Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
Open Access

Abstract

Selection of methods of study in geosciences and natural resources exploration was always a concern for geosciences communities and industries. Financial cost and effectiveness of the methods are the most important issues. Additionally, integration between different methods and their application order are very essential to reach the best cost effectiveness and optimization. Methods such as remote sensing, mapping, various geophysical and geochemical surveys, and drilling are among the methods that were used for long time. Those methods were also integrated, recently, with more sophisticated and advanced techniques such as petro-physics, and wireline logs analysis in hydrocarbon industry, and organic bound and electrogeochemical behavior in minerals studies. To optimize the cost and efficiently utilize the resources, careful selection of applied method is essential. Moreover, the phase that selected method will be used needs to be clearly defined and justified. The careful selection of specific method should be based on the needs and targeted results. Recently available free and low cost methods and tools should also be considered as a substitute for the higher cost conventional ones. New tools such as Google Earth, DEM, LIDAR and GIS can be used very effectively in revealing information that used be obtained by more costly methods such as mapping and field surveys. This paper highlights the importance of selecting different methods for geosciences studies and exploration. The paper emphasizes the fact that selecting the method and utilizing it in the exact phase will help in reaching the right decision and obtaining results with low cost. Moreover, the recent available free or low cost techniques should also be considered in the geosciences studies in place of traditional high cost methods.

Biography

Mustafa M Hariri is an Associate Professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Saudi Arabia. He obtained his PhD from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, USA in 1995. His field of expertise is in structural geology and remote sensing application in geology. His research interest is in fractures and lineaments studies and their importance in hydrocarbon and mineral resources. He had also developed interest in e-learning and teaching geology using technology. He was Chairman of Earth Sciences department during 1997-2004 and he was also the Director of E-learning Center at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) during 2006-2014. Before joining KFUPM, he worked as Geologist at DMMR (Deputy Ministry of Mineral Resources). He is a member in several scientific societies (GSA, AAPG, Economic Geology and DGS). He has also served as member in the boards of Research Institute of KFUPM and the Saudi Geosciences Survey (SGS).

Email: mustafahariri00@gmail.com