Correctly deal with the relationship between the original technical methods and new technical methods

Mineral exploration technology methods and all things are in constant development and change. Especially in today's rapidly changing science and technology, the development of technical methods of mineral exploration is more rapid. From the objective conditions, on the one hand, with the mineral exploration work in depth, gradually increase the difficulty of finding minerals, in order to continue to find and explore new deposits, exploration workers are always constantly researching some new technical methods to find minerals. On the other hand, due to the progress of science and technology as a whole, for the development of exploration technology and methods to create favorable conditions. It is for this reason that the technical methods of mineral exploration have developed rapidly in recent years. So there is a problem, is how to deal with the old and new methods of technology in the practice of mineral exploration, how to correctly deal with the relationship between the new technical methods and the original technical methods. Here are several situations:

(a) actively using high-tech methods

Contemporary mineral exploration work, an important trend is the rapid introduction of computer computing technology and remote sensing technology and other advanced high-tech. An important trend in the development of today's natural science is from qualitative research to quantitative research. Geological science is no exception. As early as in the era of Leyell, through his statistics based on paleontological fossils of the Tertiary stratigraphy of the beginning of the germ of the combination of geology and mathematics, more than 100 years, the combination of the increasingly expanding and close, and gradually formed a mathematical geology of this discipline. After entering the 1960s, mathematical geology and electronic computers began to be introduced into China's geological work and geological research, and gradually formed an independent force, which strongly promoted the development of geological investigation and geological research in the direction of quantization. At present, the application of computers and computer technology has been widely penetrated into every field of geological work, deep into the various stages of mineral exploration, throughout the whole process and in the following major areas to achieve very good results:

(1) a variety of geological and geophysical, remote sensing, geochemistry, observation and measurement of the digitalization of the instrument and computerization, as well as prospecting engineering equipment to adopt computer technology, has greatly improved the accuracy of observation, the spirit of the observation, the accuracy of the observation, the accuracy of the observation, the accuracy of the observation, and the computer technology, and has greatly improved the accuracy of the observation, the computer technology. Greatly improve the observation of the accuracy, sensitivity and operation of the degree of automation, not only improve the quality and speed, but also reduce the labor intensity, but also help us from the macro aspects of a better understanding of the crust of the minerals and their mineralization and distribution laws.

(2) all kinds of field observation data computer processing, so that the face of geological work has undergone a profound change. The use of computer technology, so that a variety of information processing, mathematical statistics are widely used, on the one hand, greatly accelerated the speed of information and data processing; on the other hand, but also more important aspects, can help us more comprehensive, objective understanding of the objective geology and mineralogy, which helps to correctly make the relevant judgments and decisions.

(3) All kinds of rock and mineral analysis and testing and identification instruments, especially large-scale instruments have been the vast majority of the realization of the digital and computer control, so that the analysis and identification of the accuracy and efficiency of an unprecedented degree, to help us in the microcosm to obtain more freedom.

(4) The use of electronic computers and mathematical methods to establish a variety of models to guide the search for minerals and the quantitative evaluation of mineral resources and quantitative prediction.

(5) Computerized mapping and graphic techniques have been more commonly adopted. The use of computers can easily produce, edit, copy and store geological maps.

(6) computer technology in geological work management is also widely used and achieved remarkable results. Such as geological exploration project registration management, geological and mineral exploration work planning, finance, personnel, labor, statistics, equipment and materials management, reserves management, geological data, information management, organ paper files management, office automation, and so on.

(7) began to appear a variety of geological expert system. The development of artificial intelligence in the field of geological exploration is constantly emerging new results.

(8) geological and mineral information system will be in the electronic computer with the help of the gradual convergence of unity and perfection, so that can make the scattered, localized results into a recognized network, so that a variety of information can be exchanged more efficiently, integrated and processed to form new experience and knowledge, and further promote the development of mineral exploration work.

