Exploration
Ahmadreza Erfan; Saeed Soltani Mohammad; Maliheh Abbaszadeh
Abstract
Machine learning (ML) has significantly transformed multiple disciplines, including mineral resource evaluation in mining engineering, by facilitating more accurate and efficient estimation methods. Ensemble methods, as a fundamental component of modern machine learning, have emerged as powerful ...
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Machine learning (ML) has significantly transformed multiple disciplines, including mineral resource evaluation in mining engineering, by facilitating more accurate and efficient estimation methods. Ensemble methods, as a fundamental component of modern machine learning, have emerged as powerful tools that robust techniques that integrate multiple predictive models to improve performance beyond that of any individual learner. This study proposes a novel ensemble method for estimating ore grades by localizing the base learner weights in ensemble method. Ordinary kriging, inverse distance weighting, k-nearest neighbors, support vector regression, and artificial neural networks have been used as the base learners of the algorithm. In ML base learners, coordinates (easting, northing and elevation) of samples have been defined as input nodes and grade has been defined as target. The proposed method has been validated for predicting the copper grade (Cu%) in Darehzar porphyry deposit. The performance of proposed method has been by individual base learners and famous ensemble methods. This comparison shows that performance of proposed method is better than other ones. The findings highlight the necessity of adapting ensemble methods to address spatial variability in geological data, thereby establishing a robust framework for ore grade estimation.
Exploration
Ukpata Austin Odo; Jude S Ejepu; Bernd Striewski
Abstract
The mining sector must address the growing challenges of resource management, safety issues, and environmental impact concerns. All stages of the mining life cycle need essential geospatial technologies to address the mentioned challenges. This article examines how Geographic information systems (GIS), ...
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The mining sector must address the growing challenges of resource management, safety issues, and environmental impact concerns. All stages of the mining life cycle need essential geospatial technologies to address the mentioned challenges. This article examines how Geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS), LiDAR, drone mapping, and positioning systems find applications in mineral exploration, mine planning, operational monitoring, and post-mining rehabilitation. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) systems enhance the functional potential of these technologies through predictive modeling capabilities, which work in conjunction with real-time analytic functions. The research shows that these technologies enable better decision-making, performance optimisation, and environmental risk reduction. Modern mining relies entirely on these technologies because they support accurate resource assessment, optimise design operations, and help enforce safety standards and environmental codes. Adopting such technologies requires resolving implementation costs, addressing data integration issues, and acquiring the necessary technical expertise. The future development of mining technology should focus on enhancing the integration of geospatial information platforms, creating sustainable solutions for medium-sized mining operations at affordable prices, and developing predictive evaluation systems utilizing AI algorithms. The mining industry accomplishes safer operation methods through efficient technologies, enhancing sustainability.
Exploration
Mohammadreza Agharezaei; Ardeshir Hezarkhani
Abstract
Geochemical exploration as an advantageous exploration method mostly deals with anomaly separation and related endeavors. Many experts have suggested various types of anomaly identification methods. The intention of this research is introduction of a new method for separating geochemical anomalies based ...
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Geochemical exploration as an advantageous exploration method mostly deals with anomaly separation and related endeavors. Many experts have suggested various types of anomaly identification methods. The intention of this research is introduction of a new method for separating geochemical anomalies based on the Fibonacci sequence for the first time. The Fibonacci features of datasets were clarified and the method was introduced and applied on a dataset of bore-hole samples of Hired gold deposit located in southern Khorasan province, Iran. The main result of this study is the successfully establishing of a Fibonacci-based procedure that leads to separate geochemical anomalies. The determined thresholds by this method were compared with U-statistics and Concentration-Volume fractal modeling. Evaluation of the results revealed high consistence between the outcomes of the methods. The U-Statistics threshold for background was 105 ppb for gold and the Fibonacci Transformation method’s threshold was 109 ppb. This new method specified 170 ppb for gold moderate anomaly and the C-V fractal determined 169 ppb which are almost the same. The performance of the new method was assessed by calculating misclassification errors. The average total misclassification error was 0.023 which is acceptable and quite reasonable since the methods are fundamentally different. As the other main results of this study, it is confirmed that one of the Fibonacci features which is defined as Fibonacci index (FI) fluctuates among element pairs in the same way that geochemical correlation does. The FI could be considered as a genetic-related factor in geochemical studies and ore evolution researches.
Exploration
Hassanreza Ghasemi Tabar; Sajjad Talesh Hosseini; Andisheh Alimoradi; Mahdi Fathi; Maryam Sahafzadeh
Abstract
Estimating ore grades during the exploration phase is often time-consuming and costly due to the need for extensive drilling. Geophysical surveys, as the last indirect exploration method before drilling, offer valuable insights into subsurface mineralization. This study introduces a novel approach for ...
