Discovery of Oyu Tolgoi

Discovery of Oyu Tolgoi: A Case Study of Mineral and Geological Exploration provides a detailed account of the exploration for copper deposits that took place in Mongolia in the mid-1990s, an exploration that was first started by Magma Copper and then continued by BHP Billiton World Exploration Inc., and which subsequently lead to the discovery of Oyu Tolgoi, a major metal mine. This book commemorates the 20-year anniversary for the global mining industry, including details on exploration methods, the tools applied throughout the discovery, and how the applied models evolved over the course of the execution of the exploration program.

In addition, the book presents how the knowledge of the team evolved as they further understood the regional geology and the necessary geological conditions for a significant porphyry discovery.

• Includes a detailed description of the anthology of the Oyu Tolgoi mine discovery, a major copper-gold porphyry deposit
• Offers practical lessons for exploration companies through coverage of the critical factors that lead to the success of the discovery, along with the institutional factors that hindered discovery
• Features nearly 70 never-before-seen full-color illustrations and photos of Oyu Tolgoi

Geologists, geochemists, geophysicists, exploration geologists, mineralogists, and the mining industry

1. Prologue - Favorable Conditions
   2. Initiation of Exploration - First Regional Reconnaissance
   3. Third field season – Prospecting for Copper Porphyry Systems
   4. Drilling Results
   5. Prospecting for copper and Gold
   6. Integrated Approach to Resource Development
   7. Corporate Changes in BHP
   8. Search for Investors
   9. Agreement with Ivanhoe Mines
   10. First period of Ivanhoe Mines Investment
   11. New corporate changes in BHP
   12. Ivanhoe Achieving Full Ownership of Oyu Tolgoi
   13. BHP Final Departure from the Project