About Us
In February 2008, the Centre of Excellence for 3D
Mineral Mapping (C3DMM) was awarded a share of
almost $10 million in State Government funding as
one of five new major research facilities in Western
Australia.
Under the State’s Centres of Excellence in Science
and Innovation program, the C3DMM received funding to strengthen research and development
capabilities in the emerging area of hyperspectral
sensing technologies for the resources industry of
Western Australia.
C3DMM
researchers are integrating surface and sub-surface
mineralogy to generate 3D mineral maps (volumes)
for selected test sites across Western Australia.
A key outcome of the research is the development
of data processing capabilities that can handle large
volumes of data and deliver high level products to the
public via the web.
The main scientific challenge for C3DMM is the
development of methods that enable accurate
mapping of 3D mineral abundances and mineral
physicochemistries, as this requires the removal of
the complicating effects of vegetation and the regolith
from the remote sensing data.
C3DMM researchers are working with government
and industry to assess the spectral-mineralogy
of sites in Western Australia, using multi-element
geochemistry and available geological and geophysical
data to better understand the processes of ore
formation.
The work of the Centre will empower geoscientists
with 3D mineral mapping capabilities to better equip
them for the challenges of sustainable exploration
and mining, in particular, the recognition of spectralmineralogical
vectors to new mineral deposits.
It is also hoped that this Centre will be the basis
for a national initiative taken up by the government
geoscience agencies across Australia, leading to the
development of a 3D mineral map of the Australian
continent.
The Centres key partners include:
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