EXPLORATION

Software support for next-gen mineral exploration project

MICROMINE has joined the MinEx Cooperative Research Centre (MinEx CRC) collaboration

Staff reporter
MICROMINE’s role in MinEx CRC is to provide information and advice on software solutions for mineral exploration

MICROMINE’s role in MinEx CRC is to provide information and advice on software solutions for mineral exploration

The A$218 million (US$155 million) mineral exploration research alliance is aimed at developing technologies to increase the discovery of new deposits.

The CRC is backed by A$50 million in funding from the Australian government and another A$165 million in private sector support.

MICROMINE will be joining 34 MinEx CRC partners from the METS sector and major miners BHP, South32, Anglo American and Barrick Gold, as well as research organisations in Australia and overseas, such as CSIRO, Geoscience Australia and various universities.

MICROMINE has been accepted into the team focused on 3-D geological modelling, which brings together the mining companies, geological surveys and research institutions from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the UK.

The company's role is to provide information and advice on software solutions for mineral exploration.

Micromine product strategy manager Mark Gabbitus commented: "MICROMINE will work with our project partners to develop a 3-D geological and geophysical modelling package, which will help geologists, researchers and exploration companies to find mineral deposits in a more efficient and cost-effective way."

The resultant solution should allow field geologists, researchers, explorers, resources modellers and managers to better define their 3-D geological environment and assess the need for additional data and research.

It will also address existing problems explorers face that are related to urban geology, basin resources exploration and exploitation, and mineral and scientific exploration in poly-deformed metamorphosed terranes.

"This global research initiative complements the work MICROMINE is already undertaking to develop our geological software solution, Geobank, which is already used by various mining companies in over 20 countries," Gabbitus added.

"MICROMINE will contribute to the development of an open-source algorithm, while scoping the development of a commercial version that could fit more seamlessly into the workflow of the explorers or miners that work with Micromine.

"There is a significant amount of work to do over the coming years but there are some exceptionally smart people involved in the project and it is very exciting for MICROMINE to play a role in developing the next generation of exploration and modelling tools."

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