Text a Prospecting

Mining activities include prospecting and exploration for a mineral deposit through finding, proving, developing, extracting and processing the ore. That is why it is possible to divide the min­ing activity into three major phases: 1) before mining which in­volves prospecting and exploration required to locate, characterize and prove a potential ore body; 2) mining which refers to actual coal or ore extraction. Extraction processes include underground or surface mining and dredging; 3) after mining which involves processing and preparing the raw ore for the end product.

As has already been said, before a mineral deposit can be worked, that is, before it can be extracted from the Earth for use by man, it must first be found. The search for economically useful mineral deposits is called prospecting. To establish the quality and quantity of a mineral deposit, the type of country rock, etc. means to prove it and this process is called proving. Prospecting and proving are only two different stages of mining geological exploration, the latter includes drilling and driving of openings.

Last century prospectors looked for visible evidence of mineral­ization on the surface of the Earth. To recognize valuable minerals it was necessary to know their various distinctive physical properties. For example, gold occurs in nature as a heavy malleable yellow metal. Galena, the most important mineral containing lead, is dark grey, heavy and lustrous. The first ores of iron to be mined were deposits of magnetite, a black heavy mineral capable of attracting a piece of iron.

As the deposits of mineral that cropped out at the surface were mined, the search for additional supplies of minerals took place. The science of geology was used to explain the occurrence of ore deposits.

The aim of geological prospecting is to provide information on a preliminary estimation of the deposit and the costs of the geologi­cal investigations to be made. It also indicates whether it is available to continue the exploration or not.

Prospecting work includes three stages: 1) finding signs of the mineral; 2) finding the deposit; 3) exploring the deposit.

General indications of the possibility of exposing this or that mineral in a locality can be obtained by studying its general topo­graphical relief, the type of ground and its general natural condi­tions. Thus, in mountainous regions where fissures were formed during the process of mountain formation, ore minerals could be expected in the fissure fillings. In hilly regions, sedimentary depos­its would be expected.

Certain deposits are found only in a particular type of ground. Coal seams, for example, are found in sedimentary formations mainly consisting of sandstones and shales. Veins, on the other hand, are found in crystalline (igneous) rocks, and the type of country rock usually determines the type of minerals.

At present, prospecting methods to be used are as follows:

1. Surface geological and mineralogical prospecting such as panning.

2. Geophysical, geochemical, geobotanical prospecting.

1. Aerial photography with geological interpretation of the data to be obtained is highly effective from aircraft or helicopter. Besides, successful development of space research has made it possible to explore the Earth's resources from space by satellites.

In modern prospecting the methods mentioned above are used together with the study of geological maps.

Ex. 4. Say what sentences are true.

1. The search for economically useful mineral deposits is called proving.

2. Last century prospectors looked for visible evidence of min­eral deposits.

1. The first ores of iron to be mined were deposits of galena.

3. The science of geology can explain the mode of occurrence of ore deposits.

2. As a rule prospecting includes four stages.

4. The study of general topographical relief and the type of ground makes it possible to expose this or that deposit.

5. Geologists know that certain deposits are only found in a particular type of ground.

3. As is known, veins are found in metamorphic rocks.

Ex. 5. Answer the questions.

1. What is prospecting?

2. What is proving?

3. How did prospectors find mineral deposits in the 19th century?

4. Does gold occur in nature as a heavy malleable yellow metal or as a heavy dark-grey one?

5. What metal is capable of attracting a piece of iron?

6. What does prospecting work provide?

7. What are the three main stages of prospecting?

8. Is it enough to know only the topographical relief of a locality for exposing this or that mineral?

9. What methods of prospecting do you know?

10. What are the most effective aerial methods of prospecting now?

Ex. 6. Find in the column Russian equivalents of these words.

country rock panning the search for commercially useful deposits geological exploration to look for evidence of mineralization distinctive properties lustrous metal capable of attracting a piece of iron additional supplies of minerals the occurrence of ore deposits

а) залегание рудных месторождений b) блестящий металл c) коренная (основная) порода d) дополнительные запасы минералов e) промывка (золотоносного песка в лотке) f) геологическая разведка (с попутной добычей) g) искать доказательства наличия месторождения h) отличительные свойства i) поиски экономически полезных месторождений к) способный притягивать кусок металла

Ex. 7. Find in the column English equivalents of these words.

стоимость геологических исследований выходить на поверхность (обнажаться) произвести предварительную оценку (месторождения) визуальные наблюдения с воздуха полученные данные галенит, песчаники и сланцы общие показания находить признаки месторождения определенные рудные месторождения

a) the data obtained b) galena, sandstones and shales c) the cost of geological investigations d) to crop out e) certain ore deposits f) to make a preliminary estimation (of a deposit) g) visual aerial observations h) to find the signs of a deposit i) general indications

Ex. 8. Find in lists A and B words close in meaning.

