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Overview
The MinEx CRC Opportunity Fund supported additional research projects that complemented the CRC’s core research program and responded to emerging scientific opportunities throughout the life of the CRC.
Opportunity Fund Projects were recommended by the Science Advisory Committee (SAC) and approved by the Board of Directors under Rule 36.4 of the MinEx CRC Constitution. These projects addressed strategic research priorities and enabled new collaborations across MinEx CRC Participants.
The projects below represent the complete portfolio of Opportunity Fund research undertaken through MinEx CRC.
OPPORTUNITY FUND OP1: TECHNICAL DATA MANAGEMENT
Status: Completed
Project Leader: S. Karunakar Rao (Datacode)
Project Participants:
- Datacode
Project Summary:
This project will deliver a software platform and user interface to efficiently manage MinEx CRC metadata from all projects (upload, store, secure and access) and provide a reference and point-of-entry, with appropriate security, to underlying MinEx CRC data which is distributed across Participant organisations. The need for such a tool was identified at the MinEx CRC Science Advisory Committee meeting in November 2019.
OPPORTUNITY FUND OP2: COUPLED XRD MINERALOGY-CHEMISTRY PREDICTION
Status: Completed
Project Leader: Neil Francis (CSIRO)
Project Participants:
- CSIRO
Project Summary:
This project will conduct research and develop an algorithm that allows incorporation of chemical information for a geological sample into the interpretation of the sample’s XRD pattern, to provide full mineralogical composition. The proposed algorithm (for coupled chemistry-mineralogy prediction) will deliver a significant improvement in (1) our processing capability of X-ray Diffraction (XRD) data, and (2) in our ability to accurately characterise the full mineralogical composition of a geological sample which, in turn, will help accurate description of a rock, alteration or ore type.
In the course of the DET CRC Project 3.2 Lab-at-Rig Futures, the team developed a novel technology SwiftMin®, which allows rapid, fully automated, batch-processing of XRD spectra collected with an Olympus bench-top XRD sensor. SwiftMin® was commercialised to Olympus and is now being offered on the market to users of the BTX-II Olympus XRD sensor. MinEx CRC project OP 2 will further develop an XRD processing algorithm as a proof-of-concept that will work with other XRD data (i.e. collected by any XRD diffractometer). Additionally, the new XRD processing algorithm will integrate chemistry data that will provide more accurate identification and quantification of minerals, including complex solid-solution end-members. This will lead to accurate characterisation of lithologies and alteration haloes. This technology sits outside the scope of the MinEx CRC Project 3, which we believe should remain focussed on delivering its core milestones.
OPPORTUNITY FUND OP3.1: LIBS FOR REAL-TIME ANALYSIS OF WET AND SLURRY DRILL CUTTINGS
Status: Completed
Project Leader: Ben van der Hoek (University of South Australia)
Project Participants:
- University of South Australia
Project Summary:
A key strategic priority of MinEx CRC is to develop a new set of technologies for collecting data while drilling for enhancing mineral exploration and discovery. LIBS analysis of slurries would provide a novel capability and data stream for rapid geochemical assessment of the ore and deleterious elements as they are returned from the drillhole without further sample preparation (e.g. dewater or comminution). This will improve exploration efficiency, orebody knowledge and can be applied to downstream processing and refining. Furthermore, LIBS slurry analysis aligns with activities within Project 2 (on-site capabilities of the CT rig) and Project 3 (development of technologies for collecting data while drilling).
OPPORTUNITY FUND OP4: DISTRIBUTED SENSING FOR MINERAL CT DRILLING
Status: Completed
Project Leader: Brett Harris (Curtin University)
Project Participants:
- Curtin University
- University of South Australia
Project Summary:
This Project will assess the feasibility of using optic fibre distributed sensing technologies in the context of CT drilling for the mineral industry. Optic fibre distributed sensing may be a key element in MinEx CRC rig achieving the vision of being a low cost, rapid, safe, and environmentally friendly subsurface data harvesting platform.
The potential end-point will be an optic fibre cable integrated in the drill string that delivers real-time, high frequency data along the entire length of the drill string that contributes to CT drilling optimization (Project 2), seismic imaging (Project 5), logging-while-drilling (LWD), imaging while drilling and real time drill bit trajectory control (i.e. Project 4).
OPPORTUNITY FUND OP5: FLUORESCENCE FOR REAL-TIME FIELD IDENTIFICATION OF MINERALS
Status: Completed
Project Leader: Nigel Spooner (University of Adelaide)
Project Participants:
- University of Adelaide
Project Summary:
The project will demonstrate the capability of “novel fluorescences” for in-field mineral-specific sensing utilising both “conventional” single photon fluorescence and potentially multi-photon fluorescence. This work develops from our research under CRC ORE (projects P1-005 and P1-014) in which we discovered new techniques for real-time mineral identification and visualisation utilising mineral fluorescence.
This MinEx CRC Opportunity Project will utilise various excitation wavelengths in conjunction with NIR detection technology – NIR imaging systems and NIR spectrometers – in a concept demonstrator to show the feasibility of applying this new technology for real-time identification of target minerals of economic significance at in-field drilling operations. The aim is to demonstrate the feasibility and value of these new approaches, and prove to concept viability to move from TRL 2 to TRL 4, by laboratory testing of samples of interest provided by MinEX CRC Participants.
The NF sensing technology will fill the existing gap for real-time field identification of key minerals and chips at the drill site. This capability will be available for subsequent development with METS partners to produce new sensors which for the first time will enable rapid screening of hand-specimen samples, and visual mapping of the distribution of significant minerals across drill cores. These enhanced datasets will ultimately provide efficiency gains in all subsequent sample analysis programs and decision-making stage-gates in exploration, and contribute to improved geometallurgical knowledge for mining and mineral processing activities.
