Mining exploration is a sequence of activities, the purpose of which is to find mineral deposits that can be exploited. It starts with a search for a prospective mineral deposit and then leads to a feasibility study which determines whether a mineral deposit can be extracted economically. It may also include an assessment of other ore reserves that are present (in addition to the target) that could also be exploited in a mining exploration area.

Various exploration techniques are used to identify potential mineral deposits. These often depend on the demand for the commodity that is being searched for, the availability of infrastructure such as roads and processing plants, availability of funds, the size and distribution of the deposit, potential prices for the end products, government policy, public acceptance and the tax and royalty regime that will apply. While data generation about the geological structure tend to be a starting point, the above factors also figure significantly in any decision to proceed with mining.