Strike Length

How far a mineralised structure extends horizontally along its trend.

Definition

The horizontal distance along which a mineralized zone extends. Greater strike lengths indicate larger potential deposits and are important factors in resource estimation and mine planning.

Why it matters

Strike length is the crude measure of how big a system might get. A high-grade vein over 200m is a curiosity; the same grade over 4km is a district.

In practice

Watch for "open along strike", which means drilling stopped rather than the mineralisation. It is the single most common reason a resource grows between statements.

See also

  • Intercept The length of mineralization encountered in a drill hole, typically reported with grade information. For examp
  • Vein A sheet-like deposit of minerals that fills a fracture or fault in rock. Many gold deposits occur in quartz ve
  • Orebody A continuous, well-defined mass of material containing a sufficient concentration of valuable minerals to be e
  • Greenfield Exploration Exploration activities conducted in areas with no previous mining or exploration history. Greenfield projects

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