Shining a new light on mining: developing spectral metrics for decision support in mining exploration and operation

对于采矿勘探公司和矿山经营者来说，对矿山内和矿山周围操纵的地质材料的特性的有限的近实时知识阻碍了勘探和矿山开采期间效率的发展。这适用于岩心的特性、矿石和泡沫的质量以及尾矿的状态。我的计划的一个长期目标是通过在高光谱图像分析中进行基础研究来满足这些需求，然后将研究结果转化为一种使能技术。因此，我将集中在三个主题进行研究：（一）岩心矿物学的表征，（二）矿壁蚀变的检测和矿石的表征，以及（三）尾矿矿物学和蒸发状态的表征。将这些主题与浮选过程成像的最新进展沿着整合，有可能在矿山中提供全新的近实时决策途径（从岩心、矿壁到尾矿），并在许多情况下提供新的矿床视图。

For mining exploration firms and mine operators limited near real-time knowledge of the characteristics of geologic materials manipulated in and around mines impedes the development of efficiencies during exploration and mine exploitation. This applies to the characteristics of drill core, the quality of ore and froth, and the state of tailings. A long-term goal of my program is to meet these needs by conducting fundamental research in the analysis of hyperspectral imagery and later work the findings into an enabling technology. Thus I will conduct studies focusing on three themes: (i) the characterization of drill core mineralogy, (ii) the detection of mine wall alteration and characterization of the ore,  and (iii) the characterization of tailings mineralogy and evaporative state. Integration of these themes along with recent progress from imaging of flotation processes has the potential to provide completely new near real-time decision pathways in mines (from drill core, mine walls to tailings) and in many instances new views of deposits.