Exploration of dissolved minerals using paleogeographic reconstruction

A system for locating and sampling resource sinks, the system comprising:

• a mineral sink identification engine, implemented on at least one processor, operable to receive geological data and paleo-climate data to identify possible resource sinks, the mineral sink identification engine including:
• a source rock identification module operable to receive the geological data and identify potential source rocks for valuable minerals and corresponding surfaces of interest,
• a paleo-topographic reconstruction module operable to reconstruct a paleo-topography of the surfaces of interest wherein the potential source rocks are exposed to open air,
• a paleo-flow drainage network module operable to construct a paleo-flow drainage network of the surfaces of interest using the geological data and the paleo-climate data, and
• a paleo-low and sink determination module operable to utilize the potential source rocks, the paleo-topography, and the paleo-flow drainage network to identify the possible resource sinks;
• and
• an identified sink screener operable to extract and test a sample from each possible resource sink for an evaluation of valuable minerals therein.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing machine-readable instructions, which, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

• identify a potential source rock and a corresponding surface of interest from available geological data, the potential source rocks including water-soluble minerals;
• reconstruct a paleo-topography of the surface of interest for a paleogeological timespan in which the potential source rock is exposed to weathering;
• generate a paleo-flow drainage network for the surface of interest to identify streams and catchment boundaries for a region of interest during the paleogeological era;
• identify a possible resource sink from the potential source rock, paleo-topography, and paleo-flow drainage network, wherein the possible resource sink is a paleo-low area into which one or more mineral-rich streams flow in the paleo-flow drainage network;
• extract and assess, via an identified sink screener, a water sample from the possible resource sink to determine an estimated value of total dissolved solids in the possible resource sink;
• and
• initiate a mining operation of the possible resource sink in response to the estimated value of total dissolved solids exceeding a pre-determined threshold.