Measurement of the physical properties: Improving mineral exploration and mining at depth

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Availability of mineral resources underpins all sectors of our society. Continued development of emerging countries and the transition to clean energy solutions are exerting ever increasing pressures on reserves of critical minerals. The objective of the current research proposal is to develop laboratory and borehole tools that will improve the efficiency of exploration and production of these minerals. These tools will also improve the safety of the workers and neighboring populations, as well as reduce the environmental impact of these projects. The tools and methods to be developed will allow routine measurement of physical properties throughout the life-cycle of mining projects. Since future reserves will likely be found at great depths we focus on the development of in-situ measurements of physical properties. Given the increased financial and logistical risks of these deep mining projects, a thorough description of the rock-mass will become of vital importance to the success of these endeavors. The integration of physical properties and geophysical imaging is key to reducing exploration and production risks. This research program leverages my expertise in instrumentation design and the research infrastructure that I have put in place at Université Laval. Highly qualified personnel (HQP) involved in these projects will have access to a well equipped research and development laboratory that allows the development of electronic and mechanical prototypes. They will also have access to a new generation wireline system and test wells that are located on campus. This infrastructure will provide them with an appropriate test bed to benchmark our new tools, and to test them against tools that are currently state of the art in this field. They will also have the opportunity to be part of a stimulating work environment that includes interacting with researchers from the 'Centre de recherche sur la géologie et l'ingénierie des ressources minérales' and Metal Earth which is funded by Canada first research excellence fund. The outcomes of this research program will help shape future mineral exploration and production in Canada and abroad. In addition to contributing to establish physical properties as a common reference point throughout mineral exploration and production this research will provide training opportunities that are unique in the world. These graduates will be able to engineer tomorrows exploration strategies and apply these tools to meet the mineral exploration challenges faced by the industry and our society.