Integrated technologies for minerals exploration; pilot project for nickelore deposits

The overall objectives of the GeoNickel project were to enhance geological and geophysical knowledge of nickel ore deposits and to develop novel, inte grated exploration methods and tools for the European base-metals industry. The technologies developed are aimed at increasing the potential for succe ss in exploration for sulphide and laterite nickel ore deposits. The resear ch and development work concentrated on (1) modelling of nickel ore deposit s in intrusive, komatiitic/picritic and lateritic environments; (2) develop ment of geophysical prototype instrumentation and software; and (3) develop ment of the Geoscientific Information System (GEOSIS), including database a nd geographical information system functionality, which was integrated with an expert system for nickel exploration and with software packages for adv anced statistical methods and artificial neural network-based pattern class ification/image-processing techniques. The modelling software for komatiitic/picritic and lateritic environments i ncluded the 'Automated Petrological Explorer' (APE) software, which is desi gned for rapid, comprehensive modelling of lithogeochemical and mineralogic al data from mafic and ultramafic intrusions, The geophysical instrumentati on included an integrated global positioning satellite-gravity system and e quipment for three-component downhole electromagnetic measurements; new geo physical software was developed for spectral induced polarization, ground e lectromagnetics and for the rapid interpretation of borehole electromagneti c data. Two software packages were developed for processing multi-source (g eophysical, geochemical, satellite, etc.) data for the detection of signifi cant features related to nickel ore deposits. Finally, GEOSIS was developed for the management and processing of the vast amount of technical data use d in mineral exploration. GEOSIS embodies the knowledge of geoscientists sp ecialized in nickel exploration and aims to facilitate the processes perfor med in different phases of the exploration. Final tests on the geological models, instrumentation and software were enc ouraging, and the overall objectives of the project were achieved. Most of the instruments and software developed can be applied to a variety of base- metal deposits other than the 'nickel family' of Ni, Co, Cu and PGE and be used to aid the exploration of ore deposits genetically related to magmatic or sedimentary rocks in a variety of geotectonic environments. The project was coordinated by Outokumpu Mining Oy (Finland) and the partne rs were Larco (Greece), the BRGM (France), the Geological Survey of Finland , Softeco Sismat Sri (Italy), IGME (Greece), Iris Instruments SA (France) a nd the National Centre of Scientific Research 'Demokritos' (Greece).