EXPLORATION AND SAMPLING
exploration and metallurgy in Germany and support mining sector investment attraction. Beak runs its own exploration program for Sn, W and Li in the German Erzgebirge on the Sosa and Oelsnitz licenses together with international partners.“ The integration of mineral exploration and research with software development allows new software products to meet exact practical requirements.”
Laser spectroscopy for lithium
SciAps reports that“ for the first time ever a handheld device was used for instant, on-site lithium in soil measurements as part of a lithium exploration project.” The pioneering effort was made by Lithium-Australia NL at the Seabrook Rare Metals Venture in Western Australia. The analysis was performed using a SciAps Z-300 handheld LIBS analyser.
LIBS- laser induced breakdown spectroscopy- is an elemental analysis technique long established in the laboratory, and only recently migrated to a handheld platform by SciAps. LIBS is very much a complementary technique to handheld XRF. SciAps also manufacturers a leading handheld XRF.
The pattern of lithium anomalism could be determined by direct measurements of Li using handheld LIBS, rather than conjecture from pathfinder elements.
Lithium Australia( LIT) says it has accumulated significant experience in geochemical modelling of prospective lithium terrains and in particular the soils derived from pegmatites containing lithium micas. The Seabrook Rare Metals Venture( LIT 80 % and Tungsten Mining 20 %) consists of six exploration licences, located on the shores of Lake Seabrook, some 60 km northeast of Southern Cross and 10 km southeast of Koolyanobbing, Western Australia.
Hand-held LIBS was used to compare real-time lithium spectral data, with various geochemical signatures generated with field portable XRF equipment.“ The results show conclusively that pattern of lithium anomalism determined by hand-held LIBS reflects the areal extent, and
shape to field-portable XRF alkali metal anomalism which in this area is a good pathfinder for lithium.
“ The success of the LIBS lithium geochemical modelling has led to more extensive evaluation for immediate use on the Electra project( LIT 25 % and Alix Resources Corp 75 %). A SciAps Z300 machine has been calibrated using a wide grade range of lithium clays generated from recent sampling. Real-time data will be used to maximize the benefit of drilling, scheduled to commence in the near future.”
Managing Director of Lithium-Australia, Adrian Griffin, said his company“ has worked for some time with SciAps to perfect the use of LIBS technology in geochemical applications. The extension of technique to the real-time control of drilling in lithium clays is a breakthrough that should reap immediate financial benefits, by maximising the effectiveness of our first round of drilling in Mexico.”
Drilling is still essential
The government of Ontario has awarded Boart Longyear Canada $ 1.37 million to support the development of a mineral exploration drilling site and drilling systems technology.
Investments by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation( NOHFC) in projects like these have the potential to improve safety for drillers, increase efficiency, reduce drilling costs and create jobs once the products are commercialised.
Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines for the provincial government and Chair of the NOHFC, joined Boart Longyear President and CEO Jeff Olsen and other Boart Longyear executives at the company’ s booth at MINExpo to announce this.
“ The Ontario government is very pleased that Boart Longyear’ s management team has chosen the Sudbury region for its newest R & D facility,” said Gravelle.“ It is a very significant step in building up our R & D mining cluster in Northern Ontario.”
With the support of the NOHFC funding as well as a matching corporate capital investment, Boart Longyear will work at the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology( NORCAT) to test and develop several proprietary technologies, including driller-deployable geochemical technologies and other new technologies that will increase productivity.
“ We are grateful to the government of Ontario for its significant commitment to our efforts to improve safety, increase efficiency and reduce drilling costs,” said Olsen.“ Its investment will pay longlasting dividends to the mining industry in Northern Ontario and around the world.”
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FEBRUARY 2017 | International Mining 17