Analytical advances to transform near surface mineral exploration

Development of advanced analytical techniques applied to ultrafine soils has demonstrated new tools adding value to routine soil sampling in frontline exploration. 

Developed by CSIRO in collaboration with local partner Labwest, previously developed UltraFine+® soil analytical methods have been further combined with purpose built data integration tools to offer a comprehensive data package highlighting potentially subtle anomalies of interest to mineral explorers. 

Supported by MRIWA and a national network of industry and government sponsors, this project built on previous work supported by MRIWA project M0462 to increase industry confidence using the Ultrafine data outputs and offer greater exposure to the workflow to demonstrate its potential, applying it to over 80,000 soil samples from across Australia. 

In particular, the approach offers a valuable addition to existing soil sampling practices that interprets and analyses previously overlooked parameters that can significantly assist exploration under cover. 

Read MRIWA report 462a and view the recent presentation from MRIWA’s 2024 Research Showcase summarising the findings of this research.