An exploration company is a business which’s goal is to locate new sources of mineral deposits. Individual investors and venture capitalists often finance these companies that are typically privately-owned. They employ geologists, engineers surveyors, cartographers, surveyors and other experts to identify places for mining extraction. Exploration companies are able to grow quickly when they discover a huge mineral reserve. They also have access to capital to further expand their operations.
Mineral exploration companies tend to be smalland medium-sized companies with annual revenues below $10 million. A majority of these companies are privately held and lack the option of trading their stock on an exchange, thus information about their activities isn’t as easily accessible as other companies. However, there are a few publically traded exploration firms.
The mineral exploration sector occupies a unique niche in the market because it begins production when new projects are discovered and then put into operation. Mineral companies are able to create their products in brief periods, unlike the traditional manufacturing and service industries, which manufacture their products continuously.
Exploration company profits are highly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices due to their cyclical nature. Prices for commodities can be extremely volatile and fluctuate widely throughout the year since they are affected by various factors like Chinese economic expansion, weather conditions that affect crop yields, or the demand for petroleum-based products for transportation.
Exploration companies’ revenue vary significantly each year due to fluctuations in the cost of commodities.
Exploration companies typically are unable to raise capital during periods of high demand for natural resources. They’re not just not able to generate enough revenue, but also have significant expenditures. At these times the industry is more likely to be a target for venture capital, which can keep exploration companies afloat until prices for commodities increase.
Most exploration companies are not listed on the stock exchange due to their nature as a business.
Mineral Exploration is closely linked to other resource-based industries like production of oil and gas mining coal, mining of metals. Many companies involved in mineral exploration also produce in other areas of resource.
Diversification of companies helps them be less vulnerable to fluctuations in commodity prices because they are not dependent on just one kind of resource. But, the distinction between minerals is often made based on inferred or speculative grade resources which means there hasn’t been any drilling yet.
Companies often need to do additional exploration to convert inferred or grade speculative into measured or indicated reserves or resources. Both of these are crucial for any mining venture. These kinds of tasks are often conducted by junior exploration firms which specialize in early stage mineral exploration.
The mining of minerals will require massive capital investment which are extremely risky for exploration companies because they’re not sure if they’ll locate valuable minerals. Companies can spend significant sums on production costs prior to the ore body has been discovered. This can include the design of the mine and purchasing long-term resources.
The costs of early development must be considered against the future revenue potential since it may take a few years until the mineral resource can be made into an operating mine. This investment cycle has led to many companies do some or all their exploration work in joint ventures with other firms that have the financial resources to support costly projects through production. The advantage of junior exploration firms is that they can focus on early-stage mineral exploration while working with larger players that are capable of financing later-stage development activities.
The achievement of mineral exploration companies usually depends on their ability to raise new capital or secure project financing from major mining companies or financial institutions. This type of capital source is essential for junior exploration companies because it could provide the money needed to advance a project throughout the initial phases of exploration and development.
If you are looking to learn more, click gold, silver and copper exploration
If an economic ore body is discovered and the expenditures for production are fully funded, it’ll typically be possible to issue stock or go public to raise capital for expansion or construction of the mine. If there is no trading of shares of the company at any exchange of stock, the company could decide to file for bankruptcy, or be acquired by a mineral exploration firm with better opportunities.
High-grade copper deposits are some of the most sought-after minerals in mining since they can bring in huge profits from small amounts of ore. Copper is often mined from deposits of high-quality but low-grade with only 0.3 to 0.7 percent copper metal in weight.
Mining companies may be classified as junior exploration firms or large mining companies. The primary difference between them is that the latter focuses itself with large, capital-intensive projects and resources that have proven and stable reserves (e.g. Bauxite, bauxite, and Alumina production), while the former is focused on exploration in the early phases of activities, high-risk projects and resources (e.g. gold and diamonds).