Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/N019040/1
Multidisciplinary fieldwork and modelling skills for the mining industry
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Dr J Naden, British Geological Survey, Minerals & Waste
- Grant held at:
- British Geological Survey, Minerals & Waste
- Science Area:
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Natural Resource Management
- Science Topics:
- Mineral deposits
- Ore deposits & mineralisation
- Sulphide minerals
- Earth Resources
- Hydrothermal circulation
- Volcanic Processes
- Abstract:
- This course builds on a successful NERC ATSC - Multidisciplinary fieldwork training in a professional geoscience environment by focussing on an application for end users - the mineral exploration industry, which has a requirement for numerate, multidisciplined geoscientists with core field-based observational skills coupled with knowledge of field-based instrumentation. The course will include field deployment of several instrument technologies including spectroscopy, portable XRF, Portable XRD and ground LiDAR. The concept behind the course is to enable doctoral and early career researchers to experience and learn from the work flow used in the planning, capture and interpretation of field data to understand the key requirements for industry investment in mineral exploration projects and to use this knowledge in their career development. The training will be delivered in two parts: (i) initial reconnaissance, campaign planning, interpretation and analysis of remotely sensed data, (ii) training in a range of field techniques and the generation of a statistically-based prospectivity map. The course will also develop skills in leadership, significant team working, task delegation and an appreciation of the social, community and environmental issues associated with mineral exploration and extraction. The course will last 12 days and take place in the offices of BGS (3 days) and Milos island Greece (9 days). The training will be delivered by tutors from BGS, the universities of Hull and Leicester plus mining industry professionals with over 75 years cumulative experience of geosciences in a business environment. This combination of expertise will provide course delegates with a unique opportunity to develop skills appropriate to a range of end-users in a multidisciplinary setting. The course will deliver environmental science training in several national priority areas: (i) The initial scoping, using data from the NERC geoscience and Earth observation data centres, will expose course delegates to a range of data processing techniques. They will also gain an appreciation of how geoscience and Earth observation data can be used in visualisation and analysis; (ii) Access to the knowledge and expertise of professional field geoscientists will significantly enhance their field identification and survey skills. There will be the opportunity to learn and apply a range of field techniques such as sampling, collection and recording protocols and methodologies. They will also deploy field technologies such as field spectroscopy, portable XRF/XRD analysis and terrestrial laser scanning; (iii) The use of field and remotely sensed data in a statistically-based prospectivity analysis will introduce and give delegates an understanding of quantitative and qualitative modelling approaches that underpin mineral exploration strategies. Expected outcomes and impacts include: (i) The development of critical field observational skills for use in their own research and future careers and to know how to use large data resources to support research and inform results in a business setting; (ii) Knowledge of how field based-instrumentation can be best utilised in mineral exploration; (iii) An understanding of the use of geoscience information through statistical analysis to assess the quality and uncertainty of those data (iv) The development of the skills needed for quantitative risk-based mineral prospectivity analysis; (v) The ability to communicate research approaches and results across disciplines; (vi) Recognition and implementation of best practise project management and planning in a team environment; (vii) An appreciation of the data that underpins geoscience models and how they can be used to communicate complex science ideas to a range of publics; (viii) An appreciation of the environmental and social impacts and challenges within the mining industry.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/N019040/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Doctoral Training
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Advanced Training
This training grant award has a total value of £74,529
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Other Costs |
|---|
| £74,529 |
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