oa The science of discovery – from Exploration 1.0 to Discovery 2.0

The tools of modern exploration developed in the post war and cold war periods are no longer delivering mineral discoveries at the required rate for future economic production. The near surface search space is becoming mature. A new exploration toolkit backed by holistic systems thinking will be required to evolve Modern Exploration 1.0 into Discovery 2.0. Significant discoveries under moderate to deep cover will require new knowledge, new industry and government collaboration, new business and socio-economic models to deliver a step change in discovery rates.

To develop Discovery 2.0 we will need to deal with both the good methods and failing thinking of the past. To be truly great at discovery in 21^st century geoscientists will have to step up from being simply good explorers of the modern exploration era.

Discovery thinking will need to embrace systems thinking, risk taking, and cope with ambiguity and uncertainty. Systematic area reduction may not be possible and exploration will rely on recognition of patterns more than anomalies. Lucky teams can be grown and forged by the right exploration leadership. Discoveries will come from good team based business decision making and risk management as much as brilliant geoscience and new technology. Better thinking and more thinking time will be critical factors.