About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 55 (1971)

Issue: 2. (February)

First Page: 338

Last Page: 338

Title: Mineral Deposits Found in Exploring for Petroleum: ABSTRACT

Author(s): Stewart H. Folk, John A. Wolfe

Article Type: Meeting abstract

Abstract:

The greater part of the world's supply of mineral commodities, both in monetary value and tonnage, is obtained from strata lying within or near petroliferous regions. Commercial deposits of many metals as well as nonmetallic minerals are present in such sediments.

Serendipity has been responsible for the discovery of numerous valuable deposits of various nonhydrocarbon minerals as a by-product of exploration for petroleum. Such discoveries include enormous reserves of aluminum ore in northern Australia; a major copper deposit in New Guinea; saline deposits comprising various magnesium, potassium, and/or sodium minerals in many parts of the world; most of the sulphur deposits produced by the Frasch process in the USA and Mexico; and uranium in Texas. Hundreds of other valuable deposits probably have been found but were not recognized.

Making full use of all the geologic information that can be derived from petroleum operations inevitably will lead to discovery of additional mineral deposits with little extra cost, and thus increase the return on investment. Conversely, thorough study of stratigraphic zones containing commercially valuable minerals commonly will improve the interpretation of geophysical data and thereby assist in petroleum exploration.

In order to attain maximum profit from exploration, companies should: (1) itemize all mineral possibilities in the area of operations; (2) train personnel to recognize and report all minerals of economic interest; (3) collect and examine cuttings from all shot-holes and wells, from surface to total depth; and (4) take full advantage of the wealth of geologic and geophysical data already in the files.

End_of_Article - Last_Page 338------------

Copyright 1997 American Association of Petroleum Geologists