Posts by LKI Consulting
The Most Valuable Orebody Is the One You Understand
Mining projects are often compared by size, grade, commodity or economics. Yet two apparently similar orebodies can produce very different outcomes depending on how well their geological variability is understood. Grade and tonnage describe important characteristics of a deposit, but they do not tell the entire story. An orebody is not a uniform volume of…
Read MoreThe Cost of Uncertainty: Why Better Geochemistry Creates Better Mining Investments
Mining has long been an industry shaped by the unknown. For every promising resource uncovered, there are layers of ambiguity that challenge
Read MoreLegacy Data, New Value: Unlocking Hidden Assets in Historic Mining Projects
Mining professionals frequently encounter a wealth of legacy data compiled over decades of exploration and resource development. While historic
Read MoreTechnical Due Diligence: Looking Beyond the Resource Model
Mining has always been a business of uncertainty. Every investment, whether it supports an exploration program, advances a development project or acquires an operating mine, is ultimately based on one fundamental question: can this project create long-term value? While financial models have become increasingly sophisticated, their reliability depends entirely on the technical assumptions that support…
Read MoreRethinking the 30-Year Mine
Developing a new mine still takes 20 to 30 years, despite growing demand for critical minerals. Discover why responsible mine development depends on collaboration between geoscientists, engineers, regulators, communities and industry, and how better communication can help accelerate the projects needed for the energy transition.
Read MoreMining’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.
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