Discovery Stories of Mineral Deposits

What special set of circumstances lead to the discovery of world-class ore deposits? Is it a combination of target selection, favourable political and geopolitical situation, exploration expenditure, teamwork, innovation, collaboration? The best way to learn about major discoveries is to read the stories from those who made them!!

I am compiling a list of great discovery stories. Some of these are recent publications and readily available while others may be out of print and no longer available. I welcome any contributions to the list.

Coruch G. 2018. The Bonanza King: John Mackay and the battle over the greatest fortune in the American West. Simon & Schuster. 480p.

Davenport J. 2013. Digging deep: a history of mining in South Africa. Jonathan Ball. 568p.

Diakov S., Sanjdorj S. and Jamsrandorj G. 2019. Discovery of Oyu Tolgoi. A case study of mineral and geological exploration. Elsevier. 251p.

Hollister V. F. ed 1991. Case histories of mineral discoveries: discoveries of valuable minerals and precious metals deposits related to intrusions and faults. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration; 3rd edition. 423p. 

 Hollister V. F. ed 1991. Case histories of mineral discoveries volume 3: porphyry copper, molybdenum, and gold deposits (maassive sulfides), and deposits in layered rock. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration; 3rd edition. 256p. 

Jackson S. 1990. The Great Barnarto. Penguin.

Keevil N. B. 2017. Never rest on your ores: building a mining company, one stone at a time. McGill-Queen's University Press. 496p.

King H. 1989. The rocks speak: essays in geology - some personal responses of a willing listener: Monograph Series #15. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. 

Lowell J.D. 2015. Intrepid explorer: the autobiography of the world's best mine finder. Sentinel Peak Books. 496p.

Machens E. 2009. Platinum, gold and diamonds: the adventure of Hans Merensky's discoveries. Protea Book House. 308p.

McNish J. 1989. The big score: Robert Friedland, INCO, and the Voisey's Bay hustle. Doubleday Canada. 384p.

Roberts R. J. 2002. A passion for gold. University of Nevada Press. 256p.

Sillitoe R. H. 1995. Exploration and discovery of base- and precious-metal deposits in the circum-pacific region during the last 25 years. Metal Mining Agency of Japan 1995, 127p.

Sillitoe R. H. 2000. Exploration and discovery of base- and precious-metal deposits in the circum-Pacific region--a late 1990s update. Society of Resource Geology. 65p.   

Sillitoe R. H. 2010. Exploration and discovery of base- and precious-metal deposits in the circum-Pacific Region--a 2010 perspective. Society of Resource Geology. 139p.

Sillitoe R. H., Buroga C. and Hopper D. R. 2016. Porphyry copper discovery beneath the Valeriano lithocap, Chile. Society of Economic Geologists Newsletter 106; 1 and 15-20.  

Tengrove A. 1989. Discovery : stories of modern mineral exploration. Stockwell Press, Mont Albert, Victoria. 277p.

Tyrwhitt D. S. 1995. Desert gold: the discovery and development of Telfer. Louthean Publishing, West Perth. 56p.

Upton D. G. 2010. The Olympic Dam story - how Western Mining defied the odds to discover and develop the world's largest mineral deposit. Armadale, Victoria. 180p.

Van Leeuwin T. 2018. 25 more years of mineral exploration and discovery in Indonesia (1993-2017). Masyarakat Geologi Ekonomi Indonesia, 10th Anniversary Special Publication. Masyarakat Geologi Ekonomi Indonesia, South Jakarta. 318p. 

Williams B. and Ryan R. 2018. Geopeko – A successful Australian miner. 210p.

Wilson F. 1981. The conquest of Copper Mountain: a vivid, personal account of the discovery and development of a spectacular outcrop of ore in the remote peaks of Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Atheneum. 243p.

Wood D. 2012. Discovery of the Cadia Deposits, NSW, Australia (Part 1). Society of Economic Geologists Newsletter, 88; 1 and 13-18.

Wood D. 2012. Discovery of the Cadia Deposits, NSW, Australia (Part 2). Society of Economic Geologists Newsletter, 89; 1 and 17-22.