Constraint-Based Exploration Economics

Paper 334 of 383
Published June 1, 2026

Exploration decisions have economic consequences.

Every survey, drill program, field campaign, and interpretation consumes resources.

This paper evaluates exploration economics through the efficiency of uncertainty reduction rather than expenditure alone.

The objective is to maximize learning per unit of effort.


Economic Components


Economic Principle

The most valuable exploration activity is often the activity that produces the greatest improvement in decision quality relative to cost.

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