Prof. Nikolaos Skarpelis New Mineral Exploration projects for new jobs and wealth creation in Greece

8/9/2019 Prof. Nikolaos Skarpelis New Mineral Exploration projects for new jobs and wealth creation in Greece

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New mineral exploration projectsfor new jobs and wealth creation in Greece

Νikolaos SkarpelisDepartment of Geology and Geoenvironment

University of Athens



ACTIONS (among other):

- Ensuring that all Mineral Raw Materials (MRM) deposits are registered ina documented way and that all relevant data are available on anfunctional geospatial information system that is compatible with theEuropean database of geospatial MRM data.

- Promoting research and innovation on the whole scientific range of thesector (exploration, exploitation, processing, safety, environment,restoration etc.).

- Adapting the courses on geosciences to the modern needs of theextractive industry.a database of the MRM secondary sources.

Feb 2012

One of the most significant axes of the policyTo promote and reveal mineral resources and assign theirexploitation through international tenders in order to maximizethe benefits for the national economy



Joint Ore Reserve Code An ‘Inferred Mineral Resource’ is that part of a Mineral Resource for which tonnage, grade and

mineral content can be estimated with a low level of confidence. It is inferred from geologicalevidence and assumed but not verified geological and/or grade continuity. It is based oninformation gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches,pits, workings and drill holes which may be limited or of uncertain quality and reliability.

It is already becoming clear that many known resources seem unlikely to be

mined, irrespective of metal prices, because of their low grade and/or tonnage



Mineral reservesof active

mining companies[Bauxite- alumina - Al][Νickel]

[Μagnesite][Pb-Zn-Ag]

Mineral Reservesof mining companies

under permitfor mine development

Α u-Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag

?

► Inferred resources

► Runningprojects

► Possible NewDiscoveries



The Potential of Critical Metals and Mineralsof Greece ?



Ga, Ge, In

1. Polymetallic veins: High grade/low tonnage(sphalerite concentrates: average values Ga 356g/tn, In 170g/tn Ge 49g/tn)

2. Kuroko-type: low-grade (some old prospects must be re-evaluated as base

metals resource)

3. Carbonate Replacement Base-metals +Ag+Au massive sulfides and theirGossans: low-grade

Conclusion: At present they are considered as Inferred resource

Re: Skarpelis 1999, 2011



REEs

a. Lack of alkaline intrusions in the country

- Carbonatite complexes: None- REE absorbed in clays formed upon weathering of carbonatites: None

2. In weathering crusts and in sediments derived after erosion and redeposition ofthe lateritic material.

a. In Ni-lateritesb. In karstic Nickel and karstic bauxite deposits

LOW CONTENTS – ENRICHMENTS ONLY IN THE LOWERMOST PART OF THEDEPOSITS

3. In red mud: Recoveries of REEs after acid-leaching at experimental stage

(Ochsenkhun-Petropoulou et al.1994, Lymperopoulou 1996, Borra et al. 2015).Possible effective extraction of Scandium (pilot studies by

Ochsenkhun-Petropoulou et al. 2002)

4. Data on REE contents in placers and palaeoplacers are not available



Platinum Group Elements

1. In ophiolitic complexes

Chromite is a major collector of the PGE. Their content in large chromite deposits is

generally low (few hundreds of ppb). However, PGE-enrichments in certainPGElements are a common feature of disseminated chromite and/or relatively smallchromite occurrences.The PGE-enrichment in chromitites of the ophiolite complexes seems to be localand the economic potential is not clear (low-tonnage – low grade)

2. In porphyry deposits Values over 5 ppm in high-grade bornite-chalcopyrite ore. Although relativelyhigh Pd+Pt content in some porphyry-Cu-Au deposits is considered to be anencouraging economic factor, as by-product, the potential for PGE mineralizationin porphyry deposits is still unknown.

Re: Economou-Eliopoulos M. (2010)



Sb: High grade - Low tonnage (Rhodope, Chios)

Te and Re: In the epithermal to porphyry environment in Rhodope, minor in

Cyclades. Good mineralogical documentation

Fragmented reconnaissance stage geochemical data

Conclusion:

- Epithermal ores and epithermal veins, on the basis of the available data,

would not be an economic source of Te as main or co-product (Skarpelis

2011)

- The geology and reconnaissance geochemical data are considered

favorable enough to warrant a follow up rock geochemicalsurvey in certain porphyry prospects.



Cu-Au

Cu-Au

Euromax Resource's

Reservoir

Minerals

Reservoir Minerals

Epi Au

Au - Solway SE/EW

FYROM

GREECE







• Exploration projects - mostly in brownfields - are necessary in order totransform “Inferred Resources” to “Reserves”.

• Current understanding of the geodynamics of the area suggest there is ahigh potential for economic epithermal and porphyry-type mineralization.

• Critical metals are enriched in certain ore bodies allowing possible

recovery as by-products in addition to base-metals and Au.• The role of the Geological Survey (IGME) is critical. A small group of

highly-skilled explorationists will be successful in new discoveries only ifthey are able to integrate good geological field work with the mostmodern techniques in geochemistry or geophysics.

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Prof. Nikolaos Skarpelis New Mineral Exploration projects for new jobs and wealth creation in Greece