Towards an automated workflow to characterize ore deposits in 3D, both chemically and structurally
Contact: Florian Buyse
Ore deposit studies necessitate modern investigation techniques to understand the processes responsible for the formation of economically viable mineral resources. Research conventionally relies on macroscopic and microscopic observations of hand specimens and thin/polished sections to characterize in detail the physical, structural and chemical properties of minerals. Microscopic observations are hereby often limited to two-dimensional (2D) techniques (e.g. optical microscopy and SEM-EDS). Although these techniques are well-known to characterize the mineral composition of ore deposits, they are not capable of reproducing the real three-dimensional (3D) interior of geological samples.
This project is designed to explore and implement non-destructive X-ray imaging techniques for the 3D chemical and structural characterization of ore deposits. The focus will be on the development of lab-based hyperspectral X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) to complement standard μCT. In the transition towards a circular economy, mineral resources need to be looked after carefully. The proposed methodology will allow for the extraction of relevant mineral properties for either academic or industrial investigations, providing important new insights concerning the assessment of primary and secondary raw materials, and play an important role in the recuperation and extraction of critical raw materials.
FIGURE: High resolution mineral mapping of a Nb-Ta-Sn pegmatite by combining BSE and EDX analysis.