Geometallurgy in Mineral Deposit Evaluation: A Review

This chapter delves into the three stages of mineral deposit evaluation: field data collection, geological interpretation and mineral resource estimation, and mineral reserve estimation and mine planning. It emphasizes the importance of geometallurgical domains in accurately estimating resources and reserves, particularly in deposits with oxide-dominated mineralization. The text explores how different mineralogical compositions, such as those found in porphyry copper deposits, significantly impact processing methods and recovery rates. Through detailed examples, it illustrates how geometallurgical models can optimize mining operations by identifying deleterious minerals and elements, ultimately minimizing processing risks and enhancing value realization. The chapter concludes by underscoring the growing importance of geometallurgy in the future of mineral deposit development.