Remote sensing telemetry technology is an advanced technology that has developed rapidly in the past 20 years. The technology is the use of electromagnetic wave theory, the application of modern equipment and advanced technology methods, do not have to directly contact the object being measured, can be from the satellite orbit (aerospace remote sensing) or from the aircraft, airships, balloons (aviation remote sensing) long-distance collection of the earth or the earth's a test area of the information needed to be collected. This technology has a wide range of applications. Mineral prospecting is one of these areas of application. At present, aerospace remote sensing used for earth resource exploration includes multi-band scanning (MSS), reverse beam photoconductive video (RBV), thermal infrared scanning (IR), and survey and visualization radar (SLR), and so on. Currently, the airborne remote sensing methods used to find minerals are: panchromatic photography, multi-band photography, thermal infrared scanning, survey radar, infrared thermal radiation measurement, microwave radiation and so on. Through electronic computers and advanced image processing technology, scientific understanding of the information obtained from remote sensing can help us solve many geological problems related to mineral search. First of all, it can help to identify the general outline of the regional tectonics from the macroscopic point of view, such as large basins, large rock masses, the spread of strata and the direction of the main tectonic lines, etc., which will be helpful for us to understand the regional geological background. This is because the minerals that may be endowed in different landmasses or blocks are often very different. Basin can find oil and gas, coal and other sedimentary minerals to indicate the direction; magma body, volcanic institutions can find and magmatic action related to minerals to provide conditions; some large shear zones, large push over the body and other tectonics to indicate the target area of the search for minerals is very helpful. Secondly, many large and super-large deposits are often distributed in the two different nature of the geological tectonic unit between the joint position or transition zone. The use of remote sensing technology and image interpretation can help us find the joints belonging to different tectonic units, which can point out the direction for us to find minerals from the regional macro. Thirdly, many endogenous metal deposits have faded zones due to alteration of surrounding rocks or reddish-brown iron cap zones due to oxidation of sulfide ores, which can be shown through remote sensing because of the color difference, thus providing us with specific target areas and symbols for finding minerals. Fourth, through remote sensing can directly find some minerals, such as geothermal.

(ii) new technology instead of the old technology

New technology in the search for minerals in the role and effect is undoubtedly superior to the old technology, so use the new technology to replace the old technical methods is the inevitable trend of historical development is an unstoppable trend. For example, the seismic instruments used in petroleum exploration have gone through three generations of light-point seismometers, analog seismometers and digital seismometers. In the 1950s and the early 1960s, oil and gas surveys in the use of light seismographs. 60s to the mid-70s, due to the analog seismograph technical performance than the light seismograph for the advanced, thus replacing the light seismographs. 70s, the beginning of the use of digital seismographs, to the end of the 70s, the beginning of the 80s, China's oil and gas surveys with seismic instrumentation has been realized digitally. Now the digital seismometer itself is also in the process of continuous improvement. Oil seismic instrumentation for each generation and progress, have greatly improved the efficiency and quality of oil and gas survey work, are powerful to promote the development of oil and gas survey work.

(C) new and old technologies and methods co-exist

This situation is on the one hand, actively use new technologies and new methods, while continuing to use the old methods and techniques are still effective.

In the practice of mineral exploration, for a long time formed a set of working methods and technology to find minerals, such as geologists rely on hammers, compasses, magnifiers, the three treasures to the field of geological observation and research, the use of the trench, exploratory wells, pits and boreholes to expose geological phenomena and mineralization. Although these traditional methods have been used for a long time, they are still needed and effective today and for a long time to come. Therefore, at a time when the level of modernization of science and technology has been greatly improved, while remote sensing, computers and other high technologies are widely used, they should not be discarded, but should continue to be used in a reasonable manner. There is another reason for the coexistence of certain old and new methods and technologies, namely, their respective applicability. Geochemical prospecting, for example, the initial use of secondary halo method and water chemistry, and then gradually used to expand the dispersed flow method and primary halo method, but because of these old and new methods in different geological conditions in the region have their own adaptability, so the new method can not all replace the original method.

Another example is that the direct and indirect methods of finding gold in chemical exploration will be used side by side. In the past in the search for gold, due to analytical testing techniques and other reasons, the use of chemical exploration for gold usually use the guidance element (As, Hg, Sb, Bi, Cu, Pb, etc.) anomalies to carry out, that is, indirectly looking for gold, can be received to a certain extent. 1980 Henan Provincial Geological Laboratory to test the trace gold analysis method has been successful, after a period of time in a small range of applications, to 1986 the method has been perfect, the detection limit of gold up to 0.5 percent, and the detection limit of gold, the detection limit of gold is up to 0.0 percent, the detection limit of gold is up to 0.0 percent. After a period of small-scale application, by 1986, the method had been perfected, and the detection limit of gold reached 0.3×10-9, which was then promoted in the national chemical exploration work. Due to the improvement of the analysis level, some low-grade or y buried gold mines with weak gold anomalies could also be discovered. So the direct use of gold anomalies in chemical exploration to find gold not only became possible, but also gained great success. 1976 to 1980, chemical exploration to find gold found deposits (points) 5, 1983 found 16, 1986 rose to 60, 1989 further rose to 115 (Figure 24). At present, the method of "searching for gold by gold" is expanding, and the method of searching for gold by using other indicator elements is still being adopted.

Figure 24 1981-1990 chemical exploration for gold found deposits (points) diagram

The reason why the old and new technologies and methods can co-exist for a certain period of time may also be due to ideological understanding of the reasons and financial resources, due to economic conditions, and can not make the full promotion of the new technology, so that for a certain period of time the situation of the old and the new technologies co-exist. Such as drilling technology has this situation.

