b'AEGC 2021Short abstractsThe manufacture of these products requires resources of300: Geology for the future: geology = (numbers / new economy metals including cobalt, tungsten, rare earthalgorithms)knowledgeelements, indium, gallium and germanium. Traditionally, these metals were considered unwanted by-products of base metalDr June Hill 1and precious metal mining operations, and consequently are concentrated in mine waste. 1 CSIROMine waste reprocessing is business proposition that isThe 3D geology model is an essential product of geological increasingly being adopted in many countries, includinganalysis because it provides a complete spatial prediction several in Australia e.g., the Hellyer, Century, Mt Carbine, Mtof subsurface geology from spatially sparse data. The Morgan and Tick Hill Mines. However, these materials areamount of digital data available to the geologist now well mineralogically heterogeneous thus, a one approach-fits allexceeds the geologists capacity to use traditional manual will not optimise value-recovery or indeed, guarantee that theinterpretation methods. Manual interpretation is too slow waste is environmentally de-risked. Fundamentally materialsfor large data sets and the results are often insufficiently must be thoroughly characterised adopting similar practices asconsistent to be useable in 3D modelling software. As a undertaken in geometallurgical studies. result, geologists are now turning to mathematical, statistical and machine learning techniques to help interpret large or This research, funded by the Queensland Government, focussescomplex geological data sets. Automated analysis allows the on secondary prospectivity in the state, where at least 40geologist to produce rapid, consistent results. Geologists significant metalliferous mining operations produce minecan experiment with different interpretations by using their waste streams containing unknown quantities of new economygeological knowledge to select appropriate data or modify metals. Additionally, there are 120 state-managed abandonedparameters.mines. Many of these sites contain reactive sulphide-richUnfortunately, most geologists lack adequate training in mine waste with associated acid and metalliferous drainagemathematics and computer science to be able to assess the risks. Ongoing management of these sites is costly, but theirvarious techniques available. Having a good understanding potential new economy metal contentas yet uncharacterisedof the strengths and weaknesses of various techniques canpresents a unique opportunity to rehabilitate these sitesprovide the geologist with the confidence to make appropriate through reprocessing waste. The new economy metal fertility ofchoices. I have spent many years experimenting with various 16 sites was examined. Hosting of Co in sulphides and Mn- andapproaches to automating the interpretation of drill hole data Fe-oxides was observed in tailings, waste rock and spent heapand would like to share with you the insights I have gained leach materials collected in NW Queensland with REEs hostedalong the way. I will provide you with a geologists perspective by allanite, stillwellite and Fe-oxides. Mine waste collected in NEof various techniques and the types of data you require to Queensland confirmed chalcopyrite and sphalerite as In hosts.make these techniques work.Metallurgical extraction methods are now being tested.AUGUST 2021 PREVIEW 112'