Insights from Richard H. Sillitoe's Talk at SGA 2025

At the 2025 Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA) meeting, held at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, renowned economic geologist Richard H. Sillitoe shared his perspectives on the declining rate of copper (Cu) discoveries and the path forward for revitalizing exploration success. Sillitoe identified three key reasons for the current slowdown in copper discoveries: a significant reduction in budgets for generative greenfield exploration, the decreasing number of easily accessible exposed deposits, and the diminishing amount of time geologists spend in the field. These factors, he noted, have collectively constrained the industry’s ability to identify new world-class deposits. To reverse this trend, Sillitoe emphasized that improved discovery rates require a combination of factors: strong field geologist efforts supported by geochemistry, geophysics, academic research, and the latest technological tools; more creative thinking and the development of new exploration concepts; greater allocation of time for critical thinking with fewer bureaucratic hurdles; and a willingness to accept higher geological risk in exchange for reduced ESG-related constraints. Summarizing his philosophy, Sillitoe presented what he called the “magic discovery formula”: high-quality fieldwork integrated with the right geochemical and geophysical techniques, plus the boldness to drill deeper. His message was clear: while technology and data are powerful tools, the heart of mineral discovery remains in the field, where geologists apply creativity, critical thinking, and the courage to test bold ideas.