A B

1. improve a) alike

2. supply b) seam

3. purpose c) get, receive

4. various d) of course

5. similar e) look for

6. manufacture f) aim

7. obtain g) make better

8. search h) produce

9. bed i) different

10. size j) provide

11. certainly k) dimension

Ex. 9. Translate the sentences using these words:

prospecting from aircraft and helicopters; the choice of the method; both ... and; the search for new mineral deposits; ground and aerial methods of prospectIng; to be recognized easily; to depend on the type of the deposit; to be widely used; natural conditions; to crop out

1. Одной из главных задач геологической разведки является поиск новых месторождений полезных ископаемых.

2. В настоящее время используются как наземные методы (геологической) разведки, так и разведка с воздуха.

3. Выбор метода разработки зависит от типа месторождения, которое будет разрабатываться. Он зависит также от природных условий.

4. Так как месторождение выходит на поверхность, оно было легко обнаружено геологами.

5. Сейчас широко применяется разведка с самолета или вертолета.

Ex. 10. Express your disagreement with the statements using these conversational formulas.

It seems to be wrong; on the contrary; to my mind; In my opinion; as far as I know; as Is known; I'd like to say that

1. Prospecting and proving (exploration) do not differ at all.

2. The knowledge of the type of ground of the prospecting area is quite enough to find this or that mineral deposit.

3. Coal seams are always found in crystalline (igneous) rocks while veins occur in sedimentary formations.

4. At present great consideration is given to surface (ground) and mineralogical methods of prospecting.

Ex. 11. Retell text A using your active vocabulary.

Ex. 12. Read the words and try to remember them.

adit - горизонтальная под­земная выработка, штольня angle - угол approximate - при­близительный bit - режущий инструмент; буровая коронка, коронка для алмазного бурения; головка бу­ра, сверло; carbide bit армиро­ванная коронка, армированный бур; diamond bit алмазная буро­вая коронка borehole - скважина, бу­ровая скважина crosscut - квершлаг dip - падение (залежи); уклон, откос; падать enable - давать возмож­ность или право (что-л. сделать) exploit - разрабатывать (месторождение); эксплуатиро­вать; exploitation я разработка; эксплуатация measure ['тез»] л мера; мерка; кри­терий; степень; р! свита, плас­ты; v измерять overburden [,ouva'ba:dan] л покры­вающие породы, перекрываю­щие породы; верхние отложе­ния, наносы; вскрыша рit - шахта; карьер, разрез; шурф reliable - надежный; до­стоверный rig - буровой станок, буровая вышка; буровая каретка; буро­вое оборудование

sample - образец; проба; отбирать образцы; опробовать, испытывать section - участок, секция, отделение, отрезок, разрез, про­филь, поперечное сечение; geological ~ геологический разрез (пород) sequence - последова­тельность; порядок следования; ряд sink (sank, sunk) проходить (шахтный ствол, вертикальную выработку); углуб­лять; погружать; опускать; sink­ing проходка (верти­кальных или наклонных выра­боток); shaft sinking проходка ствола slope - наклон; склон; бремсберг; уклон; клониться, иметь наклон; sloping наклон­ный; gently sloping с небольшим наклоном steep - крутой, крутопадаю­щий, наклонный strike - зд. простирание; простираться; across the strike вкрест простирания; along (on) the strike по простиранию trench - траншея, канава; котлован; v копать, рыть, шур­фовать to make use (of) - использовать, применят to take into consideration - принимать во внимание; syn take into account

Ex. 13. Read the word combinations and translate them.

preliminary exploration shape, dimensions and quality of a deposit properties of the surrounding rock and overburden analyses and tests of samples core drilling, drilling rigs to measure bed thickness to facilitate the planning of current production to make use of exploratory openings

general size of a deposit exact estimation of ore reserves exploratory pits, crosscut and boreholes reliable information on the angle of dip to determine the industrial importance of a deposit to take into consideration detailed estimates of the ore reserves of individual sections

Ex. 14. Define the meanings of these word combinations.

the whole complex of investigations; industrial importance of a deposit; natural and economic conditions of the deposit; three stages of exploration; geological map of the deposit; detailed sur­vey; information on the preliminary exploration; methods of explo­ration to be chosen in any particular case; surface relief; shape of the mineral deposit; vertical pits and crosscuts; special features in the search for veins; on the basis of analyses and tests of samples; reliable information on mineral reserves; different sectors of the deposit; exploitation exploration; mining operations; planning of current production and calculating the balance of reserves and ore mined

Ex. 15. Read text B and say what is the difference between prospecting and exploration.