Mining Targets

Target Elements & Mineral Systems

GME brings experience across a broad range of mineral resources, deposit types, and geological settings. The mineral targets presented here represent examples of the commodities and mineral systems our team has encountered through exploration, evaluation, mine development, mineral processing, and operational support.

Each target connects the element of economic interest with the deposit types and minerals in which it commonly occurs, illustrating the diverse geological and processing challenges that can shape a mineral project.

This collection is not intended to define the limits of GME’s experience or capabilities. Rather, it provides a representative view of the breadth of mineral systems our professionals understand and the range of projects we are equipped to support—from initial resource evaluation through development, operations, optimization, and closure.

Cerium (Ce)

Deposit Type: Carbonatite REE - Carbonatite-hosted deposits enriched in rare earth elements (REEs), commonly associated with alkaline igneous complexes.

Mineral: Bastnäsite - (Ce,La)CO₃F - Bastnäsite is a principal light-REE ore mineral in carbonatite deposits and commonly contains cerium as a major rare-earth component.

Cobalt (Co)

Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu Sulfide - Nickel-copper sulfide deposits formed by segregation and concentration of sulfide liquids in mafic-ultramafic magmas.

Mineral: Pentlandite - (Fe,Ni)₉S₈ - Cobalt commonly occurs as a minor substituting element in pentlandite and is typically recovered as a byproduct from magmatic Ni-Cu sulfide ores.

Copper (Cu)

Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu Sulfide - Nickel-copper sulfide deposits formed by segregation and concentration of sulfide liquids in mafic-ultramafic magmas.

Mineral: Chalcopyrite - CuFeS₂ - Chalcopyrite is the principal copper-bearing sulfide mineral in many magmatic Ni-Cu sulfide deposits.

Deposit Type: Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) - Sulfide deposits formed by seafloor hydrothermal systems and commonly enriched in copper, zinc, lead, gold, and silver.

Mineral: Chalcopyrite - CuFeS₂ - Chalcopyrite is a principal copper-bearing sulfide mineral in copper-bearing VMS deposits.

Gold (Au)

Deposit Type: Orogenic Gold - Structurally controlled gold deposits formed from hydrothermal fluids during mountain-building and deformation.

Mineral: Native Gold - Au - Native gold is a principal visible gold phase in orogenic gold deposits, although gold can also occur in tellurides or invisibly within sulfides.

Helium (He)

Deposit Type: Helium-rich Natural Gas Reservoir - Natural gas reservoirs containing elevated helium concentrations that may support commercial recovery.

No mineral relationship. Helium is recovered from helium-bearing subsurface gas accumulations, commonly natural-gas reservoirs.

Hydrogen (H)

Deposit Type: Geologic Hydrogen Accumulation - Natural subsurface accumulations where geologic processes generate, migrate, and trap hydrogen.

No mineral relationship. Geologic hydrogen occurs as H2 gas in subsurface accumulations rather than as a mined mineral.

Iron (Fe)

Deposit Type: Banded Iron Formation (BIF) / Superior-type Iron Formation - Large Precambrian iron formations composed of alternating iron-rich and silica-rich layers.

Mineral: Hematite - Fe₂O₃ - Hematite is one of the principal iron minerals in oxide-facies Superior-type banded iron formations.

Deposit Type: Banded Iron Formation (BIF) / Superior-type Iron Formation - Large Precambrian iron formations composed of alternating iron-rich and silica-rich layers.

Mineral: Magnetite - Fe₃O₄ - Magnetite is one of the principal iron minerals in oxide-facies Superior-type banded iron formations.

Deposit Type: Magmatic Fe-Ti-V Oxide - Magmatic oxide deposits formed by concentrations of iron-, titanium-, and locally vanadium-bearing minerals.

Mineral: Magnetite - Fe₃O₄ - Magnetite is an important iron-bearing oxide in magmatic Fe-Ti-V systems and may be recovered as an iron product or coproduct.

Lead (Pb)

Deposit Type: Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) - Sulfide deposits formed by seafloor hydrothermal systems and commonly enriched in copper, zinc, lead, gold, and silver.

Mineral: Galena - PbS - Galena is the principal lead-bearing sulfide mineral in lead-bearing VMS deposits.

Lithium (Li)

Deposit Type: LCT Pegmatite - Lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites enriched in rare elements and commonly associated with granitic systems.

Mineral: Spodumene - LiAlSi₂O₆ - Spodumene is one of the principal lithium ore minerals in lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites.

Manganese (Mn)

Deposit Type: Marine Sedimentary / Supergene Manganese - Manganese deposits formed by marine sedimentary concentration and/or later supergene enrichment.

Mineral: Pyrolusite - MnO₂ - Pyrolusite is a major manganese oxide and the most common manganese ore mineral.

Neodymium (Nd)

Deposit Type: Carbonatite / Placer REE - REE mineralization associated with carbonatites and secondary placer concentrations of resistant REE-bearing minerals.

Mineral: Monazite - (Ce,La,Nd,Th)PO₄ - Monazite is an important rare-earth phosphate that commonly contains neodymium and occurs in primary deposits and heavy-mineral placers.

Nickel (Ni)

Deposit Type: Magmatic Ni-Cu Sulfide - Nickel-copper sulfide deposits formed by segregation and concentration of sulfide liquids in mafic-ultramafic magmas.

Mineral: Pentlandite - (Fe,Ni)₉S₈ - Pentlandite is the principal nickel-bearing sulfide mineral in many magmatic Ni-Cu sulfide deposits.