STAGES OF EXPLORATION PROGRAM
There are generally four stages to a remote sensing exploration program:
1) Regional overview and reconnaissance
This stage is characterized by prospecting on a scale of 1:500,000 to define project areas.
2) Preliminary Investigation
This stage includes surface geological mapping based on the remotely sensed images. Sites for geophysical and geochemical exploration are identified, and a GIS database is created.
3) Detailed surface and subsurface exploration
GIS-based image processing techniques are further refined for greater detail.
4) Detailed subsurface exploration
This defines the mineral deposit at depth by airborne or surface geophysics, and a drilling program.