P.A.VASILEV

Bulgaria

 

Geoethical aspects for limitation of ore deposits

 

 

     Nowadays it is accepted that properties of the ore deposit are changed gently between any two adjacent exploration works. In this way a straight line limits the ore deposit.

 

     However in reality the thickness of the ore deposit does not always change gently between each two adjacent exploration works. This is why it could be accepted that the thickness of the ore deposit in both exploration works can be considered as a constant on up to the middle point at the distance between the adjacent works. Under this assumption there are two more possible configurations of the ore deposit:

-         one with a maximum surface (and correspondingly with maximum reserves), and

-         a second one with minimum surface (and minimum reserves).

The way they are limited will be illustrated by an example.

 

     Therefore - when evaluating the exploration works in the situation where data are available from several trenches only – it is suggested to estimate the area of the ore deposit and of the reserves in three variants through

-         maximal,

-         normal, and

-         minimal area.

 A preliminary geological and economic evaluation of the hypothetical ore deposit should be realized in the same three variants.

 

     The above given suggestions want to increase the responsibility of evaluation what should be considered also from the geoethical point of view.