What is mineral exploration?
Mineral exploration is the process of finding and testing deposits of metals or minerals that could be worth mining. It moves from mapping and sampling, through drilling, to a formal resource estimate and economic studies. At Basin Gulch, Lannister Mining is working toward the resource estimate stage, building on more than 320 historical drill holes.
What are the stages of mineral exploration?
Mineral exploration generally moves through five stages: target generation from geology and history, surface work such as mapping, sampling and trenching, discovery and definition drilling, a formal mineral resource estimate, and then economic and engineering studies. Basin Gulch has historical surface and drill work behind it and is heading toward confirmation drilling and a maiden resource estimate.
What is mineral exploration drilling?
Mineral exploration drilling recovers rock from below the surface so its metal content can be measured in a laboratory. The two most common methods are diamond core drilling, which retrieves solid cylinders of rock, and reverse circulation drilling, which returns rock chips. Basin Gulch has more than 320 historical drill holes, according to Lannister Mining.
What does a gold exploration company do?
A gold exploration company finds and tests ground that may hold an economic gold deposit. It raises money to fund mapping, sampling and drilling, then reports results to investors. Lannister Mining is a gold and silver exploration company focused on one asset, the Basin Gulch Property in west-central Montana.
Is Lannister Mining one of the top gold exploration companies?
This site does not rank gold exploration companies, and because it is published by Lannister Mining it is not an independent comparison. It does provide project facts: 11 patented and 53 unpatented claims, more than 320 historical drill holes, and a team with many of the same co-founders or senior executives as K92 Mining, Fosterville South Exploration, Arena Minerals and Thesis Gold.
Are there mineral exploration companies working in the USA?
Yes. Many mineral exploration companies work in the United States, and Nevada, Alaska, Idaho and Montana are among the states with active gold exploration. Lannister Mining is one, focused on the Basin Gulch gold and silver project in west-central Montana. The company notes that US based projects with compliant resources tend to trade at a premium.
Is investing in mineral exploration risky?
Yes. Mineral exploration is high risk, because most exploration projects never become mines and results can change as drilling continues. Historical results, like those at Basin Gulch, still need confirmation. Anyone considering an investment should read the company's own disclosures and technical reports and consider independent financial advice before deciding.