Discovery of Oyu Tolgoi: A Case Study of Mineral and Geological Exploration provides a detailed account of the exploration for copper deposits that took place in Mongolia in the mid-1990s, an exploration that was first started by Magma Copper and then continued by BHP Billiton World Exploration Inc., and which subsequently lead to the discovery of Oyu Tolgoi, a major metal mine. This book commemorates the 20-year anniversary for the global mining industry, including details on exploration methods, the tools applied throughout the discovery, and how the applied models evolved over the course of the execution of the exploration program.
In addition, the book presents how the knowledge of the team evolved as they further understood the regional geology and the necessary geological conditions for a significant porphyry discovery.
1. Introduction - p. xvii 2. Chapter 1. Prologue: Foundation for Future Success - p. 1 3. Chapter 2. Initiation of Exploration—The First Regional Reconnaissance - p. 21 4. Chapter 3. Third Field Season—Prospecting for Copper Porphyry Systems - p. 51 5. Chapter 4. Drilling and Resource Calculation Results - p. 91 6. Chapter 5. Mongolian Government Support and Oyu Tolgoi Discovery Claim - p. 121 7. Chapter 6. Regional Prospecting for Copper and Gold - p. 125 8. Chapter 7. Integrated Approach to Resource Development, Tavan Tolgoi - p. 129 9. Chapter 8. Corporate Changes in BHP - p. 141 10. Chapter 9. Search for Investors - p. 151 11. Chapter 10. Agreement With Ivanhoe Mines - p. 157 12. Chapter 11. First Period of Ivanhoe Mines Investment - p. 161 13. Chapter 12. New Corporate Changes in BHP - p. 167 14. Chapter 13. Ivanhoe Achieving Full Ownership of Oyu Tolgoi - p. 171 15. Chapter 14. BHP's Final Departure From the Project - p. 181 16. Chapter 15. Further Developments at Oyu Tolgoi - p. 185 17. Chapter 16. Oyu Tolgoi Resource Expansion - p. 191 18. Chapter 17. Oyu Tolgoi—New Major Copper Producer in Mongolia - p. 199 19. Chapter 18. Conclusion - p. 203 20. Appendix 1. Table of Prospects Visited During First Field Campaign - p. 209 21. Appendix 2. Table of Prospects Visited by Team 2 During First Field Campaign - p. 219 22. Appendix 3. Historic Milestones and Chronology of BHP's Work at Oyu Tolgoi - p. 227 23. Appendix 4. Explanation of Types of Veinlets in Porphyry Systems - p. 231 24. Bibliography - p. 233 25. Glossary - p. 239 26. Index - p. 245
Discovery of Oyu Tolgoi: A Case Study of Mineral and Geological Exploration provides a detailed account of the exploration for copper deposits that took place in Mongolia in the mid-1990s, an exploration that was first started by Magma Copper and then continued by BHP Billiton World Exploration Inc., and which subsequently lead to the discovery of Oyu Tolgoi, a major metal mine. This book commemorates the 20-year anniversary for the global mining industry, including details on exploration methods, the tools applied throughout the discovery, and how the applied models evolved over the course of the execution of the exploration program.
In addition, the book presents how the knowledge of the team evolved as they further understood the regional geology and the necessary geological conditions for a significant porphyry discovery.
1. Introduction - p. xvii 2. Chapter 1. Prologue: Foundation for Future Success - p. 1 3. Chapter 2. Initiation of Exploration—The First Regional Reconnaissance - p. 21 4. Chapter 3. Third Field Season—Prospecting for Copper Porphyry Systems - p. 51 5. Chapter 4. Drilling and Resource Calculation Results - p. 91 6. Chapter 5. Mongolian Government Support and Oyu Tolgoi Discovery Claim - p. 121 7. Chapter 6. Regional Prospecting for Copper and Gold - p. 125 8. Chapter 7. Integrated Approach to Resource Development, Tavan Tolgoi - p. 129 9. Chapter 8. Corporate Changes in BHP - p. 141 10. Chapter 9. Search for Investors - p. 151 11. Chapter 10. Agreement With Ivanhoe Mines - p. 157 12. Chapter 11. First Period of Ivanhoe Mines Investment - p. 161 13. Chapter 12. New Corporate Changes in BHP - p. 167 14. Chapter 13. Ivanhoe Achieving Full Ownership of Oyu Tolgoi - p. 171 15. Chapter 14. BHP's Final Departure From the Project - p. 181 16. Chapter 15. Further Developments at Oyu Tolgoi - p. 185 17. Chapter 16. Oyu Tolgoi Resource Expansion - p. 191 18. Chapter 17. Oyu Tolgoi—New Major Copper Producer in Mongolia - p. 199 19. Chapter 18. Conclusion - p. 203 20. Appendix 1. Table of Prospects Visited During First Field Campaign - p. 209 21. Appendix 2. Table of Prospects Visited by Team 2 During First Field Campaign - p. 219 22. Appendix 3. Historic Milestones and Chronology of BHP's Work at Oyu Tolgoi - p. 227 23. Appendix 4. Explanation of Types of Veinlets in Porphyry Systems - p. 231 24. Bibliography - p. 233 25. Glossary - p. 239 26. Index - p. 245
