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4: RECONNAISSANCE EXPLORATION 69

for their field geologists, emphasizing the most centrally planned economies. Groups
importance of contacts with local communit- from both sectors must be clear about what
ies in the exploration process. commodity and type of deposit they are
seeking before setting up an exploration organ-
ization. Mineral exploration is a long-term
Governmental aspects
commitment and there must be careful plan-
Relations with governments can be problem- ning of the participant’s long-term objectives
atic particularly with major projects that will to ensure viable budgeting. With the objective
generate a large part of a developing country’s decided upon an exploration organization must
export earnings. If large amounts of money are be set up and its success will be enhanced by
involved in countries where public servants are developing all the factors listed in section 4.1.1.
poorly paid there is a tendency for significant Budgets must be carefully evaluated and not
amounts to be appropriated, either in the form be figures drawn out of the blue. An under-
of taxes that do not reach the government funded project will in most cases be a failure.
treasury or bribes. Governmental relations Careful control of funds is essential and it pro-
need to be handled carefully at a senior level vides a basis for future budgeting.
and care should be taken that they are not With the organization in place and the target
in conflict with relations at a community level deposit type selected, desk studies can start in
(see sections 11.2.6 & 11.2.8). There are a earnest and areas for reconnaissance be chosen.
number of recent (2004) examples, such as the Relevant information must be acquired, as-
Esquel gold deposit in Argentina, where the sessed, and selected using published works and
national government is keen on the develop- open-file material from government institu-
ment but local or provincial bodies are opposed. tions (section 4.2.1). The aim of reconnaissance
is to evaluate rapidly areas highlighted in the
desk study and to identify targets for follow-up
4.3.1 Health and safety
work and drilling. If this is successful then the
A key aspect of a company’s reputation, both exclusive rights to explore and to mine any de-
as an employer and with the local community, posits found in the target area must be acquired
is the health and safety of its staff. Although (section 4.2.3).
problems at the exploration stage are less severe
than during mining, serious injuries and deaths
have occurred. Assessments of hazards should 4.5 FURTHER READING
be made so that high risk activities can be rec-
ognized and mitigated. First aid training should Literature on the design and execution of
also be provided. At least one major mining exploration programs is sparse. Peters (1987)
group has linked staff pay to safety record and provides a good introduction. Management of
claim that this is the only way to effectively Mineral Exploration by White (1997) is well
improve their safety record. All contractors worth reading with a wealth of practical experi-
should behave in a similar way to company ence. Papers edited by Huchinson and Grauch
staff and safety record should be a significant (1991) discuss the evolution of genetic concepts
factor in choosing contractors. Probably the as well as giving some case histories of major
major source of serious accidents in the au- discoveries and are updated in the volume of
thors’ experiences is road transport, especially Goldfarb and Nielsen (2002). The two volumes
in remote areas. Staff should be provided with of Sillitoe (1995, 2000) provide succinct case
training in driving on poor road surfaces. histories of discoveries in the Pacific Rim area.
An enthusiastic view from industry, tem-
pered by economic reality, is provided by
4.4 SUMMARY Woodall (1984, 1992). Much data on the
economics of exploration can be found in the
Mineral exploration is conducted by both the volume edited by Tilton et al. (1988), updated
private and public sectors in both market and in Crowson (2003).