Geomicrobiology for detecting rare metal deposits

Recent advances in genetic technology have significantly lowered the cost of molecular microbiology, opening the doors to application in the mineral exploration industry. The Geomicrobial Surveys proposed in this application represent a novel method for mineral exploration using the patterns of microbial communities as proxies for invisible subsurface features, like rare earth metal deposits. Because of its efficient scale and non-invasive sampling approaches, geomicrobiology causes negligible environmental impact while offering to improve how companies rank mineral targets for drilling prioritization. The primary outcomes of bringing geomicrobial surveys into mineral exploration will be both a de-risking of missed targets and a reduction in exploratory drilling in unnecessary areas, saving time and money for industry while reducing negative impacts on natural environments.

Faculty Supervisor:

Andrew Cameron

Student:

Partner:

Pan American Energy Corp.;Integral Metals Corp.

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Mining

University:

University of Regina

Program: