Focussing new light on old core

Resources Victoria’s Drill Core Library is helping minerals explorers learn more about where the minerals needed for renewable energy technologies might be hidden.

Resources Victoria’s Drill Core Library is helping minerals explorers learn more about where the minerals needed for renewable energy technologies might be hidden.

Revisiting old drill cores stored at the library allows explorers to obtain geological data without drilling, improving the accuracy of their activities and resulting in better environmental outcomes.

Earlier this year, Novo Resources spent several weeks at the library sampling historical drill core for their Belltopper Gold Project in Malmsbury.

Two holes drilled almost 40 years ago were re-logged, analysed and found to contain high-grade gold mineralisation, confirming what the company had hoped would be the case. Reanalysing the core is also providing crucial insight into the structural complexity of the reefs in the area.

This information will be used by Novo to fill gaps in their 3D modelling and precisely locate specific geological structures, which is fundamental to targeting minerals for their project.

Publicly accessible data provides explorers with information that helps them to search with greater accuracy and efficiency.

Novo’s success is an example of the positive impact that the Drill Core Library can have on minerals projects.

Companies are encouraged to browse the collection of cores at the library, which is free to access. To book an appointment to view or sample core, please email gsv.drillcorelibrary@deeca.vic.gov.au.