SPECTRAL GEOSCIENCE

Global provider of:

  • Hyperspectral mineral characterisation consulting services to the exploration, mining, oil and gas industries.
  • Sales, support and training for The Spectral Geologist (TSG) software.

Delivering value-added mineral information to characterise your drill core or chips and capitalise on your investment in drilling, with benefits and applications across the mining value chain.

Spectral Geoscience use infrared spectroscopy as a tool to generate qualitative and quantitative, macro-scale, mineral information to support the objectives of exploration geologists, mine geologists, geotechnical engineers, geometallurgists and environmental scientists.

Our Services

Consulting, TSG sales and TSG training.

The Spectral Geologist (TSG™)

Analysis, visualisation and mineralogical characterisation of VIS/NIR/SWIR/MIR/TIR reflectance data.

Applications

Identifying the mineralogy in geological samples across the mining value chain.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Mineral characterisation of drill core samples collected with an oreXpress.
“….your interpretation of the alteration mineralogy is one of the more important strands of information that we can get from the drilllcore and we don’t want to waste any precious drilling meters!”

KH, Technical Director, Papua Mining plc, PNG

“TSG has become an important part of our exploration targeting workflow”.

MB, Chief Geologist, Xanadu Mines, Mongolia

TerraSpec4 + TSG onsite training in data acquisition and analysis.
“I am VERY happy with the results. We are going to zap every drill hole from now on.”

JH, Senior Geologist – Orebody Knowledge, Northparkes Mine, NSW, Australia

TSG is used by companies around the world including:

 

 

WHAT WE DO

Spectral Geoscience use ‘infrared spectroscopy‘ as a versatile analytical tool to aid geologists, geotechnical engineers and geometallurgists with characterising the infra-red active mineralogy in geological materials. The measurements collected from infrared spectrometers are referred to as hyperspectral data.

We are passionate about the application of hyperspectral mineral analysis to assist exploration and mining companies to identify, delineate, develop and extract natural resources.

WE LISTEN TO OUR CLIENTS

At Spectral Geoscience we listen to our clients to find out what their mineral-related challenges are and to develop an understanding of the problem they want to address (see Applications for examples) before collaboratively planning a tailored scope-of-work using the appropriate tool for the task.

This may involve using a company’s existing hand-held spectrometer data (e.g. TerraSpec) or free HyLogger data from over 3000 drill holes from around Australia courtesy of Australia’s State and Territory Geological Surveys and accessible through the AuScope or AUSGIN portals. Or the project may require the acquisition of new hyperspectral infrared data (see below).

Every project is different and requires focused attention to the specifics of the problem.

HYPERSPECTRAL DATA ACQUISITION

Recommended instruments:

      1. HyLogger-3 (VNIR-SWIR+TIR)
      2. ASD TerraSpec4 or Halo (VNIR-SWIR)
      3. Spectral Evolution’s oreXpress spectrometer (VNIR-SWIR)
      4. Agilent 4300 FTIR (SWIR-TIR)

Spectral Geoscience can collect hyperspectral infrared data on-site or in the field using a hand-held infrared spectrometer (e.g. TerraSpec4, Halo, oreXpress) and/or train clients in how to obtain their own high quality spectra.

Alternatively, clients can send their samples to Spectral Geoscience to be scanned and analysed.

Spectral Geoscience can also arrange for larger projects to be scanned by one of several CSIRO-developed HyLoggers around Australia and in China, Mexico and Chile or arrange a core logging program with Corescan, the commercial operators of the HyLogging systems.

MINERAL CHARACTERISATION

Spectral Geoscience use the CSIRO-developed software The Spectral Geologist (TSG) to extract mineral characterisation information in a systematic, objective and results-driven approach using a range of conventional and novel methods.

We extract qualitative and quantitative mineral information including: mineral identification, abundance, crystallinity and compositional substitutions within a mineral class (e.g. white micas, chlorites and garnets) from a range of geological sampling media.

Results can be applied across  the mining value chain to delineate alteration zones, highlight formation conditions (pH and temperature), identify distal and proximal alteration signatures, establish vectors to mineralisation, determine in-situ versus transported regolith, support resource modelling, flag geotechnical risks such as swelling clays and deleterious minerals in metallurgical processing.

We routinely import ancillary data into TSG to integrate the hyperspectral data to maximise the synergy between datasets and enhance the interpretation.

We deliver mineral products fit-for-purpose to meet the client’s needs.

 

We add value to your investment in drilling.

 

GEOLOGICAL SAMPLING MEDIA

Qualitative and quantitative mineral information can be extracted from hyperspectral infrared data collected from:

  • Diamond drill core (full and split)
  • RC chips
  • Coarse rejects, pulps and powders
  • Surface grab samples
  • Trench and channel samples
  • Blast chips
  • Geometallurgical samples
  • Environmental assessment and remediation samples

Applied infrared mineral spectroscopy generates rapid, non-destructive, objective identification of mineralogical properties in field samples, drill core and chips, leading to increased logging/mapping efficiency, geological knowledge and productivity.

BENEFITS

Rapid, non-destructive, objective identification of infrared-active mineralogy.

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Rapid hyperspectral measurements can be acquired in seconds, resulting in hundreds of field samples analysed per day with a hand-held spectrometer and up to ~500 m per day with a HyLogger (hyperpectral core logger). Generates a timely turn-around to make informed decisions of where to drill next (and just as importantly where not to drill). Saves unneccessary expenditure and time. Reduces risk.

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No sample preparation is required other than ensuring the sample is dry and clean (i.e. clear of drillers mud etc).

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Objective logging of mineralogy delivers consistent logging of mineralogical variables (e.g. species, abundance, crystallinity and chemistry) across a deposit.

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Identification of alteration mineralogy: infrared spectroscopy is sensitive to the molecular bonds in a mineral lattice and can readily identify minerals that are often too fine grained, bleached or texturally destroyed to be recognised by eye, even with a hand lens.

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Rapidly produce logs/maps of mineral abundance, alteration intensity and compositional substitution (e.g. Al↔Fe/Mg in white micas and Fe↔Mg in chlorites), gradient changes and potential proximity indicators to mineralisation.

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Increases the effectiveness and efficiency of geological core logging. Hyperspectral core logging is used as a tool to support, improve and complement conventional logging.

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Increases the effectiveness and efficiency based on distal-proximal mineral alteration zonation and relationship to mineralisation.

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Integratable mineral results formatted as spatially georeferenced and/or depth registered alpha or numeric variables to facilitate interpolation between surface samples or drill holes; integration with multi-discipline datasets; and interrogation in 3D mine modelling or GIS software.

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Generates interoperable mineral map/log products: mineral results can be used multiple times throughout the mining chain, from exploration-development-extraction-remediation.

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Generates new geological insights to further the understanding of current deposits and assists in determining the mineral exploration potential of new prospects.


Add value to your investment in drilling.

contact us today

Address

Suite 28, 7 Narabang Way,
Belrose, NSW, 2085
Australia