This document outlines various geological criteria that can be used for ore prospecting, including stratigraphic, lithological, structural, magmatogenic, metamorphogenic, geomorphological, paleogeographical, paleoclimatic, and historical criteria. Specific examples are provided for each criteria, such as coal and iron ore deposits being associated with specific stratigraphic layers, or chromite and diamond deposits found near ultrabasic rocks. The document emphasizes that geological criteria provide indirect methods for locating ore deposits and should be used to guide prospecting efforts.

1. Seminar on

2. Contents
 Introduction
 Geological Criteria For Ore
Prospecting
Stratigraphical Criteria
 Lithological Criteria
Structural Criteria
 Magmatogenic Criteria
 Metamorphogenic Criteria
 Geomorphological Criteria
 Palaeogeographical Criteria
 Palaeoclimatic Criteria
 Historical Criteria
 Conclusion
 Reference

3. Introduction
 Prospecting isthefirst stageof geological analysis.
 Physical search for minerals, fossils, precious metals or mineral
specimens.
 Prospecting is a small-scale form of mineral exploration which is
an organised, large scale effort undertaken by mineral resource
companiesto find commercially viableoredeposits.
 Prospecting is physical labour, involving traversing panning,
sifting and outcrop investigation, looking for signs of
mineralisation.
 Geological criteriafor oreprospecting are
Stratigraphical Criteria, Lithological Criteria, Structural Criteria,
Magmatogenic Criteria , Metamorphogenic Criteria ,
Geomorphological Criteria, Palaeogeographical Criteria ,
Palaeoclimatic Criteria Historical Criteria.

4. Stratigraphic Criteria
 Accumulations of many economic minerals are
associated with specific palaeogeographic
conditions.
 This relationship is sustained all over the globe
and therefore is an important criteria for
prospecting.
eg: coal, iron and manganese ores, phosphorites,
bauxites etc, which are generally confined to
definitestratigraphic subdivisions.

6. Lithological Criteria
 Thesearebased on theparagenetic association of economic
mineralswith definiterock types.
 eg: chromite, platinum, diamond and corundum depositsare
associated with ultrabasic rockssuch asdunites, peridotitesetc.
 Depositsof asbestos, talc and magnesiteareassociated with
ultrabasic rocksmetamorphosed by theaction of hydrothermal
solutions, such asserpentinites.
 Depositsof copper, nickel, cobalt, silver, arsenic and apatiteare
formed in basic rockslikegabbro, norite, dioriteetc.
 Tin, muscovite, lithium, tungsten, gold, beryl, gemstonesetc are
associated with intermediateand acid rockslikesyenite, granite,
granodioriteetc.

7. Structural-tectonic
Criteria
 Endogenous deposits are associated chiefly with folded regions
and often contain orebelts.
 Synchronous mineralization of a certain type such as pyrite belt,
Pb-Zn belt etc.
 Orebeltsaregenerally confined to anticlinoriums.
 Anticlinesand also zonesof complex fracturing and crumpling.
 Bituminouscoalsaregenerally confined to folded regions
 Brown coalsoccur on platformsonly.
 Oil and gasdepositsaregenerally associated with anticlines.

8. Copper veins located in two systems of shear joints .Morococha. Peru 1- imprenated ore;
2-Mass ore; 3- Ore veins; 4- Quartz Monzonite; 5- Limestone

9. METAMORPHOGENIC CRITERIA
 Metamorphic deposits form due to mobilization
and concentration of elements during regional
metamorphism.
 Eg: zeolites facies may contain Cu deposits(lake
superior, USA)
 Rocks of green schist facies may contain deposits
of amorphousgraphiteand asbestos.
 Rocksof amphibolite/granulitefaciesmay contain
depositsof crystallinegraphite, rutile, garnet etc.

10. Magmatogenic Criteria
 Intimateassociation of igneousrocksand ore
depositslikethecontemporary origin of igneous
rocks.
 Oredeposit restriction to similar depth of
formation asigneousrocks.
 Similar metamorphic gradeassociation of ore
depositswith dykesand sills.
 Theregular relationship with thechemistry of
traceelementsregular arrangement of ore
deposits.

11. Acidic magmasof granodioritc
composition arefavorablefor the
formation of skarn deposits.
Oredepositsarealso related to
magmadifferentiation.
High temperatureorebearing fluids
aretheend productsof highly
differentiated magmas.

12. Geomorphic Criteria
 This criteria is especially useful for placer
deposits for the presence of heavy minerals, gold
and even radioactiveminerals.
Sinkholes may suggest the presence of gypsum
or limestonedeposits.

13. Contour map and aerial photographs are useful
in the study of recent relief and associated
placer deposits.
Main placer deposits are gold, platinum,
Cassiterite, diamond and other resistant
minerals.

14. Palaeogeographical
criteria
 Mineral deposits of surfacial origin that
exogenetic origin are related to ancient relief
formslying.
 Peneplanes:-residual depositsof weathering.
 Swarmslakesand rivers:- platformed gold deposits
 Coastal planes:-uranium and cupper bearing
sandstone.
 Coastal lagoon and swarms:-gold deposits salt
sulphur ,sedimentscupper and uranium ores.
 Littoral shallow seas:-phosphate deposits of Fe and
Mn.

15. Palaeogeographical factors that are significant in
theprospecting for mineral resourceinclude.
Therelief of thesourceand accumulation areas.
 Climate
Ancient drainagepatterns
Theform of shoreline
Thedirection of current in theareaof accumulation.
Tropical and sub tropical climatic zones are ideal
for the genesis of sedimentary kemogenic
depositslikeFeand Mn.

16. Palaeoclimatic Criteria
Thiscriteria search for oredepositsrelated to the
weathering.
Weathering of rocksiswell known since
geological times.
Eg:-kaolinedepositsin thecarboniferous
formationsof breccia, and bauxitedeposits
palaeoclimatic sedimentary rocks.
 Humid climatic zonegiveriseto depositsof
lateriteplacer depositsetc.

17. Historical Criteria
It includes report on ancient mining activity,
old mine working, archaeological activity,
relict of ore dressing, smelting and local
names.
Ancient mining activity is confined mainly to
theexploration of gold, copper tin, silver,etc.

18. Conclusion
• Geological criteria should be distinguished from
indication of mineralization which directly show the
presence of ore .
• Criteria are indirect methods for locating ore
deposit.
• Geological criteriafor oreprospecting are
• Stratigraphical Criteria, Lithological Criteria, Structural Criteria,
Magmatogenic Criteria , Metamorphogenic Criteria ,
GeomorphologicalCriteria, Palaeogeographical Criteria ,
Palaeoclimatic Criteria Historical Criteria.

19. Reference
• Milos Kuzvart & Miloslav Bohmer 1986 prospecting
and exploration of mineral deposits-elsevier-
amsterdam-oxford-new york-tokyo-pp 51-111
• AZHGIREI.D.G 1964 Methods Of Prospecting And
Exploration Of Mineral Deposits gosgeoltekhizdat,
Moscow –pp-1-32

20. thanks