.8.4)
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.2.11
nonsignificant anomaly
DEPRECATED: false anomaly
anomaly (3.1.2) that is superficially similar to a significant anomaly (3.1.2.15) but is unrelated to ore
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.2.12
optical anomaly
optical properties apparently at variance with optical rules
EXAMPLE Anisotropy in isotropic minerals, such as birefringent diamond; biaxiality in uniaxial minerals,
such as quartz; and erratic variation in birefringence near optical absorption bands, e.g. some epidote minerals.
[SOURCE: Reference [1], modified — EXAMPLE was originally part of the definition.]
3.1.2.13
primary anomaly
anomaly (3.1.2) formed by primary dispersion
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.2.14
regional anomaly
more localized departures in the Earth's field (3.8.4) from the values that would be predicted if the field
were to originate with a single magnet oriented along the magnetic axis
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.2.15
significant anomaly
anomaly (3.1.2) that is related to ore and that can be used as a guide in exploration (3.2.5)
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.3
biochemical prospecting
biogeochemical prospecting
geochemical exploration (3.2.5) based on the chemical analysis of systematically sampled plants in a
region, to detect biological concentrations of elements that might reflect hidden orebodies
Note 1 to entry: The root systems of trees are powerful sampling (3.1.12.6) mechanisms that represent samples
of solutions from a large volume of earth. Much of the mineral content from these solutions is found in the leaves.
Analysis of leaves may serve as a guide to prospectors
Note 2 to entry: The trace-element content of one or more plant organs is most often measured.
[SOURCE: Reference [1], modified — Notes 1 and 2 to entry were originally part of the definition.]
3.1.4
botanical prospecting
prospecting (3.1.10) in which differences in plant growth or plant family serve as a clue to the presence
of metals beneath barren rock or a covering of sand and gravel
[SOURCE: Reference [1]]
3.1.5
electric
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