Five research areas have been developed (based on consultation and engagement with industry) that feed into our science vision.
Coal Characterisation
Characterisation of individual grains of coal and rock from cores, stockpiles and on-line sampling to understand and predict beneficiation and utilisation performance. In addition, research into coal handling conditions arising from coal properties.
Projects
- To utilise coal reflectogram techniques to develop a grain classification system to quantify single coals for inter and intra grain heterogeneity, to develop the capability to analyse coal blends; and to link characterision of coal grains to flotation and utilisation performance.
- To develop a predictive model for coal fragmentation which allows cumulative size degradation to be assessed, monitored and controlled from the mine face through handling, processing and transport to customer.
- To develop a reliable handling index that can be used to predict from routinely determined coal properties whether handling issues are likely for different coals, particularly impactiong on coal rail and port activities.
Borehole Logging
Development of borehole logging technologies and methods for analysis and interpretation of disparate borehole logging data.
Projects
- To develop a faster, lower noise data acquisition and analysis system for the collection and interpretation of nuclear borehole logging data from natural and radioactive sources, including natural gamma, gamma-gamma, and prompt gamma neutron activation.
- To obtain more knowledge from commercial geophysical borehole logging techniques such as natural gamma, gamma-gamma, sonic and other available logs e.g. coal quality and rock strength.
- To improve the reliability and consistency of geological characterisation resulting from geological observations made on drill core and chips, through the application of photogrammetry.
3D Data Imaging and 3D Data Processing
Generation and analysis of high-precision 3D images of rock mass surfaces for open pit and underground environments for mine mapping, slope stability analyses, blast optimisation, fragmentation and real-time input abilities.
Projects
- Further development of new methods of image and data processing for terrestrial photogrammetry and surface mapping to extend the capabilities of the Sirovision® product.
- The demonstration of 3D imaging for the collection of geological and geotechnical data in underground mining operations. These data are critical for an improved understanding of the local geological environment and can impact on ground support, grade control, mine layout and many other factors.
Microseismics
Understanding, monitoring and predicting rock integrity and ground condition associated with mining processes through microseismic analysis.
Projects
- To develop and test a microseismics system able to display, in real-time, seismic event rates and locations obtained across a mine site, in the mine office.
- To examine the seismic radiation from the longwall shearer used to extract coal from many underground mines and to assess whether such radiation is suitable to be used for stress and fracture imaging ahead of the face. The outcome of this research is to provide the mining industry with a tool which can be easily used to obtain, in real-time, information about the distribution of stress concentration or geological anomalies across a broad area 50m ahead of the longwall face.
Integrated Geoscience Data Analysis
Understanding coal deposit formation and development of new systems for processing, analysis and interpretation of complex and disparate, spatial and non-spatial geoscience data sets.
Projects
- To apply new data mining techniques, such as Self Organizing Maps, to evaluate and characterise disparate geoscience data sets to extract more knowledge from these data sets quickly and efficiently.
- To better understand the controls on in-situ variability in coal seam reservoir properties with the main focus on gas content and composition, permeability, coal seam character and geological parameters such as structure, stress and lithologic seals.
- To develop new techniques for the display and communication of uncertainty associated with geological interpretations to non-geoscientists.
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