Events & Courses

In an era of rapid technological innovation, opportunities exist to improve efficiency and quality of mineral resource estimates, both developing trust and encouraging investment in exploration and mining projects. This conference aims to provide a forum for mineral resource estimate practitioners and other interested parties to meet and discuss new developments and advances in mineral resource estimation and reporting. 

Mineral resource estimates form the basis for major investment decisions and, although geological interpretation is subjective, they should allow for an understanding of the risks associated with the project. 

Major advances in technical software, data management and data analysis have been implemented in many institutions and companies. These have improved efficiencies and allowed geologists more time with better tools to test genetic models and understand ore genesis, with the aim of reducing risk. 

Mineral resource estimates are fundamentally required to estimate the quantity and grade of potentially economic and mineable mineral occurrences. However, as the world evolves, and we adapt to new challenges such as environmental and social issues, more emphasis than ever is rightly placed on the impact of exploration and mining activities throughout the lifecycle of a project. What we report and how we report mineral resources is therefore changing.

• Exploratory Data Analysis: analysis of geoscience data, including databasing, data quality analysis, utilising ‘big data’, and methods of critical evaluation.
• Geological modelling: methods and processes used for generating 3D models of geological features, including software advances and comparisons, how to integrate ‘big data’ and busting commonly encountered myths.
• Geostatistics and grade estimation: methods for estimating tonnage and grade/quality of a mineral deposit, including recent software advances, new techniques and comparisons of techniques in different mineralisation types. Reconciliation between estimates and production, to ground truth models.
• Mineral resource reporting: methods used for generating mineral resource statements, including methods for demonstrating ‘reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction’ (as defined in international reporting codes), including updates/comparisons of CRIRSCO standards, new environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements and changes to reporting bodies.

Co-convenors and speakers

• Ben Lepley (Senior Consultant Resource Geologist, SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd)
• Lucy Roberts (Principal Consultant Resource Geologist, SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd)
• James Catley (Consultant Geologist, Golder Associates (UK) Ltd)

Registration

Registration for this is open now via the button on this page or via our paper registration form.

Programme and Abstracts

The final programme and abstract booklet is now available.

Venue

This conference will be virtual.

Contact

Please contact [email protected] with any enquiries.