This fully updated textbook is intended for the economic geologist who deals with the evaluation of deposits at an early stage of development. It offers rules for quick and easy calculations based on the application of approximate data. It provides both the student and the geologist in the field with a complete set of rules and methods enabling them to perform a quick initial evaluation of the deposit without the support of specialists or computers - even if he is left to his own resources. All rules for calculations are illustrated with examples, and mistakes and pitfalls the authors encountered during their careers are pointed out.

Friedrich-Wilhelm Wellmer worked for the German mining company Metallgesellschaft world wide and he was Director of Exploration for the Metallgesellschaft of Australia in Melbourne before joining the Federal German Geological Survey, the BGR in Hannover. From 1996 to 2005 he was Director of the BGR and also of the State Geological Survey of Lower Saxony. Wellmer taught raw materials policy and economic geology at the Technical University Berlin. Manfred Dalheimer worked for the mining companies Centromin Perú and Metallgesellschaft before joining the BGR. From 1991 to 1997 he was head of Mining and Environment, and from 1997 to 2003 of Mineral Economics. Since 2003 he has been head of International Cooperation, America. Dalheimer is a mineralogist and holds a doctorate in economic geology. Markus Wagner is a specialist in the assessment and evaluation of mineral resources. Since 2003 he has been head of Mineral Economics as well as Mining for the BGR. He has worked as an exploration geologist, project manager and consultant in many countries. Wagner is a geologist and industrial engineer and holds a doctorate in mineral economics.