ExplorationEnglish for Mining Engineering

Remedial ClassJanuary 2014

Exploration

• As it was said before that exploration method could be classified into 2 (two) groups, they are:• Indirect Exploration Method:

• Remote Sensing (Satellite Image, Aerial Photo, etc)• Geophysical Survey (Gravity Survey, Magnetic Survey, Electromagnetic Survey,

Radioactive Survey, Seismic Survey, etc).• Geochemical Survey (tracer study, etc)

• Direct Exploration Method• Pit Testing• Trenching• Drilling

Indirect Exploration MethodExploration Chapter

Remote Sensing

• It comes from 2 words, remote (far away in space or time: Oxford) and sense/sensing (understanding or good judgement or meaning: Oxford). So remote sensing could have definition as an activity to get understanding about a thing or a place through its image or information get from far away above of it. • Remote sensing could be done by satellite imaging, aerial photo, aerial

radar surveying, and many works where could be done through air space.• It is still developing now, especially in purpose of mining exploration,

such as aerial thermal radar survey, to know existence of coal deposit through its thermal.

Geophysics Survey

• We could know the indication of some mining commodities through its characteristics or its association’s characteristics, including mineral’s physical characteristics.• The survey will get no sample. The survey will provide quantitative

data, one physical characteristic which is analyzed. • The resources will be indicated and showed by its anomaly. The

resources will be calculated when it is modelled because the survey do not only get the number of physical characteristic but also get the position of predicted deposit, so analyst could measure the thickness to calculate the amount of resources.

Geochemical Survey

• Mobility is one of chemical characteristic that mineral or mining commodity has. Through it, Mining Engineer or Geologist could trace or find indication of deposit.• There are some minerals or elements that has mobile characteristic, but

there are also some minerals that are not mobile. Minerals that have immobility usually have capability of dissolved and the mobile ones don’t. • Through that knowledge or assumption, Mining Engineering or Geologist

often traces some minerals via river water, soil, part of tree (leaf, root, trunk, etc), and many more.• So, this survey provides sample, but why is it still included into indirect

exploration method??

Direct Exploration MethodExploration Chapter

Pit Testing

• Some people call it “test pit”.• It is an activity to collect sample, usually (almost all is done) from

outcrop, by making a hole parallel to its dip direction. It means that the work is done perpendicular to its strike.• The work is usually done with hole size 1 m x 1 m x 1 m, but if the

thickness (apparent one) is more than 1 m, the length and the width could be 1,5 m x 1,5 m. • Through this work, Mining Engineer or Geologist could measure

deposit orientation (strike and dip) and thickness (true or apparent)

Trenching

• Like its original word, trench that is similar to ditch, so it is an activity to make a trench or ditch, on or near to outcrop. This work is done parallel to its strike (perpendicular to its dip direction).• Size of the hole could vary, depending on its continuity. The width and

the depth could be 1 m x 1 m or 1,5 m x 1,5 m but the length is varied because the continuity is varied too.• It could be done by mankind hand or heavy equipment. • Purpose of this work is to know or prove the continuity. Sometimes,

Geologist only collects sample without measure the thickness in real.

Drilling

• It comes from the verb “to drill”, has meaning “to make a hole. The direction of drilling not only vertically down, but also could be up-rising vertically, up-or-down diagonal, or horizontal. • Size of hole could vary, depending on size of bit used. It means that

size of sample varies too, because diameter of the hole is varied. • Sample could be on 2 (two) forms, they are cutting sample and core

sample. Cutting could be taken from open-hole drilling and/or core-drilling, but core could only be taken from coring (core-drilling).

Noun PhraseGrammar and Structure

Noun Phrase (1)

• Noun-Noun• Groundwater• Hydrology Cycle

• Adjective-Noun• Measurable Resources• Mineable Reserves

• Verb-Noun• Dump Truck• Proven Reserves

Noun Phrase (2)

• Noun-Verb• Man Work• Hand Writing

• Noun-Adverb• Light Out• Stair Up

• Verb-Adverb• Set Up• Dig Out

Noun Phrase (3)

• Adjective-Verb• Steady Flow• Hardly Break

• Adverb-Noun• Underground• Downtown

• Adverb-Verb• Upset• Understand

Task to bring home

• Read Chapter 5 carefully!• Learn any articles you could find and try to understand its meaning

without read or open dictionary!• We will discuss it on next meeting on Saturday!