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Estimating ore grades during the exploration phase is often time-consuming and costly due to the need for extensive drilling. Geophysical surveys, as the last indirect exploration method before drilling, offer valuable insights into subsurface mineralization. This study introduces a novel approach for simulating “identical twins” of borehole copper grade values using geophysical attributes derived from the geoelectrical method in the Kahang porphyry copper deposit, central Iran. By treating the simulated values as digital twins of actual borehole grades, we employed four machine learning algorithms—Linear Regression (LR), Gradient Boosting (GB), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM)—to model the complex relationships between geophysical inputs and copper grades. After data preprocessing with Principal Component Analysis (PCA), a refined dataset was used to train, test, and validate each model. The results demonstrate that GB yielded the highest predictive accuracy, generating grade estimates closely aligned with actual values. This identical twin modeling approach highlights the potential of machine learning to enhance early-stage mineral exploration by reducing dependence on costly drilling.
Exploration
Reza Shahnavehsi; Farnusch Hajizadeh
Abstract
The present work is mainly about a method for illustrating the relation between the raw data in the same time; clustering is a key procedure to solve the problem of data division; also illustrating the connection among the elements of the research area simultaneously is important. Therefore, we propose ...
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The present work is mainly about a method for illustrating the relation between the raw data in the same time; clustering is a key procedure to solve the problem of data division; also illustrating the connection among the elements of the research area simultaneously is important. Therefore, we propose a novel kind of clustering for data mining in the gravity field to reach the presenting connection among all elements in the same time. For this research work, 867 gravity surveying points were collected in the southern part of Iran (near diapir of Larestan) with a range of absolute gravity from 978579.672 to 978981.186. In this paper, clustering by self-organizing- maps, by utilizing scatter plot matrix is utilized for detecting the relation between the easting, northing, elevation, and absolute gravity simultaneously. In the proposed method, the relations between arrays, two by two, are defined, and like matrix, each raw and column has different i and j values, which represent elements of the studied area, instead of number; for example, array A23 is data division between i = 2 or raw two (in our case northing) and j = 3 or column, three (in our case elevation). In this algorithm, firstly, by using self-organizing maps, clustering is done, and this processing is generated to all arrays by scatter plot matrix, and in all arrays, three clusters are proposed; the result of this clustering shows that in arrays A12, A13, A14, A21, A23, A24, A31, A32, A41, A42, clustering is performed perfectly, and the relationship between the parameters of the studied area near Larestan salt, diaper, can be useful in notifying the properties of this salt diapir.
Exploration
Mohammadjafar Mohammadzadeh; Majid Mahboubiaghdam; Moharram Jahangiri; Aynur Nasseri
Abstract
Most machine learning-monitored algorithms used to create mineral potential prediction maps require noise-free data to achieve high performance and reliable results. Unsupervised clustering methods are highly effective for uncovering a dataset’s hidden structures. Therefore, this study attempts ...
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Most machine learning-monitored algorithms used to create mineral potential prediction maps require noise-free data to achieve high performance and reliable results. Unsupervised clustering methods are highly effective for uncovering a dataset’s hidden structures. Therefore, this study attempts a combination of supervised and unsupervised methods employing training and testing data to generate a highly accurate potential map of the Sonajil copper-gold deposit located in the NW of Iran. Here, a semi-supervised Bayesian algorithm is used to map the mineral landscape. Initially, ten raster layers of exploratory features are prepared. Then based on the copper concentration, 27 exploratory drilled boreholes are divided into four classes, C1 to C4, and from each class, two boreholes are selected, and 100-meter buffering is performed around these boreholes to extract 1113 training data based on the behavioral pattern of boreholes and surface samples. Subsequently, the existing data is clustered using the FCM method, and the total dataset and the clustering data are entered into the Bayesian algorithm to evaluate the accuracy of the Bayesian classifier method across five distinct clusters. The results show increased average accuracy when using clustered data instead of whole data for MPM mapping. Notably, the Bayesian semi-supervised algorithm achieved an impressive accuracy rate of 96% when cluster five data is excluded. To validate the Bayesian semi-supervised method, boreholes data that is not used in training were employed, which confirm the credibility of generated MPM. Overall results highlight the value of the Bayesian semi-supervised algorithm in improving the accuracy and reliability of mineral prospectivity mapping via the application of the FCM clustering method that efficiently organize the data, enabling the Bayesian algorithm to evaluate the accuracy of the Bayesian classifier method across different clusters and providing a successful optimal result in detecting blind ores in areas without exploratory boreholes and delineating more mineralization targets in the Sonajil and adjoining areas.
