An Introduction To Exploration Economics

This textbook is a translation of the German textbook "Rechnen fUr Lagerstattenkundler und Rohstoffwirtschaftler, Teil 1" published by the Ellen Pilger Publishing Company. Those passages in the German edition which were especially written for the German readership were transform ed for English speaking readers. Compared with the German edition many chapters have been slightly amended. The main new additions in this English version are the chapter on linear optimization in Chapter 10.2 and Chapter 12 on the comparison of ore deposits. The textbook is intended for the economic geologist who deals with the evaluation of deposits at an early stage of development. Once an ex ploration project has reached the feasibility stage, the exact calculations of the deposit, the technical and economic assessment will be performed by a team of geologists, mining engineers, metallurgists, and economists. In the early stages of exploration, however, any evaluator of deposits has to be able to cover the whole spectrum himself. Since only order of magnitude parameters are available at this stage, the calculations can only yield order of magnitude results. Precise calculations would even be misleading, since the evaluation does not yet aim at accurate economic assessment but at making the right decision: should the investigation be abandoned or should it be continued at higher costs and with more detailed methods.

This fully updated textbook is intended for the economic geologist who deals with the evaluation of deposits at an early stage of development. It offers rules for quick and easy calculations based on the application of approximate data. It provides both the student and the geologist in the field with a complete set of rules and methods enabling them to perform a quick initial evaluation of the deposit without the support of specialists or computers – even if he is left to his own resources. All rules for calculations are illustrated with examples, and mistakes and pitfalls the authors encountered during their careers are pointed out.

Economic Risk in Hydrocarbon Exploration provides a total framework for assessing the uncertainties associated with exploration risk from beginning to end. Numerous examples with accompanying microcomputer algorithms illustrate how to quantitatively approach economic risk. The text compares detailed assumptions and models of economic risk, and presents numerical examples throughout to facilitate hands-on calculations using popular spread-sheet packages on personal computers. Covers economic risk from exploration through production models Brings methods to a level where all can be done on a PC Analyzes numerical examples from the real world Removes "mystery" from how economics is done Addresses assumptions in models and shows how they influence projections

In the second edition Steve Kesler (University of Michigan) has been added as an author to rewrite some chapters. The motivation for this revised edition is to more intensively address economic issues that surround the exploitation of mineral resources. This emphasis gives the book a unique character. With these sections Metals and Society deals with issues that pervade much of current science reporting – the rate of exploitation of natural resources, the question of when or if these resources will be exhausted, the pollution and social disturbance that accompanies mining, the compromises and challenges that arise from the explosion of demand from China, India and other rapidly developing countries, and the moral issues that surround mining of metals in lesser developed countries for consumption in the “first-world” countries. With its dual character, the book will be useful as an introductory text for students in the earth sciences and a reference volume for students, teachers and researchers of geography, economics and the social sciences.