Mineral Systems and Exploration Science: Linking fundamental controls on ore deposition with the exploration process

Why giant ore deposits form is a critical question for mineral exploration. An answer can be found using the concept of Mineral Systems - 'all geological factors that control the generation and preservation of mineral deposits'. Such an analysis is, however, still essentially empirical in nature and it is hard to evaluate why giant systems develop. It is possible to derive a relationship describing the critical factors necessary for the formation of a (giant) hydrothermal ore body, yielding a rigorous underpinning of the analysis of mineral systems. Most of these parameters translate readily to mappable features that have concerned exploration geologists for many years. Identifying practical expressions of these terms allows exploration to be based on firm scientific foundations. This link between fundamental scientific understanding, the mappable expression of the key parameters and exploration forms Exploration Science.