Moon, two co-authors, and seven contributors, released this text (499 p.) to the Internet recently. Although it is now some 14 years since publication or the 2nd Edition, the information is still relevant. Since the first edition was published in 1995 much has changed in the mineral exploration business by 2005. It has been through one of the sharpest downturns since the 1930s and the industry has become truly global, with many mergers and acquisitions of mining and exploration companies. Indeed, conditions at the time at the time of writing appear to have moved back to boom driven by increasing demand.
The authors have attempted to maintain a balance between principles and case histories, based on their experience of teaching at senior undergraduate and postgraduate levels. They have also attempted to reflect the changing mineral exploration scene by rewriting the sections on mineral economics (Chapter 1) and the increased emphasis on public accountability of mineral exploration companies (Chapters 10 and 11), as well as updating the other chapters.
One of the major areas of advance has been the widespread use of information technology in mineral exploration. The authors have added a chapter
(Chapter 9) dealing with the handling of mineral exploration data. Although they do not advocate geologists letting their hammers get rusty, the correct compilation of data can help expedite fieldwork and improve understanding of deposits for feasibility studies.
The case histories are largely the same as the first edition although we have replaced a study on tin exploration with one on diamond exploration. This details one of the major exploration successes of the 1990s near Lac de Gras in arctic Canada (Chapter 17). Another of the trends of the last few years has been the decline in the teaching of mining-related subjects at universities, particularly in Europe and North America. The authors hope that the contents of
this text will help to educate the geologists needed to discover the mineral deposits required for future economic growth, whether or not they are studying at a university.
Two of the authors have taken over editorship from Tony Evans who has completely retired. The authors are both based in western Europe, although they manage to visit other continents when possible without COVID-19, etc., and one author was commuting to southern Africa when this edition was completed. Inevitably the examples that the authors mention are those with which they are familiar and many readers’ favorite areas will be missing. The authors trust, however, that the examples are representative.
The authors owe a debt of thanks to reviewers of the additions:
Ivan Reynolds of Rio Tinto for comments on Chapter 2;
Jeremy Gibbs of Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration Limited for his help with Chapter 6;
Peter Fish, John Forkes, and Niall Weatherstone of Rio Tinto Technical Services for their helpful comments on Chapters 10 and 11;
Paul Hayston of Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration Limited for comments on John Milsom’s update of Chapter 7; and
Andy Davy of Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration Limited and Gawen Jenkin of the University of Leicester for comments on Chapter 17.
None of the above, of course, are responsible for any errors that remain our own.
Lisa Barber is thanked for drawing some of the new figures.
Finally, we would like to thank our families for their forbearance and help. Without them the compilation of this second edition would not have been possible.
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