Iranian Researcher Offers New Method to Reduce Mining Exploration Costs

Adel Shirazi, a graduate from the Tehran-based Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT) and the chief executor of the post-doctoral project " Advanced Integrated Exploratory Investigations ", told Iranian media that reducing exploration costs through a more accurate, quicker and less costly method was the main aim of his project.

“This project significantly reduced exploration costs and updated many traditional methods using artificial intelligence. It presented a new algorithm for the exploration of areas that can have mineral deposits. The method can be used in other places around the world,” he said, adding that he published scientific articles and also produced a software in the field of geophysics out of the project.

The AUT researcher further asserted that if his method is carried out it can practically reduce the overall exploration costs by 80%.

Meanwhile, it can also increase accuracy of operation significantly, he added.

Stating that the project was carried out in the form of a post-doctoral thesis, Shirazi said, “In addition to correct exploration and cost reduction, this project can offer new ideas for new theses in different field of studies, and result in more scientific articles.”

 “This algorithm can be tested in different areas and improved with different changes in the future," the chief executor of the project further said.

Referring to the other properties of the new method, he said, “Increasing exploration accuracy, updating methods with artificial intelligence, creating an advanced algorithm for mineral discoveries are among the properties of this project.”

According to Shirazi, one cannot say for sure that there is no similar project in other countries, but it can be said with certainty that such a plan was not implemented before the implementation of his project.

He emphasized that his method can be used in the exploration of metal and non-metal mineral deposits, as well as identifying mineral-prone areas. The findings of the project resulted in 6 ISI articles, seven internationally recognized articles, one international conference paper and two articles in Iranian scientific journals.

He further said that his idea was presented in a book in English-language entitled "Advanced Integrated Methods in Mineral Exploration: Applied Geochemistry, Geophysics and Remote Sensing" which has also been translated and published by several European publications in six different languages such as German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Russian. 

Adel Shirazi was awarded the country’s top PhD in the field of mining engineering, mineral exploration branch, from the Economic Geology Association of Iran.

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