STATe-of-the-ART GEOphysical & geological methods for DELINEATION of mineral deposits and associated structures

Purpose and goal

StartGeoDelineation´s innovative exploration solutions were tested at two geologically different environments: Siilinjärvi alkaline-carbonatite deposit in Finland and Blötberget iron-oxide deposit in Sweden. It included the acquisition of new data, revisiting existing data and new knowledge on the geology of the sites and ways to explore in a systematic manner cost-effectively. It covered aspects ranging from data compilation and historical data gathering, physical property measurements, mineralogical and petrological studies and systematic geophysical surveys.

Expected results and effects

New cost-effective exploration solutions were for the first time experimented including landstreamer seismics for open-pit mine planning applications and deep-targeting at the Nordic Iron Ore and Yara sites, respectively. Laboratory magnetic-temperature property measurements helped to distinguish different iron-oxide deposits at the Blötberget site and structural orientation at the Siilinjärvi site. Mineralogical and petrological studies helped to identify different generations of dykes at Siilinjärvi and the environment at which Blötberegt deposits are formed.

Planned approach and implementation

Two PhD students were employed and 3 MSc-BSc theses were produced. A number of short-term researchers worked in the project along with the senior scientists. Over dozen of peer-reviewed high-quality journal publications and tens of conference abstracts were produced ensuring the efficient dissemination of the new knowledge from the project. The successes of the project and the great network resulted in collaboration among the partners for a H2020 project, Smart Exploration, where StartGeoDelineation continuity is guaranteed for another three years.