Mapping geological information flow in the mining value chain : strengthening downstream decision-making through robust orebody knowledge

A comprehensive understanding of geological information and its application across the Mining Value Chain (MVC), expressed as orebody knowledge (OBK), is essential for improving the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of mining operations. Geological information comprises data generated through exploration, drilling, and testing, whereas OBK represents the integrated interpretation of that information to support cross-disciplinary decision-making. Despite its central role in risk reduction and value realization, geological data frequently remain fragmented or weakly connected to operational and strategic decisions across the MVC. This study introduces the Geological Information in the Mining Value Chain Map (GiM Map), a systems-based framework that visualizes how geological information flows, transforms, and integrates into OBK to support decision-making across the mining value chain, from exploration and mineral processing to environmental management and closure. The GiM Map integrates 505 information nodes and 2,786 directed connections, classifying data by type, certainty, and function across the MVC. A proxy-weighted analysis ranks models according to their cumulative input connectivity, indicating that empirically grounded datasets, such as Bond Work Index (BWI), Drop Weight Index (DWI), and flotation kinetics, form the most robust and resilient model foundations. The density of data linkages increases downstream through the MVC, quantifying the progressive transformation of raw geological data into decision-oriented outputs. The GiM Map provides a reproducible foundation for applying Value of Information (VoI) and Return on Information (RoI) approaches, explicitly linking data quality and connectivity to economic and environmental outcomes. These findings position OBK as a strategic enabler of corporate performance and sustainability. The flow, integration, and quality of geological information across the MVC emerge as fundamental drivers of value creation, operational transparency, and long-term resilience in the mining industry.