Posts by LKI Consulting
Mining’s Next Breakthrough May Not Be Technical
Recent discussions at the SME 11th Current Trends in Mining Finance Conference highlighted a recurring theme. While conversations ranged from capital markets and project financing to critical minerals and supply chains, one observation emerged consistently. Mining’s greatest challenges are no longer purely technical or purely financial. They increasingly exist at the intersection of disciplines that…
Read MoreCritical Minerals Are Not the Problem. Recovery Is.
The conversation around critical minerals has never been louder. Governments are investing billions to secure supply chains. Mining companies are racing to discover the next lithium, rare earth or antimony deposit. Investors are searching for the projects that will power electrification, advanced manufacturing and national defense. The underlying assumption is simple: if we discover enough…
Read MoreMachine Learning with Geochemistry in Mineral Exploration: The Real Problem Is the Data
Machine learning has revolutionized many industries. In mineral exploration, it promises quicker discoveries and improved efficiency. Despite the
Read MoreBeyond the Grid: Exploration in Regolith
Exploration in covered terrains presents unique challenges for mineral exploration and mining projects. In many regions, thick regolith or
Read MoreSpatial Autocorrelation: From Confidence to Quantification in Geochemistry
Spatial autocorrelation is often treated as confirmation in geochemistry, but clustered anomalies do not automatically indicate mineralization. This blog explores how Moran’s I, local spatial association, and variography help distinguish meaningful geological signal from patterns created by background spatial structure.
Read MoreMapping Minerals from Space: How Hyperspectral Satellites Are Changing Exploration
Exploration teams have used satellite imagery for decades to understand regional geology, map alteration systems, and prioritize targets. Until recently, however, satellite remote sensing was limited in its ability to identify specific minerals at the surface. A new generation of hyperspectral satellites is changing that. These systems measure reflected light in hundreds of narrow wavelength…
Read MoreStream Sediment Geochemistry in Mineral Exploration: Fine Fraction, Clay Fraction and Bulk Sampling Explained
Stream sediment geochemistry is one of the most established tools in mineral exploration, providing a practical and powerful tool for targeting mineral deposits across wide terrains. The method involves the collection and analysis of sediments from streams and rivers to identify trace amounts of target and pathfinder elements. By understanding how these elements distribute themselves…
Read MoreWhy Bad Data Breaks Predictive Models: Microscale Textures, Hyperspectral Unmixing, and Mine Profitability
Predictive models now drive high stakes decisions throughout the mining industry. The promise is clear: Enhanced targeting, improved resource estimates and more consistent mine profitability. Yet, many sites find that their models fail after real world deployment. Discrepancies appear between predicted grades and actual results, unexpected processing challenges surface and anticipated profits slip away. Modern…
Read MoreQA Basics: Closing Out Our Lab Series with Quality Assurance Essentials
As we wrap up our series on geochemistry laboratories, we want to take a moment to thank you for following along. Your interest in elevating the standard of geochemical data management inspires us to keep sharing insights that make a difference in exploration and mining. For our final post, we’re focusing on the Quality Assurance…
Read MoreShining a Light on Finishes in Geochemistry
In the world of geochemistry, finishes often take a backseat to more headline-grabbing topics like sample digestion. But finishes are crucial to the accuracy and utility of geochemical data, and it is time they took center stage. Analytical finishes are the final analytical step that determines the concentrations of elements in your sample, and your…
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