Geoscience Society Core skills Course 2022 - Brisbane

The fifth edition of the joint AIG / AusIMM Core Skills course was recently run over five days in Brisbane at the Queensland government's Exploration Data Centre (EDC), Zillmere.

The course aims to help students and recent graduates develop an understanding of the data collection, validation, interpretation and modelling process using a real-world dataset provided through the ongoing support of Evolution Mining.  

Around 2km of core from the Mt Rawdon gold deposit is logged during the course with attendees developing a geological classification and rock unit chronology from scratch based on observation and discussion. Experienced helpers assist participants to develop their concepts and understanding with guidance and explanation provided to support their progress in creating the geological framework which underpins the evolving logging scheme.

Over the week two sections with four holes each are logged and interpreted by course attendees working in pairs. As logging progresses, we introduce gold and silver assay data for the holes being logged so the participants can assess lithology and alteration relationships with mineralisation distribution.

The course is run as a work scenario we are a team of consultants hired with only 5 days to determine/deliver a geological framework to the deposit and to assess potential for mineralisation extensions ultimately from the global dataset. Pressure is on!

The course also includes

• a session on geotechnical data collection
• talks on volcanic sequences and diatremes; what their rocks look like and how to work with them
• a visit to a commercial sample preparation and geochemical assay laboratory with support from ALS Global
• review of the EDC’s HyLogger and resultant data
• a session collecting pXRF data on the core being logged
• inspection of UQ’s automated core logging facility
• a presentation on CSIRO’s Data Mosaic automated interpretation functionality including its application to Mt Rawdon data
• a half day introduction to geostatistics including a manual variogram calculation exercise and a demonstration of variogram modelling and visualisation in Seequent’s Leapfrog Edge
• assessment of lithology modelling, mineralisation controls and 3D metal distribution in Leapfrog through viewer files
• guest industry speakers during lunchtimes who reflect on their own career learnings and influences, including a case study on the discovery of the Tick Hill goldmine
• a visit to Brisbane’s GEOPUB event (held every Wednesday!)

This year the course included 12 attendees after some last minute covid-related cancellations. Attendees came from QLD, NSW and WA and ranged from UQ and QUT students to recent graduates / early career geoscientists working in exploration, geotechnical and resource development roles as well as a mature age geologist planning to re-enter the industry after a significant time away. Below are some of the comments from the attendees made in their feedback sheets.

The mentoring aspect and informal nature in the way (the course) was presented worked really nicely with industry context. I had an awesome time.

Its an introductory course that had a lot of experience and support give to learn and understand more practical industry that isn’t really provided during university studies

I enjoyed the hands on experience with the core logging (including) having the senior geologists give advice and learn from their experience and expertise.

The course had a lot of extra information outside of core logging which was a great surprise. It was a great overview of the total process.

I liked the teamwork and logging core. I thought coupling the practical and theory helped to really drive home the learning.

Our thanks to the fantastic EDC/GSQ team including Chris, Berny, Mal, Joe and Lex who never tire of supporting this course and our aims. Ongoing support from Evolution Mining and ALS Global is also thankfully acknowledged.

Logging helpers Carol Simpson, Rosemary Hegarty and Allen Shaw were much appreciated as were the lunchtime speakers Rachael Ciesiolka, Adam Wright, Pat Hayman, June Hill and Bill Perkins. Thanks also to our specialist geotechnical present Malcolm Bridges and our geostats presenters from Rio Tinto; Ana Chiquini and Alan Cook.

Dale Sims
Core Skills 22 course convener