Thisis an abstract only The continuity and evolution of exploration success in the Pacific Rim over the last 25 years suggests that the probability of geologic discovery has perhaps never been higher. A stream of significant new discoveries of both exposed and concealed deposits, in both newly-recognised districts as well as expansions and extensions of known deposits, indicates a future of continuing greenfield and brownfield technical success. In particular, a few giant porphyry CuAu-Ag-Mo discoveries are noteworthy, not only in their immense metal accumulations as a class, but because these deposits still remain surprisingly elusive as exploration targets despite perceptions that their exploration signatures are large and predictable. Equally noteworthy are discoveries of low-sulfidation Au-Ag vein systems as a target class at the opposite end of the grade-tonnage spectrum, both for their ability to develop spectacular grades as well as their small footprint and relatively benign ore characteristics, increasing their likelihood of eventual development.This pattern of continuing technical exploration success is attributable to four main factors: ongoing adjustment of exploration models through the discovery of deposits in an increasingly wide range of regional and target-specific environments knowledge transfer through globalisation and increased contact of geologists with diverse local and global knowledge sets the opening of countries of high prospectivity to outsider participation new tools and analytical techniques, partially offsetting the negatives of increased exploration costs, difficult access and escalating government expectations._x000D_
Amidst this bright technical picture, the Pacific Rim explorationist faces a continually expanding range of regulatory, social and political obstacles that have transformed ore into waste' in many technical discoveries - including many of the most valuable and most expensively explored. Some conditions are cyclical (commodity prices and related resource nationalism) and may predictably abate in sync with market fluctuations. Others, such as the ever-widening engagement of stakeholders whose involvement and power may be disproportionate to their grasp of relevant technical knowledge, are increasingly tied to factors well beyond the normal consideration of explorationists, in particular the rapid, pervasive and inexpensive access to social media and its ability to spread information - and unfiltered misinformation. However, such challenges also represent opportunities that, unlike the ore deposits, can be changed over time. Given the diversity of political systems and cultures within the Pacific Rim, finding a workable niche that overlaps prospective terrain is feasible for those who recognise and dedicate to this task. The ability to adapt will be as critical to the explorationist as good drill intercepts over the long term.This presentation reviews some key geologic and historical components of several significant, illustrative, yet lesser-documented Pacific Rim discoveries that demonstrate the positive regional and target-specific outlook, in parallel with their geopolitical and social challenges, and suggests some strategies for future success both for the explorationist and regulators.CITATION:Canby, M, 2015. Exploration in the Pacific Rim - evolving geology amidst challenging geopolitics, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 9-10 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).