Queensland has opened the expanded exploration data centre at the suburban Zillmere site on Brisbane's northside in Australia.
The centre houses 810km of rock samples that are essential to explorers and academics and analyses the mineral content of rock samples using Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) developed HyLogger system.
Queensland natural resources and mines minister Dr Anthony Lynham said: "The core samples and the low-cost, expert analysis done here are the lifeblood of an industry that has helped to develop our state, to fund our infrastructure, and continues to provide thousands of jobs today.
“This expansion will drive cheaper, faster exploration.
“Exploration is vital to discovering the resources that will drive the mines and jobs of the future and underpin ongoing economic growth for Queensland and our regional communities.”
Originally built in 1979, the Zillmere Exploration Data Centre stores core rock samples from coal seam gas (CSG) wells, water bores and 11,600 exploration holes.
The data centre also provides digital geoscience data, as well as company exploration reports to resource companies that plan future exploration.
Member for Nudgee in the Queensland Parliament Leanne Linard said that the A$5m expansion of the data centre has doubled its capacity.
Linard said: "The centre can now provide storage for more than 3,000 new pallets of core rock samples and cuttings.
"This facility has been a part of the local community since the late seventies, and following this expansion will help support the Queensland resource sector for years to come."
