Scientists in Australia are using cost-efficient groundwater technology to locate minerals and new areas of exploration.
Scientists with the Minerals Down Under National Research Flagship are working with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to analyse groundwater samples in the northern Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia.
The method, also known as hydrogeochemical exploration, uses groundwater sampling to locate promising areas of mineralisation to detect metals such as gold, nickel, copper, zinc and uranium.
"The northern Yilgarn is an arid area with potable groundwater and is dotted with windmills and bores used for agriculture," says CSIRO team leader David Gray.
"This gives us direct access to groundwater without the need for drilling."
The project has so far been funded by 27 industry sponsors, with companies still being invited to join the consortium.
By Ozge Ibrahim
