Malmipotentiaaleja

Malmipotentiaaleja is a concept in economic geology referring to the estimated ore potential of a given area or target. It denotes the likelihood and expected scale of mineralization that could be discovered based on geological, geochemical, geophysical, and historical data. The term emphasizes prospectivity rather than proven ore resources.

Assessment operates on multiple scales. Regional malmipotentiaaleja evaluate prospectivity of broad terrains and guide exploration strategy, while deposit-scale potential assesses individual targets in terms of grade, tonnage, metallurgy, and feasibility. Data sources include geological mapping, alteration patterns, geochemical anomalies, geophysical surveys, and knowledge of regional terrane tectonics. Known deposits and historical drill results provide training data for predictive models.

Evaluation methods combine statistical and GIS-based approaches, such as prospectivity mapping, statistical ranking, and probabilistic resource estimation. Common outputs are maps and scores that prioritize targets for drilling. It is important to distinguish malmipotentiaaleja from legally defined ore reserves and measured resources: potential estimates indicate what could be discovered and developed, not what exists with economic certainty.

Applications include guiding exploration budgets, choosing drilling campaigns, and refining geological models. Market conditions, metal prices, technological advances, and environmental or permitting constraints influence whether a discovered potential becomes mineable ore. The concept is used worldwide, including in Finnish and international mineral exploration, as a first-step tool for identifying high-potential areas while maintaining a cautious interpretation of uncertainty.