Function and status of structural geology in the Resource industry

Abstract Basic, nuts and bolts structural geology is the unheralded success story central to brownfields exploration that in Australia, and globally, has grown manyfold mineral deposits beyond the start-of-mine Reserve. Since the last (2012) meeting on applied structural geology and Resources, the topic has changed dramatically. Now, structural geology is practised daily and in house by most exploration and mining companies. KEY POINTS A diversity of settings, host rocks, control and geometry make it critical to document precisely the rocks in front of the geologist as distinct to what is in a preconceived conceptual model. It is detail that makes for new discoveries and deposit extensions. Three-dimensional computer visualisation helps with volumetric thinking, but there remains no computer alternative to the 3D cognitive geologist. Now essential structural data are integrated with other data, but the product is a hypothesis to be tested, not a silver bullet. Lineations matter and inform. The primary deliverable is images, be they hand-drawn or computer-generated showing the inter-relationships of structure, lithology, mineralisation and mine-site infrastructure/design. With their important embedded knowledge, the geologist, who took the readings, should also be entering, plotting data, synthesising, modelling and presenting to management and Directors.