Geochemical Exploration Continues Expansion At A Rapid Pace

During the past year, geochemical prospecting appears to have come of age as an exploration method, and its acceptance by the mining industry is widespread. There is a growing recognition that applied geochemistry is a scientific tool and must be performed and interpreted by scientific personnel who are trained in its utilization. At present, most personnel training is done by geochemical departments in government organizations and industry groups. Most schools in the United States and Canada do not offer geochemical training, particularly at graduate levels, due to faculty limitations, lack of budgetary support and the erroneous impression that applied geochemistry is not sufficiently academic. As a result, some companies have found it expedient to send selected personnel to European schools for advanced training. A critical personnel shortage now exists will probably continue into the near future. Indications are that the rate of development of new geochemical techniques has levelled off, and the probability of new breakthroughs is not high. Present research is essentially limited to efforts by government agencies and a few private companies. Progress has been the most rapid in the development of analytical techniques, but the need remains for investigation into sampling technology and the development of more quantitative methods for the interpretation of geochemical results. Geochemists need a better understanding of the numerous physical and chemical factors which affect and control primary and secondary dispersion phenomena in all geologic environments. Detailed studies must be made of the relationship between geologic, geochemical and geophysical factors. With better interpretive techniques, the return on the geochemical exploration dollar will increase.