QMMPL focuses on mineral exploration using geochemistry; related fields also covered include geo-analysis, the development of methods and techniques used to analyze geochemical materials such as rocks, soils, sediments, waters and vegetation, and environmental issues associated with mining and source apportionment.
The major motive in exploring the earths surface and its interior is scientific curiosity or the desire to understand better the nature of the Earth. Another key motive is the prospect of economic profit. Improved standards of living have increased the demand for water, fuel, and other materials, creating economic incentives. Scientific knowledge has often been a by-product of profit-motivated exploration. In equal measure however, significant economic benefits have resulted from the quest for scientific knowledge.Historically, exploration of the Earths interior was confined to the near surface, and this was largely a matter of following downward those discoveries made at the surface. Most present-day scientific knowledge of the subject has been obtained through geophysical research conducted since World War II, and the deep Earth remains a major frontier in the late 20th century. With conventional approaches and tools, only a very limited portion of the subsurface regions of the Earth can be studied. Investigators can drill into only the uppermost crust, and the high cost of drilling severely limits the number of holes that can be dug. The deepest borehole so far drilled extends only to a depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles). Because direct exploration is so restricted, investigators are forced to rely extensively on geophysical measurements (see below Methodology and instrumentation). In recent years data returned by Earth satellites have led to several notable discoveries, as, for example, drainage patterns in the Thar region, which are relics of a period when this region was not arid.Geological Methods:Geological maps provide exploration agencies or companies with regional geological and geophysical information so that target areas that are consider to have a better prospect in terms of mineral deposits may be identified. The cost of undertaking geological surveys, many of which will not prove to be prospective, is high. Geological surveys provide exploration and mining companies with pre-competitive geo-scientific data that is designed to encourage the company to undertake further exploration.Geological methods rely on the identification of rocks and minerals and an understanding of the environment in which they formed. These surveys aim to find what rock types occur at or close to the surface and how these rock types are related to each other i.e. their boundaries, ages, and structure. Based on known environments for mineralization or models for mineralization, regional geological surveys can be used to define smaller areas in which more detailed studies can be undertaken. A geological survey can be undertaken using a number of methods depending on the size of a region and the amount of information that is required.Geo-chemical MethodsGeochemical methods involve the measurement of the chemistry of the rock, soil, stream sediments or plants to determine abnormal chemical patterns, which may point to areas of mineralisation. When a mineral deposit forms, the concentration of the ore metals and a number of other elements in the surrounding rocks is usually higher than normal. These patterns are known as primary chemical halos.