Physical Evalution Of Placer Deposits

Measurable physical characteristics of placer deposits include geological, geomorphological, sedimentological and mineralogical features which produce the complimentary ingredients with which one can formulate an economic evaluation of these complicated deposits within the confines of a well established geological model. Heavy mineral suite composition and character will change downstream from the provenance area and will compliment the related depositional environment. Careful attention to gold particle characterization during the exploration phase can indicate new source additions, enhance deposit evaluation methods and greatly assist in maximizing metallurgical efficiencies. Failure to recognize and measure these important features very frequently leads to frustrated and unrewarding placer evaluation goals. Increased general acceptance of sedimentology in the gological appraisal of ore bodies has progressed into the science of clastic sedimentalogy using measurable parameters to evaluate minable units. This branch of geology has developed as a tool in locating, defining, and mining alluvial concentrations of valuable heavy minerals. The repeatedly successful application of this valuable tool in conjunction with other classical geological methods can be directly related to the development of a geological model which formulates the distribution of detrital gold. This use of multiple geological techniques permits the transfer of routinely derived data to management. Standardized nomenclature permits the transmission of uniform information thereby promoting credible property evaluation. This approach enables organizations to critically assess large numbers of potential mining targets for definitive feasibility studies. Sedimentology must play an integral role in the evaluation of any alluvial deposit. The sampling problems associated with particulate gold are well known and frequently cause perplexing evaluation problems. Consequently, properly directed and executed