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This standard is drafted in accordance with the rules given in GB/T 1.1-2009.
This standard replaces GB/T 17766-1999 Classification for resources/reserves of solid fuels and mineral commodities. The following technical changes have been made with respect to GB/T 17766-1999:
——The exploration stage of mineral resources has been adjusted from four stages - pre-exploration, general exploration, detailed exploration and advanced exploration to three stages - general exploration, detailed exploration and advanced exploration (see Clause 2 hereof, Sub-clause 2.2 of Edition 1999);
——The basis for classifying mineral resources and mineral reserves has been revised: mineral resources are classified according to geological confidence; the mineral reserves considering geological confidence and according to the confidence of modifying factors (see Clause 3 hereof, Clause 3 of Edition 1999);
——The classification system of mineral resources and mineral reserves has been revised from 16 classes to 5 classes (see Clause 3 hereof, Clause 3 of Edition 1999).
This standard was proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China.
This standard was prepared by of SAC/TC 93 National Technical Committee on Land Resources of Standardization Administration of China.
The previous edition of this standard is as follows:
——GB/T 17766-1999.
Classifications for mineral resources and mineral reserves
1 Scope
This standard specifies the classification, interrelations, issuance and term usage of mineral resources and mineral reserves.
This standard is applicable to the statistics and issuance of mineral resources, the management and planning of mineral resources, the formulation of policies, the development of technical standards related to mineral exploration and development, and the estimation, evaluation and information disclosure of mineral resources and mineral reserves.
2 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
2.1
mineral resource
valuable solid natural enrichment formed by geological processes in the crust or surface
2.2
mineral exploration
actions of discovering mineral resources, finding out their spatial distribution, form, occurrence, quantity, quality, mining and utilization conditions, and evaluating their industrial utilization value
Note 1: Mineral exploration usually relies on geoscience knowledge, uses geological mapping, remote sensing, geophysics, geochemistry and other methods, adopts sampling projects such as trench exploration, drilling and pit exploration, and combines sampling test, experimental research and technical and economic evaluation.
Note 2: Mineral exploration is divided into three stages: general exploration, detailed exploration and advanced exploration according to the intensity degree of work.
2.3
general exploration
a primary stage of mineral exploration, where geological characteristics of ore bodies or deposits and ore processing and metallurgy performance are discovered through effective exploration means and sparse sampling engineering to preliminarily learn about the mining technical conditions; in addition, in this stage, one can carry out rough research, estimate and infer the amount of resources, and put forward the scope for detailed exploration; one can also make a preliminary evaluation of the project, and an evaluation of whether it has a long-term economic development prospect.
2.4
detailed exploration
an intermediate stage of mineral exploration, where the geological characteristics of the deposit, ore processing and metallurgy performance and mining technical conditions are basically found out through effective exploration means, systematic sampling engineering and experimental research; in this stage, one can carry out rough research, estimate and infer resources and control resources, and put forward the scope for exploration; one can also make a pre-feasibility study or feasibility study to estimate reserves and make an evaluation of whether they have economic value
2.5
advanced exploration
an advanced stage of mineral exploration, where the geological characteristics of the deposit, ore processing and metallurgy performance and mining technical conditions are found out in detail through effective exploration means, encrypted sampling engineering and in-depth experimental research; in this stage, one can also make a scoping study to estimate the amount of resources, providing a basis for mine construction and design; one can also carry out pre-feasibility study or feasibility study, estimate reserves, evaluate the economic significance of the project in detail, and make an evaluation of whether the development of mineral resources is feasible
2.6
geological confidence
reliability of continuity of geological characteristics such as spatial distribution, shape, occurrence and ore quality of ore bodies and grade continuity
2.7
mineral resources
mineral resources that are expected to be economically exploitable after mineral resources exploration and scoping study, whose quantity, grade or quality is estimated according to geological information, geological understanding and relevant technical requirements
2.8
inferred resources
resources delineated and estimated by sparse sampling engineering, and extrapolated parts of indicated resources or measured resources; the spatial distribution, shape, occurrence and continuity of ore bodies are reasonably speculated. Its quantity, grade or quality is estimated based on limited sampling engineering and information data, and its geological confidence is low.
2.9
indicated resources
resources delineated and estimated by systematic sampling engineering; the spatial distribution, shape, occurrence and continuity of ore bodies have been basically determined; its quantity, grade or quality is estimated based on more sampling engineering and information data, and its geological confidence is high.
2.10
measured resources
mineral resources delineated and estimated by densification engineering on the basis of system sampling engineering; the spatial distribution, shape, occurrence and continuity of ore bodies have been determined; their quantity, grade or quality are estimated based on sufficient sampling engineering and detailed information data, with high geological confidence.
2.11
modifying factors
factors to be considered when modifying resources into mineral reserves
Note: Modifying factors mainly include mining, processing, metallurgy, infrastructure, economy, market, law, environment, community and policy.
2.12
mineral reserves
the part of measured resources and (or) indicated resources that can be economically mined is estimated after pre-feasibility study, feasibility study or equivalent technical and economic evaluation, fully considering possible ore loss and dilution, and rational use of modifying factors, so as to meet the technical feasibility and economic rationality of mining
2.13
probable mineral reserves
mineral reserves estimated based on indicated resources after pre-feasibility study, feasibility study or equivalent technical and economic evaluation; or the mineral reserves estimated on the basis of measured resources when some modifying factors are still uncertain
2.14
proved mineral reserves
mineral reserves estimated on the basis of measured resources after pre-feasibility study, feasibility study or equivalent technical and economic evaluation
2.15
scoping study
a brief study of the technical feasibility and economic rationality of the project by understanding and analyzing the geological, mining, processing, metallurgy, infrastructure, economy, market, law, environment, community and policy factors of the project
2.16
pre-feasibility study
a preliminarily study on the technical feasibility and economic rationality of the project by analyzing the geological, mining, processing and metallurgy, infrastructure, economy, market, law, environment, community and policy factors of the project
2.17
feasibility study
a detailed study of the technical feasibility and economic rationality of the project by analyzing the geological, mining, processing, metallurgy, infrastructure, economy, market, law, environment, community and policy factors of the project
3 Classification of mineral resources and mineral reserves
3.1 Classification of mineral resources
According to the geological confidence from low to high, the mineral resources can be classified into inferred resources, indicated resources and measured resources, as shown in Figure 1. See Annex A for detailed classification of mineral resources.
3.2 Classification of mineral reserves
Considering the degree of geological confidence, mineral reserves can be classified into probable mineral reserves and proved mineral reserves according to the degree of determination of modifying factors from low to high, as shown in Figure 1.
Foreword i
1 Scope
2 Terms and definitions
3 Classification of mineral resources and mineral reserves
4 Interrelation of mineral resources and mineral reserves
5 Issuance and term usage
Annex A (Informative) Classes of mineral resources