Related media:
OPPORTUNITY FUND OP6: RECOVERY OF LITHOLOGICAL AND STRATIGRAPHIC DATA FROM DRILLHOLE DATABASES
Status: Completed
Project Leader: Mark Jessell (University of Western Australia)
Project Participants:
- University of Western Australia
Project Summary:
Legacy and new drillhole data are a key constraints for geological understanding and subsequent 3D prediction. Company databases held by Australian Geological Survey Organisations (GSOs) contain complexly coded lithological information, but limited stratigraphic data. This project will develop Open Source algorithms automating the extraction of lithological and stratigraphic data from new and legacy drill hole data.
Related media:
OPPORTUNITY FUND 0P7: IMMERSIVE ANALYTICS
Status: Completed
Project Leader: Tom Raimondo (University of South Australia)
Project Participants:
- University of South Australia
Project Summary:
Project OP7 will extend the NDI Data Portal by developing an immersive VR platform with an integrated analytical and visualisation toolkit for interacting with complex geoscientific datasets. This platform will offer an entirely new capability for data insights using immersive techniques, enable enhanced in-person and remote collaboration opportunities, and a software-independent and device-agnostic interface to facilitate effective decision-making both in the office and the field.
Related media:
Brave new virtual world fast becoming a reality in the mining sector
RoXplorer® Digital Twin – Showreel
RoXplorer® Digital Twin – Virtual Walkthrough
OPPORTUNITY FUND OP7.1: AUGMENTED REALITY CORE LOGGING
Status: Completed
Project Leader: Tom Raimondo (University of South Australia)
Project Participants:
- University of South Australia
Project Summary:
To bring core logging into the 21st Century by developing a novel augmented reality platform that seamlessly integrates all of the available data streams derived from core samples and related contextual information into an immersive digital workflow. This will significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of the core logging process, and the potential for new and more powerful insights, by having all relevant information at hand and intuitively interactable. Furthermore, it offers the potential for a completely virtual core logging experience without the need for physical access to borehole samples, and synchronous or asynchronous collaborative workflows for both in- person and remote users.
Related media:
MEDIA RELEASE: Augmented Reality Core Logging a Step Closer Under New Commercial Deal
LogAR: Augmented Reality Core Logging – Development Snapshot
OPPORTUNITY FUND OP8: GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR DATE
Status: Completed
Project Leader: Marnie Forster (The Australian National University)
Project Participants:
- The Australian National University
Project Summary:
The project supports the people and infrastructure of the ANU argon laboratory required to deliver Ar/Ar thermochronological data to the National Drilling Initiative (NDI) through 2021. MinEx CRC resources will be used to prepare and irradiate samples, ensure access to a dedicated spectrometer (90 days) and invert, analyse and interpret results for ~30 samples selected from NDI drilling areas. These data will help constrain the age and temperature of fluid flow associated with mineral systems in NDI areas.
Related media:
OPPORTUNITY FUND OP8.1: BARCODING METALLOGENESIS
Status: Active
Project Leader: Marnie Forster (The Australian National University)
Project Participants:
- Adelaide University
- The Australian National University
Project Summary:
Project OP8.1 aims to identify previously unrecognised episodes of potentially widespread cryptic metasomatism. The techniques developed in the pre-cursor OP8 project, based on Ar/Ar analyses, allowed recognition of spatiotemporal variation in alteration patterns, as well as the potential use of palaeotemperature as a proxy for palaeo depth on the terrane scale.
OPPORTUNITY FUND OP9: FAST LOGGING WITH HYLOGGER DATA
Status: Completed
Project Leader: June Hill (CSIRO)
Project Participants:
- CSIRO
Project Summary:
To add value to HyLogger data (Program 3 NDI drilling and legacy data) by providing a workflow for first pass, fast automated logging. This will have 2 benefits: (1) a non-subjective interpretation of HyLogger data to aid in multiscale geological logging, and (2) rapid delivery of results to aid researchers in selecting samples from drill core or chips for further analysis.
Related media:
MyLogger: fast logging with HyLogger spectral mineralogy (Australian Journal of Earth Sciences)
OPPORTUNITY FUND OP10.1 STANDALONE FLUID AUTOMATION
Status: Completed
Project Leader: Masood Mostofi (Curtin)
Project Participants:
- Curtin University
Project Summary:
This Project will deliver a stand-alone fluid automation unit for diamond drilling (Hobby) to automate the entire workflow of making, measuring, maintaining, and optimizing drilling fluid. This technology has the potential to deliver significant improvements in diamond drilling. It eliminates the difficult logistics of handling, and management of fluid, additives and chemical in environmentally sensitive areas. It takes an operator away from the harsh operational environment and eliminates human error.
Related media:
From Concept to Commercial Reality: Minerals Exploration CRC Project 1 – Drilling Optimisation
Project 1 team takes out the Trailblazer Award at the 2022 Curtinnovation Awards
OPPORTUNITY FUND OP11: RAPID DRYING OF DRILL CHIP SAMPLES TO ENABLE IN-FIELD DECISION MAKING
Status: Active
Project Leader: Anthony Budd (Geoscience Australia)
Project Participants:
- Adelaide University
- University of New South Wales
- Geoscience Australia
Project Summary:
OP11 will develop a rapid, non-destructive in‑field workflow for drying small subsamples of drill chips and producing heavy‑mineral concentrates to enable faster, more reliable geochemical and hyperspectral analysis during drilling. Building on previous DET CRC and MinEx CRC workflows, this approach will reduce delays caused by wet samples, support real‑time decision-making, lower drilling costs, and minimise health risks from mould. The Project will also provide recommendations for drying chip trays, archive vials, and bulk sample bags, including the use of CTrol to prevent mould growth.