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，对矿山内和周围操纵的地质材料的特征的近乎实时的了解有限，阻碍了在勘探和采矿期间提高效率。这适用于钻芯的特性、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进行高光谱图像分析的基础研究来满足这些需求，并在以后将这些发现转化为使能技术。因此，我将围绕三个主题进行研究：(I)钻芯矿物学的表征，(Ii)矿壁蚀变的探测和矿石的表征，以及(Iii)尾矿矿物学和蒸发状态的表征。这些主题与浮选过程成像的最新进展相结合，有可能为矿山(从钻芯、矿壁到尾矿)提供全新的近乎实时的决策途径，并在许多情况下提供关于矿床的新观点。

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.