Grant: College - University Idea to Innovation Grants

At present, there is no portable device that can detect gold and measure the gold grade (i.e. concentration) of mineral samples in the field at typical concentrations that occur in nature. Therefore mineral exploration for gold requires mineral samples to be sent to assay labs to measure the gold grade, and this causes delays of weeks to months waiting for assay results. This research proposal brings together the hardware, software and mechanical expertise of Conestoga College together with the mineralogical and geological expertise of the Earth Sciences department of Laurentian University, to collaboratively develop a functional handheld instrument that will use a patented process developed by Kendall Technology to detect and measure gold grades on-site under a wide range of conditions. Two previous research projects have taken this technology from a theory to a prototype. This proposal moves the research into the field for testing, evaluation and designimprovement. Barrick Gold has agreed to support this development by providing Laurentian researchers access to their mines and mineral exploration sites. The synergy in this proposed project is that as Laurentian Earth Sciences researches how best to use the gold detection device in mineral exploration, they will provide feedback to Conestoga College who will improve the hardware, software and mechanical design of the gold detector. Conestoga will then provide Laurentian with improved gold detectors to use in their research. The collaboration and interaction between Laurentian University and Conestoga College, with the support of