I did google search malmikoira and the first hit was document by Geographical survey of Finland.
One fascinating fact from the document was, that drug sniffing dogs were developed based on the methods used in training of ore dogs.
For non finnish readers perhaps documents bibliography gives some leads for real information instead of jokes:
Aaltonen, U. & Unhola, K. 1999. Suomen koirat sodassa ja rauhassa. Gummerus. 1999.
Ekdahl, E. 1976. Pielavesi: the use of dogs in prospecting. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 5
(3), 296-298.
Hamilton, S.M., Cameron, E.M., McClenaghan, M.B. & Hall, G.E.M. 2004. Redox, pH and SP
variation over mineralization in thick glacial overburden. Part I: methodologies and field investi-
gation at he Marsh Zone gold property. Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis 4 (1),
45-58.
Hyvarinen, L. 1965. Selostus lohkare-etsintÃjà koskevasta tutkimuksesta jossa vertaillaan lohkare-etsintÃihin koulutetun koiran sekà kokeneen lohkare-etsijÃn keskinÃisià tyÃsuorituksia. Geo-
logian tutkimuskeskus, Arkistoraportti M17/Vrs-65/2.
Hyvarinen, L. 1997. Saatanan moluuppi. Espoo 1997.
Kahma, A. 1965. Trained dog as tracer of sulphide bearing glacial boulders. Sedimentology 5;
Atlas Vol. 1. No. 4.
Kahma, A., Nurmi, A. & Mattsson, P. 1975. On the composition of the gases generated by sulphide-bearing boulders during wethering and on the ability of prospecting dogs to detect samples
treated with these gases in the terrain. Geologian tutkimuskeskus. Tutkimusraportti 6.
Laitakari, A. J. 1969. Koira malminetsijan apuna. Pielaveden ja Keiteleen Sanomat 25.4.1969.
N:o 16, s. 6.
Lindmark, B. 1987. Volframitutkimukset Kangasalan Ahvenlammin alueella vuosina 1983 -
1985. 45 s. Geologian tutkimuskeskus, arkistoraportti, M 19/2142/-87/1/10
Mattsson, P. 1979. Outokummun Sanomat. 43 (3), s. 18-19.
Nilsson, G. 1971. The use of dogs in prospecting for sulphide ores. Geol. For. Stockholm Forh.,
93, 725-728.
Nilsson, G. 1973. Nickel prospecting and the discovery of the Mjovattnet mineralization, northern Sweden: a case history of the use of combined techniques in drift-covered glaciated terrain.
Teoksessa: âoeProspecting in areas of glacial terrainâ. Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, London, 97-109.
Orlov, A.P., Robonen, V.I. & Kirilenko, G.M. 1969. Geologicheskie poiski s rudorozysknumi
sobakami. âNedreâ, Moskva. 47 s.