Drilling technology, the 1950s is generally used in the iron sand drilling, the late development of steel drilling and gradually replaced the iron sand drilling. In the 1960s and 1970s, the development of alloy bit drilling, diamond bit core drilling and diamond rope core drilling. Especially in the past 20 years, the geological drilling technology in all countries of the world has undergone a significant change, one of the important signs of which is the development of a variety of technical methods from a single diamond core core drilling to the comprehensive application of the method. In this process of development and progress, the western countries in the 70's before the geological drilling in the use of diamond core drilling proportion is as high as 90%, of which the proportion of rope coring and accounted for more than 80%. And our country mainly due to financial constraints and awareness of the reasons, the proportion of diamond drilling is currently about 75%, of which rope coring accounted for about 30% of diamond drilling, cemented carbide bit drilling also accounted for a considerable proportion, and even backward steel grain drilling has not been completely eliminated.

In the promotion of new technology and methods due to various reasons, the development of each region and each sector is also unbalanced. Some departments are in a better situation, some departments are worse. For example, in the promotion of diamond and rope core drilling, the geological teams in the metallurgical sector are the best. in 1988, the proportion of their diamond drilling reached 91%, of which rope coring accounted for 60%, thus obtaining the highest drilling efficiency in the geological industry in the country (Table 33).

Table 33 Technical and Economic Indicators of Diamond Drilling and Diamond Rope Coring Drilling in Several Sectors in 1988

Of course, while continuing to use traditional methods and techniques or tools, attention should be paid to the improvement and enhancement of these methods and techniques themselves. In fact the original traditional method technology and tools are constantly improving. Compass in the improvement, geological hammer in the improvement, the magnifying glass is also in the improvement; drilling technology is also in the overall improvement and enhancement, drilling rig from the handlebar type to the hydraulic type, the beginning of iron sand drilling, then appeared in the steel drilling, alloy drilling, diamond drilling; from manual drilling core to the use of rope core drilling; by rotary drilling to the use of percussion rotary drilling, and so on. Pit exploration project also developed from a single operation to both manual operation, but also semi-mechanized and mechanized construction.

Relative to the original traditional methods, geophysical prospecting methods and geochemical prospecting methods are more advanced technical methods. Since the mid-20th century, especially after the Second World War, in order to adapt to the needs of resource exploration, physical and chemical prospecting methods in the world's countries in the exploration work has been widely used and popularized, greatly improving the effect of the search for minerals and the economic benefits of mineral exploration work. But with the progress of science and technology and the difficulty of finding minerals, physical and chemical exploration itself also need to constantly realize to improve their own modernization level, and constantly develop some new methods, and constantly develop and develop some new technology, high-level technology, in order to promote the progress of physical and chemical exploration itself, and play a greater role in mineral exploration.

Chemical exploration from the use of secondary halo to find minerals to the use of both secondary halo and primary halo to find minerals. Chemical exploration work in the process of high-efficiency methods, high-precision multi-element analysis technology and the use of electronic computers for data processing and interpretation of the inference, greatly improving the efficiency of the work and the effect of the search for minerals. With the increase of application, the use of chemical exploration methods to find minerals has formed a complete set of working procedures, i.e. four stages, namely, area scanning, anomaly checking, anomaly detailed checking and prospecting project verification. Nowadays, chemical exploration is not only widely used in metal mineral census, but also in oil and gas exploration to obtain an increasingly wide range of applications.

There are also many new advances in physical exploration technology and methods at home and abroad. In terms of new methods, electrical method has become an important method to find quartz vein type and pegmatite type deposits, contact polarization curve method and other electrochemical methods can be roughly determine the mineral components and mineral reserves within the ore body, the use of seismic method to find coal has been successful, the development of wells in the search for blind minerals and metal ores in the bottom of the wells, seismic research has also been an important progress in the electrical resistivity method, high-resolution earthquakes, geomagnetic sounding, etc. There are also Seismic research has also made important progress. In terms of new technology for physical exploration, the main trend is to adopt microelectronic components and to make more use of perfect multi-component measurements. In addition, through the improvement and development of new instruments to enhance the sensitivity and the ability to detect weak anomalies to search for hidden minerals and deep minerals; through the establishment of geological-geophysical model for mineral prediction.

(D) the use of applicable technology

The use of applicable technology is neither to continue to use the old technical methods, nor the general promotion of the use of the latest advanced technology, but from the country's national conditions, from the region, the actual situation of the department, and the use of the country, the region or the department of the financial resources and the personnel of the technical and cultural qualities of the technology compatible with the country. The proportion of applicable technologies is still relatively large in China at present. China's methodology and technology in the third world developing countries are generally welcomed, and for this reason.