Over the past year or so, we have listened to a lot of lectures, participated in a lot of training, and taken part in the deployment and design demonstration of a number of projects centering on the new round of breakthroughs in mineral search. Listening to the way down, there are two obvious feelings: one is the so-called high-tech application in the search for minerals and achieve breakthroughs full of expectations; corresponding to the second point, that is, the traditional methods of search for minerals, such as the idea of the explanation of the introduction of the bias. It seems that there are shortcuts to finding minerals, and as long as the so-called lofty technical methods are applied, minerals can be found.
It is important to know that at present, the technical personnel invested in the new round of mine search breakthrough action, the main body of the turn of the century born and raised young people, most of them are relatively inexperienced in the field line of practical experience, the realization of mine search breakthrough of the arduousness of the complexity of the experience is not deep, and some of the so-called new technology and new methods, such as integrated information, three-dimensional modeling, artificial intelligence, and related to big data, the Internet of things, cloud computing and so on have high expectations, plus listening to these lectures, think that as long as you master these so-called new things will be able to achieve the purpose. I have high expectations for some so-called new technologies and methods, such as integrated information, three-dimensional modeling, artificial intelligence, and related big data, Internet of Things, and cloud computing, etc., and after listening to these lectures, I think that I can achieve my goal as long as I master these so-called new things. Here, as an old geological exploration worker and a veteran, I would like to pour cold water on them. There is no shortcut to find minerals, or need to be honest, solid field, research, on the project, in order to seek breakthroughs.
We should know that the underground mineral resources are definitely not found indoors, nor are they calculated solely on the basis of information. Of course, I am not opposed to the application of new technologies and methods in this process, on the contrary, we also encourage the exploration of the use of new technologies and new methods, but we must be in the field on the basis of detailed investigation and research, the use of correct theoretical understanding of the guidance, selective targeting of scientific applications.
i. basic ideas
Drawing on the discussion in the article "Basic control of mineralization of metal deposits, basic laws and their application in prospecting and exploration", there are three main points in the understanding of the current prospecting and exploration work.
First, the mature and widely accepted theories of geology and mineralogy are still applicable and valid, only that new understandings and perspectives are constantly being put forward when they are applied to specific areas and specific mineral deposits.
Secondly, the traditional technical methods that have been repeatedly proved by a large number of domestic and foreign mineral prospecting and exploration practices are still applicable and effective, including the premise of geological understanding, classical theoretical guidance, diversified technologies such as geophysical and chemical remote sensing, and the scientific deployment and application of diversified projects for surface, shallow, medium and deep exploration. These technologies and methods have made great progress in enhancing the accuracy of mineral search, increasing the depth of exploration and improving the efficiency of work, but there are not many intrinsic breakthroughs in their core foundations and basic principles. In contrast, many geologists and mineral scientists are optimistic about the application of new technologies and methods in the field of mineral prospecting and exploration is in its infancy, including information technology based on big data, Internet of things technology, artificial intelligence technology, etc., although there are some explorations and practices, but due to the constraints of the extreme complexity of geology, mineralogy and exploration, coupled with the fact that some aspects of these technologies are still to be broken through, it is difficult to obtain the same results as in the field of mineral exploration. Breakthroughs, to obtain like the traditional exploration technology and method of extensive and effective application, there is still a long way to go.
Thirdly, the knowledge or experience of scientists and engineers on the control of mineralization and the laws of mineralization based on the classical theory of mineralization and a large number of practices of mineral search and exploration are still applicable and valid.
II. Awareness of certain technical methods of prospecting for minerals
(1) Regarding comprehensive information prospecting: For a long time, people have been faced with the complicated prospecting sign information and the practical problem of difficulty in discovering hidden mineral deposits. They hope to use technologies such as computers, the Internet, big data, and artificial intelligence to rely on GIS or mineralization. The prediction system software processes massive amounts of information and carries out mineralization prediction work. With the help of computers, people think that the more data, the better, and the more complete information, the better. It seems that these methods and systems are supported by mineralization theory, ore prospecting models, and mathematical foundations. However, in practical applications, not many can truly understand the nature of mineralization and scientifically apply the laws of mineralization, so the practical results are not satisfactoryThese high and new technologies still have a long way to go when dealing with complex geological systems and mineralization systems.
General problems.
