Commonly linked to arcs, rifts, and hydrothermal systems.
Access: needs shafts, smelting networks, pumps, specialists, or durable trade routes. Signals: Subduction arc generated source potential at 180 Ma; Accreted continent margin generated source potential at 120 Ma; Mountain building generated source potential at 60 Ma; Later uplift or glaciation exposes older metal systems.

Generated in arc belts and mountain systems; rivers and glaciers may concentrate placers.
Access: needs shafts, smelting networks, pumps, specialists, or durable trade routes. Signals: Subduction arc generated source potential at 180 Ma; Accreted continent margin generated source potential at 120 Ma; Mountain building generated source potential at 60 Ma; Later uplift or glaciation exposes older metal systems.

Needs a metal source plus concentration by rivers, glaciers, or fans.
Access: usable with gathering, quarrying, panning, digging, or hand collection. Signals: Mountain building shaped surface exposure at 60 Ma; Glacier / ice sheet shaped surface exposure at 2 Ma; Glacier / ice sheet improves practical access at 2 Ma; Upland river shaped surface exposure at 0 Ma

Not a resource itself, but a strong clue that older mineral systems are easier to discover.
Access: needs shafts, smelting networks, pumps, specialists, or durable trade routes. Signals: Mountain building shaped surface exposure at 60 Ma; Glacier / ice sheet shaped surface exposure at 2 Ma; Upland river shaped surface exposure at 0 Ma; Upland river improves practical access at 0 Ma

Often associated with gold, lead-zinc, and copper districts.
Access: needs shafts, smelting networks, pumps, specialists, or durable trade routes. Signals: Subduction arc generated source potential at 180 Ma; Accreted continent margin generated source potential at 120 Ma; Mountain building generated source potential at 60 Ma; Later uplift or glaciation exposes older metal systems.

Glaciers, rivers, alluvial fans, and outwash.
Access: usable with gathering, quarrying, panning, digging, or hand collection. Signals: Glacier / ice sheet shaped surface exposure at 2 Ma; Glacier / ice sheet improves practical access at 2 Ma; Upland river shaped surface exposure at 0 Ma; Upland river improves practical access at 0 Ma

Often linked to serpentinite and accreted ultramafic terranes.
Access: usable with gathering, quarrying, panning, digging, or hand collection. Signals: Accreted continent margin generated source potential at 120 Ma; Glacier / ice sheet shaped surface exposure at 2 Ma; Glacier / ice sheet improves practical access at 2 Ma; Upland river shaped surface exposure at 0 Ma

Windblown silt with high agricultural value.
Access: usable with gathering, quarrying, panning, digging, or hand collection. Signals: Glacier / ice sheet shaped surface exposure at 2 Ma; Glacier / ice sheet improves practical access at 2 Ma

Floodplains, glacial deposits, and weathered sedimentary terrain.
Access: usable with gathering, quarrying, panning, digging, or hand collection. Signals: Glacier / ice sheet shaped surface exposure at 2 Ma; Glacier / ice sheet improves practical access at 2 Ma

Veins, hydrothermal systems, and exposed uplands.
Access: reachable with simple mining, fire-setting, panning, and organized labor. Signals: Subduction arc generated source potential at 180 Ma; Accreted continent margin generated source potential at 120 Ma; Mountain building generated source potential at 60 Ma; Upland river shaped surface exposure at 0 Ma

Most likely in high-pressure subduction-related metamorphic settings.
Access: reachable with simple mining, fire-setting, panning, and organized labor. Signals: Subduction arc generated source potential at 180 Ma; Accreted continent margin generated source potential at 120 Ma; Subduction-related metamorphic rocks exposed by later erosion can host jadeite jade.

Mountain belts and metamorphic terrains.
Access: needs deeper mining, stronger tools, drainage, roads, and administrative control. Signals: Mountain building generated source potential at 60 Ma; Mountain building improves practical access at 60 Ma

Metamorphic belts and some placer systems.
Access: needs deeper mining, stronger tools, drainage, roads, and administrative control. Signals: Accreted continent margin generated source potential at 120 Ma; Mountain building generated source potential at 60 Ma

Margin basins, carbonate-hosted systems, and hydrothermal veins.
Access: needs deeper mining, stronger tools, drainage, roads, and administrative control. Signals: Subduction arc generated source potential at 180 Ma

Best in rifts, volcanic belts, and hot faulted terrain.
Access: needs drilling, explosives, chemistry, heavy pumps, engines, or modern geophysics. Signals: Subduction arc generated source potential at 180 Ma

High-grade metamorphism, pegmatites, and certain placer systems.
Access: needs advanced mining, water power, finance, and long supply chains. Signals: Subduction arc generated source potential at 180 Ma; Mountain building generated source potential at 60 Ma

Volcanic, alluvial, and silica-rich weathering environments.
Access: reachable with simple mining, fire-setting, panning, and organized labor. Signals: Glacier / ice sheet shaped surface exposure at 2 Ma; Heat plus later exposure improves silica-rich ornamental mineral potential.

Ultramafic terrains, volcanic provinces, and some impacts.
Access: needs advanced mining, water power, finance, and long supply chains. Signals: Accreted continent margin generated source potential at 120 Ma