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'{{redirect|Economic Geology|the journal|Economic Geology (journal)}} [[File:Arandis Mine quer.jpg|thumb|300px|An open pit uranium mine in Namibia]] '''Economic geology''' is concerned with earth materials that can be used for economic and/or industrial purposes. These materials include precious and base metals, nonmetallic minerals, construction-grade stone, petroleum minerals, coal, and water. The term commonly refers to metallic mineral deposits and mineral resources. The techniques employed by other earth science disciplines (such as [[geochemistry]], [[mineralogy]], [[geophysics]], [[petrology]] and [[structural geology]]) might all be used to understand, describe, and exploit an ore deposit. Economic geology is studied and practiced by geologists. However it is of prime interest to [[investment banker]]s, stock analysts and other professions such as engineers, environmental scientists, and conservationists because of the far-reaching impact that extractive industries have on society, the economy, and the environment. == Purpose of studies == The purpose of studies of the subject is as follows: # The subject of ''Economic geology'' is aimed to provide a detailed description of economic and geologic materials, the number of which is estimated to be around 200. Besides the detailed description of these materials, the subject also discusses their proper use and development. The foremost duty of economic geologists is to determine the suitability of a mineral given a particular industry. # From an economic perspective, a mineral's reserve is limited, its occurrence variable, and its supply non-replenishable; once a mineral is fully extracted, its reserve is exhausted. These concerns are what motivate an economic study of geology. A wise economic geologist prepares a plan for the mineral deposit according to proper utilization before extraction. == Mineral resources == {{main|Mineral resource classification}} Mineral resources are concentrations of minerals significant for current and future societal needs. Ore is classified as mineralization economically and technically feasible for extraction. Not all mineralization meets these criteria for various reasons. The specific categories of mineralization in an economic sense are: * ''Mineral occurrences'' or prospects of geological interest but not necessarily economic interest * ''Mineral resources'' include those potentially economically and technically feasible and those that are not * ''Ore reserves'', which must be economically and technically feasible to extract == Ore geology == [[Image:Citrobacter freundii.jpg|thumb|''[[Citrobacter]]'' species can have concentrations of uranium in their bodies 300 times higher than in the surrounding environment.]] {{main|ore genesis}} Geologists are involved in the study of [[ore]] deposits, which includes the study of [[ore genesis]] and the processes within the Earth's crust that form and concentrate ore minerals into economically viable quantities. Study of metallic ore deposits involves the use of [[structural geology]], [[geochemistry]], the study of [[metamorphism]] and its processes, as well as understanding [[metasomatism]] and other processes related to ore genesis. Ore deposits are delineated by [[mineral exploration]], which uses [[Geochemistry|geochemical]] prospecting, [[Boring (earth)|drilling]] and resource estimation via [[geostatistics]] to quantify economic ore bodies. The ultimate aim of this process is [[mining]]. == Coal and petroleum geology == [[Image:Mudlogging.JPG|thumb|[[Mud log]] in process, a common way to study the lithology when drilling oil wells.]] :''See main articles [[Coal]] and [[Petroleum geology]] The study of [[sedimentology]] is of prime importance to the delineation of economic reserves of [[petroleum]] and [[coal]] energy resources. ==References== {{reflist}} * [http://www.ut.blm.gov/NewsReleases/nrjan16USGSCircular831.pdf U.S. Geological Survey Circular 831, Principles of a Resource/Reserve Classification for Minerals (PDF format)] * Dill, H.G., 2010. ''The “chessboard” classification scheme of mineral deposits: Mineralogy and geology from aluminum to zirconium.'' Earth-Science Reviews Volume 100, pp. 1–420, 2010 == See also == * [[List of publications in geology#Economic geology|Important publications in economic geology]] * [[Mineral economics]] * [[Mineral resource classification]] * [[Ore]] * [[Ore genesis]] * [[Coal]] {{Geology}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Economic geology| ]]'