Rocklea Dome C3DMM

Full description

The Rocklea Dome 3D Mineral Mapping project was conducted by the Western Australian Centre of Excellence for 3D Mineral Mapping from 2009 to 2012 to showcase the opportunities offered by existing hyperspectral remote and proximal sensing technologies for comprehensive minerals systems analyses.

Key achievements of the Rocklea Dome 3D Mineral Mapping project are (Haest et al., 2012 a,b; 2013):
•Quantification of iron oxide phases and associated mineralogy derived from hyperspectral data and validated using X-ray diffractometry and geochemistry:•iron (oxyhydr-)oxide content: RMSE of 9.1 wt % Fe
•Al clay content: RMSE 3.9 wt % Al2O3
•hematite/goethite ratio: RMSE 9.0 wt % goethite
•Spatial characterisation of vitreous vs. ochreus goethite
•Defining the Tertiary channel boundary using key mineralogical parameters, such as the kaolin crystallinity
•Modelling the iron ore resource of the Rocklea Dome CID
•Identification of drill holes that were sunk into barren (i.e. bedrock) lithologies, suggesting that about a third of drill holes could have been saved
•Detailed characterisation of clay mineralogy that is associated with distinct domains of the CID and its cover (i.e. kaolin group vs. Al-smectites vs. Fe-smectites)
•Characterisation of mineral assemblages in the Quaternary cover of the Tertiary channel (e.g. calcrete)
•Improvement of quality of mineral maps by application of vegetation unmixing methods


All of the above points showcase how hyperspectral data can be used for the whole of mine life cycle, from exploration to resource characterisation.

Lineage: The Rocklea Dome 3D Mineral Mapping project was conducted by the Western Australian Centre of Excellence for 3D Mineral Mapping from 2009 to 2012 to showcase the opportunities offered by existing hyperspectral remote and proximal sensing technologies for comprehensive minerals systems analyses.