Compositional data arise naturally in several branches of science, including geology. In geochemistry, for example, these constrained data seem to occur typically, when one normalizes raw data or when one obtains the output from a constrained estimation procedure, such as parts per one, percentages, ppm, ppb, molar concentRations, etc.

Although mining is a conservative industry, economic drivers continue to encourage innovation and technological change. In mineral processing, equipment vendors, researchers and the operations themselves work to develop technologies that are more efficient, of lower cost and more sustainable than their predecessors. The results are apparent in new equipment and new operating practice. Any textbook needs to reflect these changes, and Barry Wills' classic is no exception.

In 1996, the IAEA published the Guidebook to Accompany IAEA Map: World distribution of Uranium Deposits (the ‘Guidebook’). This publication, which was the culmination of a process that began in 1990, introduced a descriptive deposit classification that expanded upon the classification used in the OECD/NEA-IAEA Red Book. Experts from six countries and from the IAEA collaborated on establishing the deposit classification. They also contributed information on a total of 582 deposits worldwide, and provided summary information on these deposits that became part of the Guidebook including their location, status (operating, dormant, depleted, etc.), resources (within a specific resource range — e.g. 1 500 to 5 000 t U), average grade (within a grade range — e.g. 0.03–0.10% U), geologic age, host rocks and tectonic setting. <...>

This monograph is a new detailed study of large and unique ferrous, precious, base metal and rare metal deposits in Russia. It addresses complex interrelated problems of geological setting, magmatism, and ore genesis of Northeastern Transbaikalia, one of the Earth’s largest Paleoproterozoic metallogenic provinces. This area comprises three super-large and a number of ordinary deposits and occurrences. First of all, this province hosts 50 Mt of copper in sedimentary and magmatic rocks, including the giant Udokan deposit. Russia’s largest reserves of vanadium are concentrated within the Chiney gabbro-anorthosite pluton. And finally, the Katugin deposit, with unique reserves of niobium and zirconium, is also located here.