If geologists identify 10,000 possible deposits of a given resource, only one will become a productive mine or well.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is a common rule of thumb in the mining and oil and gas industry, as many potential deposits may not be economically viable to develop or may face other obstacles such as permitting issues or local opposition. Therefore, despite many possibilities being identified, only a small fraction will ultimately become productive mines or wells.

If Geologists Identify 10,000 Possible Deposits of a Given Resource