| Title | Customized spectral libraries for effective mineral exploration: mining national mineral collections |
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| Author | Percival, J B ;
Bosman, S A; Potter, E G; Peter, J M; Laudadio, A B; Abraham, A C; Shiley, D A; Sherry, C |
| Source | Clays and Clay Minerals 2018 p. 1-58, https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.2018.064103 |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2018 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20170350 |
| Publisher | Clay Minerals Society |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Subjects | mineralogy; clay minerals; clay mineralogy; standard samples; spectroscopy |
| Program | Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI-5) Uranium systems |
| Program | Environmental
Geoscience Metal mining: Critical metals |
| Released | 2018 05 22 |
| Abstract | Infrared (Visible-Near Infrared-Shortwave Infrared (VNIR-SWIR)) spectroscopy is a cost-effective technique for mineral identification in the field. Modern handheld spectrometers are equipped with
on-board spectral libraries that enable rapid, qualitative analysis of most minerals and facilitate recognition of key alteration minerals for exploration. Spectral libraries can be general or customized for specific mineral deposit environments. To
this end, careful collection of spectra in a controlled environment on pure specimens of key minerals was completed using the National Mineral Reference Collection (NMC) of the Geological Survey of Canada. The spectra collected from specimens in the
"Kodama Clay Collection" were processed using spectral plotting software and each new example was validated before being added to a group of spectra considered for incorporation into the on-board library of the handheld ASD-TerraSpec Halo
near-infrared (NIR) mineral identification instrument. Spectra from an additional suite of mineral samples of the NMC containing REE, U, Th and/or Nb are being prepared for a new, publicly available spectral library. These minerals often occur in
carbonatite or alkali intrusive deposits, and as such will assist in the exploration for critical metals. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
This paper discusses the optimal conditions to collect visible-near infrared-shortwave infrared (VIS-NIR-SWIR) spectra from selected minerals housed in
the National Mineral Collection. On-board spectral libraries in handheld, mineralogical identifying instruments such as the TerraSpec Halo can provide rapid analyses of minerals in hand specimens or in outcrops. Alteration and indicator minerals
typify a variety of ore deposits and can vector to mineralization. The focus will be on examples from the Athabasca basin for uranium exploration, although several environments of formation are also discussed. Results from the collection of
near-infrared spectra on samples containing rare earth element-, niobium- uranium- and thorium-bearing minerals, representing deposits for critical metals, are shown. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 306535 |
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