Discovery of Oyu Tolgoi

A Case Study of Mineral and Geological Exploration

Sergei Diakov, Samand Sanjdorj, Galsan Jamsrandorj

• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN:
  9780128160893
• eBook ISBN:
  9780128160909
• Topic: Sciences physiques
• Subtopic: Industrie de l'extraction des ressources naturelles

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. - Includes a detailed description of the anthology of the Oyu Tolgoi mine discovery, a major copper-gold porphyry deposit - Offers practical lessons for exploration companies through coverage of the critical factors that lead to the success of the discovery, along with the institutional factors that hindered discovery - Features nearly 70 never-before-seen full-color illustrations and photos of Oyu Tolgoi

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Preamble
• List of Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Chapter 1. Prologue: Foundation for Future Success
• Chapter 2. Initiation of Exploration—The First Regional Reconnaissance
• Chapter 3. Third Field Season—Prospecting for Copper Porphyry Systems
• Chapter 4. Drilling and Resource Calculation Results
• Chapter 5. Mongolian Government Support and Oyu Tolgoi Discovery Claim
• Chapter 6. Regional Prospecting for Copper and Gold
• Chapter 7. Integrated Approach to Resource Development, Tavan Tolgoi
• Chapter 8. Corporate Changes in BHP
• Chapter 9. Search for Investors
• Chapter 10. Agreement With Ivanhoe Mines
• Chapter 11. First Period of Ivanhoe Mines Investment
• Chapter 12. New Corporate Changes in BHP
• Chapter 13. Ivanhoe Achieving Full Ownership of Oyu Tolgoi
• Chapter 14. BHP's Final Departure From the Project
• Chapter 15. Further Developments at Oyu Tolgoi
• Chapter 16. Oyu Tolgoi Resource Expansion
• Chapter 17. Oyu Tolgoi—New Major Copper Producer in Mongolia
• Chapter 18. Conclusion
• Appendix 1. Table of Prospects Visited During First Field Campaign
• Appendix 2. Table of Prospects Visited by Team 2 During First Field Campaign
• Appendix 3. Historic Milestones and Chronology of BHP's Work at Oyu Tolgoi
• Appendix 4. Explanation of Types of Veinlets in Porphyry Systems
• Bibliography
• Glossary
• Index