First, there is a lack of understanding of the intrinsic mechanism of mineralization. Compressing the three-dimensional information into a plane or expressing the whole geological process information into the current point in time may actually conceal or suppress the real key information for the prediction of mineralization, especially the deep prediction, i.e., the leading information of the main cause.
Secondly, the differences in the significance of the information on metallogenetic laws reflecting the guidance of the search for minerals are not dealt with properly. It is assumed that the geological understanding formed and the metallogenetic laws applied are correct, but the same significance of the information is diverse. For example, silicification and alteration are usually considered to be important symbols in the search for certain types of gold deposits, but not all silicification in an area is related to mineralization, and many of them are not indicative of the search for minerals.
Thirdly, as far as mineral exploration is concerned, it is more important to grasp the key indicators and information for different mineral exploration objectives. It is not true that the more information the better, the more complete the better, too much information is too mixed, so that people are not sure what to think, to secondary cover the main, can not be chosen, in fact, resulting in the main cause of the leading information of the suppression of the results of the prediction and the prediction of metallogenic prediction area so that many do not have the significance of the search for minerals.
(ii) Three-dimensional geological modeling: for some time now, with the increasing application of computer data-processing technology to the field of mineral prospecting and exploration, people have been trying to reflect the characteristics of the deep geological and tectonic environment and the synergistic and coupling relationship between different control elements by establishing three-dimensional geological models and guiding the work of mineral prospecting and exploration. This kind of three-dimensional geological (body structure) model and the three-dimensional ore body model for resource calculation have essential differences, which need to have a clear understanding.
Judging from the various three-dimensional geological models currently established, superimposing surface geological information on topography with DTM is essentially the same as flat topographic geological maps except for giving people a three-dimensional visual experience; there are existing underground projects (including The control part of the mining project seems to be expressed in detail, but it is not more realistic than the conventional engineering catalog drawings. The parts that are not under engineering control are only formed through limited inversion of geophysical exploration data or/and inference of the occurrence of geological structures. They are quite simple and rough, and most of them may be far from the actual situation. If there are sufficient data and maps that reflect the deep geological structure, in the eyes of experienced geologists, the underground three-dimensional geological structure is clear, and there seems to be no need to express it through complex three-dimensional graphics.
On the other hand, for inexperienced geologists, it may be difficult to establish a complete three-dimensional concept of the subsurface geological structure even with such a three-dimensional model of the geological structure. On the other hand, the establishment of a three-dimensional model of the real geological structure of the subsurface depends entirely on the degree of control over it. For the old mining areas with long-term exploration and production and intensive exploration and mining projects, the three-dimensional geological model established tends to be real and has certain significance; for the new areas or areas with a lower degree of geological exploration, either such a model cannot be established, or it is established only with the significance of theoretical research or interpretation display. Therefore, no matter whether it is a new area or an old area, for the more complex metal ore deposits, fully utilizing the basic control of mineralization and the law of guidance, down-to-earth research and exploration work is the right way.
(3) Regarding artificial intelligence prospecting: Currently, there are quite a number of comrades engaged in informatization work in the geological field who are keen to apply artificial intelligence technology to geological prospecting, but they have ignored the basic scenarios and application scenarios of artificial intelligence technology. Necessary prerequisite. According to Professor Zhang Bo, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence of Tsinghua University (Founder of China's Artificial Intelligence: "People's Daily Overseas Edition" August 30, 2021, Page 9), the most successful applications of artificial intelligence technology are currently highlighted in Three fields: speech recognition, image recognition, and Go. He believes that the current artificial intelligence based on deep learning has reached a technical ceiling, and AI miracles are difficult to reproduce in the short term, and according to his estimation, they will not continue to occur in large numbers.
Because the successful application of artificial intelligence must meet five conditions, that is to say, as long as the five conditions are met, the computer can do well, as long as any one or more conditions are not met, the computer to do it is difficult. These five conditions: one must have sufficient big data can not be mutilated; two is certainty; three is complete information, which is the most important, Go is a complete information game, the cards are incomplete information game, although Go is complex, but essentially only need to calculate the speed of fast, do not rely on what the intelligence, but in our daily lives, all of our decision-making is in the incomplete information under the do; four is static, including According to the deterministic law of evolution, is the predictability of the problem, in the complex road conditions of automatic driving does not meet this article; in fact, it does not meet the deterministic, nor does it meet the complete information; five is a specific field, if the field is too wide he can not do. Single-task, i.e., playing chess artificial intelligence software is to play chess, can not do anything else.
Some scholars have also summarized the three necessary prerequisites for the application of artificial intelligence, i.e., defined rules (law), which can also be expressed as scientific deep learning models, real big data and supercomputing power.
But from the point of view of looking for minerals, especially the deep looking for minerals, these five conditions or three prerequisites are not fully available. Although there is a law of mineralization, but it is not a deterministic law; although there is a data and information sign of mineral search, but the data is not big data, the information is not complete information, and the sign is not a one-to-one deterministic sign; supercomputing capability can only be satisfied if the amount of data and information is not big enough; from the nature of the work, although the search for a specific field, but this specific field involves the contents of the too wide. This determines the application of artificial intelligence in the search for mining is still in the exploration stage, under certain conditions may have a certain auxiliary role, but can not replace the traditional work, there is still a long way from the effective application, but the situation of the search for minerals does not wait for others.
Here we also quote a passage quoted from Academician Zhang’s talk to illustrate the application of artificial intelligence. "On his hunting trip to the west, King Mu of Zhou met a craftsman named Yanshi. The next day, Yanshi came to see the king and brought with him a dummy. He stepped forward and looked down at him, as if he believed in the man. When he held his head, he sang in harmony with the rhythm; when he held his hand, he danced in harmony with the rhythm. The king thought it was a real person, and watched it with Sheng Xi, and the advocator blinked his eyes and summoned the king's concubines. The king was furious and wanted to kill Yanshi. The teacher was greatly frightened, and he immediately dissected his advocate to show the king what he had done with leather, wood, glue, lacquer, white, black, red, and green. King Mu was pleased and ordered him to carry it back home." This is the ancient people's imagination of robots 3,000 years ago. Let's see how artificial intelligence is doing now? The conclusion is that artificial intelligence has just started and is still far away from real AI. The road to prospecting for artificial intelligence has a long way to go.
Third, the search for minerals or need to honestly out of the field, research, on the project to do.
Since the old methods and techniques are still effective, the new methods and techniques are still not mature enough and perfect, facing the urgent need for national energy resources security, as a new era of mineral prospecting, we need to face the reality of the new round of mineral breakthroughs in the specific practice of the action of the breakthroughs, honestly out of the field, solid research, seriously using methods, real on the project, the breakthroughs may be obtained. Some basic routines must be returned to the traditional.
(a) Field observation points, routes and profiles still need to be practically run, using paper and pen to seriously observe and record objective geological phenomena and mineral search signs. It is not possible to simply use the digital mapping system, cut and paste.
(b) Traditional geophysical and chemical remote technology methods must be used, and according to the specific situation, scientific selection, solid experiments, mutual comparisons, mutual reflection and scientific interpretation. Can not simply ignore the actual situation, fetishism, far-fetched, blind use. New technologies and methods can be deployed according to the actual situation.
(c) Mineralization control, mineralization laws and mineralization signs, but also must be based on theoretical analysis and geological observation, to carry out serious research, systematic overall and comprehensive analysis, and scientific application in practice. Can not be simply people cloud, copy, copy, copy, copy, copy, copy.
(d) Mineral exploration needs to be based on specific conditions, in accordance with the requirements of the norms, the scientific deployment of engineering. The groove to groove, the pit to pit, the drill to drill, but pay attention to the requirements of environmental protection, pay attention to green exploration. Can not simply uate the inference, cloudy speculation.
(e) All kinds of geological maps, plan view or sectional map or columnar map; thematic map or comprehensive map, ore body circle or even, reserves calculation or, should also be based on the field geological facts of the measurement and preparation of a serious, different scale matching, printed on paper, can not be placed in the computer, zoomed out to see the overall situation, narrowed down can not see the details.
(f) design, deployment, calculation of reserves, write reports, acceptance of uation and acceptance, whether it is a survey and uation report, or geological survey report, there must be a set of standardized literature and graphic materials, according to the provisions of the folding submitted. Can not simply in the computer a cut-off, elements are incomplete, the map is not clear, inserted in the report, what can not be seen. Big red, big green, blocking each other's three-dimensional map, the theme is not clear, unclear meaning of the three-dimensional map, unless particularly necessary, should be used as far as possible or less.
