Drillcore scanning services - HyLogger

A drillcore imaging and spectroscopic scanning service is available to industry. It uses the CSIRO-developed HyLogger^™, which has special purpose automated core-logging technology. The Spectral Geologist (TSG^™) software generates digital images, surface profiles and mineralogical interpretations.

The HyLogger^™ was provided to the Geological Survey of NSW (GSNSW) under the AuScope National Virtual Core Library (NVCL) project and is housed at the W B Clarke Geoscience Centre in Londonderry.

The HyLogger^™ system acquires information on rock, ore and alteration minerals in drillcore, chips and pulps that are often difficult or impossible for the human eye to interpret correctly. Reflected light from the samples is broken into hundreds of different wavelengths by several spectrometers, allowing the recognition of unique spectral signatures for each mineral.

This technology is also used on cores from petroleum and carbon dioxide (CO₂) geosequestration wells to obtain mineralogical data that may complement porosity and permeability studies.

X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence instruments are used for rapid characterisation of a wide range of geological materials and for validating HyLogger^™ data.

The GSNSW offers a number of HyLogger^™ scanning services to industry and academia. Each service requires a level of investment by the client and offers different periods of confidentiality.

HyLogger^™ datasets uploaded to AuScope and AusGIN

The table below shows the HyLogger^™ datasets uploaded to the AuScope and AusGIN online portals between November 1, 2020 and April 19, 2021. These datasets and summary results are available for free download from these portals.

Commercial service

The commercial service allows for generated data to remain confidential. Contact us to discuss charges and scanning timeframes.

Collaborative service

A special collaborative scanning service is offered to clients who only require a short period of confidentiality (up to 6 months). Under this arrangement, HyLogger^™ data and any associated logs such as assays, magnetic susceptibility and geology logs provided by the client are uploaded to the AuScope Discovery portal at the end of the confidentiality period. Academic institutions and government agencies are charged the collaborative rate provided that the results are used for non-commercial purposes.

National Virtual Core Library service

Proposals for HyLogging™ of core already stored at the W B Clarke Geoscience Centre, Londonderry can be submitted for consideration. No period of confidentiality exists for this NVCL service. Consequently, the data is uploaded to the AuScope Discovery portal immediately after scanning and processing.

A company needs to provide a comprehensive rationale for HyLogging of specific cores. To ensure that this service is fairly shared only two holes, each up to 250m long, can be proposed by each company. Proposals are assessed by a committee of GSNSW geologists who determine the HyLogger^™ scanning priorities.

Drillcore segments and rock samples

Individual core segments and rock samples can be submitted for HyLogger^™ scanning. These are normally laid into core trays prior to scanning. There is a premium rate for the scanning of individual pieces of drillcore and rock samples. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Reverse circulation chips

Spectral analysis of reverse circulation (RC) chips is done by a number of analytical laboratories and service companies throughout Australia. The HyLogging of chip trays is not routinely done by the GSNSW unless it falls within a specific GSNSW project.

Outputs

All services provide simple user-TSA^™ (The Spectral Assistant) interpretation and TSG^™ (The Spectral Geologist) generated plots and outputs.