This optional question was answered by about half of those who sat the examination and the performance of those who answered the question was average. Quite a good proportion of those who answered the question were able to define mineral deposit as an accumulation of mineral or minerals in certain location in sufficient quality and quantity that can be worked at a profit. Media from which samples can be collected during mineral exploration are:

• rocks
• soil
• water
• leaves
• animals
• air

Alluvial deposits include:

• gold
• diamond
• copper
• tin
• platinum
• columbite                                                                                           
• zircon

    Reasons for which mineral exploration is carried out include:

• to replace deposits presently being mined
• to increase a company’s ore reserves (assets) in real terms
• to find new deposits in answer to a perceived change in commodity market
• to discover new deposits
• for research purposes
• for educational purposes

    Methods of geological exploration are:

• drilling
• trenching
• pitting
• aditing
• augering