Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Queen's University
$111,000.00
New geochemical techniques for detecting undercover ore deposits
FY 2008-09
Summary
The challenge in exploration geochemistry is finding those particular elements or compounds that reflect leakage from ore deposits buried beneath the surface. The focus of a 4 year collaborative research effort between the Departments of Geological Sciences and Chemistry at Queen's University and Anglo American plc will be to develop novel analytical techniques that will identify those elements and compounds that may reflect hidden ore deposits. This collaborative research effort will (1) explore the use of tree-rings for undercover exploration, using the added dimension of time afforded by this medium to differentiate pollution sources from natural sources of the metals and isotopes, (2) use pyrolysis extraction of metals and gases from soils, clay minerals and vegetation as a quick, reliable, inexpensive technique to extract elements that indicate a deposit at depth, (3) expand the utility of halogen elements in exploration with ICP-MS detection, (4) apply low-level platinum group element analysis of soils, clay minerals and stream sediments for exploration, and (5) evaluate the added value of isotope tracing to vector to undercover magmatic-related deposits. This venture represents basic and applied research on elemental distributions and isotopic compositions in surface samples proximal to and distal from known mineralization in Canada and Chile, two end member climates. It will use novel ICP-MS and isotope techniques to reveal what hasn't been seen with the present technology. New analytical protocols for the exploration, exploitation and remediation of ore deposits will be developed using the combined expertise and data of the partners. Queen's University will benefit from continued support for their analytical laboratories, support for 4 Research Associates, 2 Post-Doctoral Fellows and 6 students, and publication of basic and applied research results. Anglo will benefit from new analytical techniques and vectors to buried mineralization that will eventually benefit all Canadian mining companies.
Program
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
342696-2006
Name nom
Kyser, Kurtis
Department département
Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering
Organization id
29
Institution établissement
Queen's University
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2008
Competition year année de concours
2006
Award amount
111000
Program id
CRDPJ
Program nane en
Collaborative Research and Development Grants
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement coopérative
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1203
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Earth sciences
Area of application fr
Sciences de la terre
Research subject code
4003
Research subject group en
Earth science
Research subject group fr
Sciences de la terre
Research subject en
Economic geology
Research subject fr
Géologie économique
Partie
3
Nb partie
5
Application title
New geochemical techniques for detecting undercover ore deposits
Keyword
NA
Application summary
The challenge in exploration geochemistry is finding those particular elements or compounds that reflect leakage from ore deposits buried beneath the surface. The focus of a 4 year collaborative research effort between the Departments of Geological Sciences and Chemistry at Queen's University and Anglo American plc will be to develop novel analytical techniques that will identify those elements and compounds that may reflect hidden ore deposits. This collaborative research effort will (1) explore the use of tree-rings for undercover exploration, using the added dimension of time afforded by this medium to differentiate pollution sources from natural sources of the metals and isotopes, (2) use pyrolysis extraction of metals and gases from soils, clay minerals and vegetation as a quick, reliable, inexpensive technique to extract elements that indicate a deposit at depth, (3) expand the utility of halogen elements in exploration with ICP-MS detection, (4) apply low-level platinum group element analysis of soils, clay minerals and stream sediments for exploration, and (5) evaluate the added value of isotope tracing to vector to undercover magmatic-related deposits. This venture represents basic and applied research on elemental distributions and isotopic compositions in surface samples proximal to and distal from known mineralization in Canada and Chile, two end member climates. It will use novel ICP-MS and isotope techniques to reveal what hasn't been seen with the present technology. New analytical protocols for the exploration, exploitation and remediation of ore deposits will be developed using the combined expertise and data of the partners. Queen's University will benefit from continued support for their analytical laboratories, support for 4 Research Associates, 2 Post-Doctoral Fellows and 6 students, and publication of basic and applied research results. Anglo will benefit from new analytical techniques and vectors to buried mineralization that will eventually benefit all Canadian mining companies.
