| Reinterpreting existing geological data Enormous
leaps forward have been achieved in the development of process techniques for geological
exploration data in the past few years, according to Australian Geological and Remote
Sensing Services (AGARSS) principal and owner, Dr Bob Agar.
"The big problem with airborne remote sensing, for example, is that big companies
can afford to do it, but the small explorers on limited budgets cannot" he said.
"The smaller clients are barely in the market for airborne remote sensing
services, yet they probably represent the majority of the explorers."
In conjunction with offering general mineral exploration services and specialising in
airborne remote sensing surveys, AGARSS began selling Geoscan Airborne Multi-Spectral data
it had obtained from an agreement with Ashton Mining. Following the development of new
computer software specifically designed to interpret this data, the company began to
re-analyse existing remote sensing imagery for further information.
Dr Agar said the reinterpretation of existing information had been very beneficial in
the discovery of new orebodies in Australia and overseas, in particular South America.
"There’s a lot of existing archival information, including satellite and
airborne data, which is worth having another look at using new advanced image processing
and data analysis techniques," he said.
"These techniques can reveal additional information which would have been
overlooked in the past."
As well as benefiting the small explorer in terms of cost, Dr Agar believes the
technology is also useful for large companies and for advanced projects. He said there was
no doubt further information would be obtained using the new processing techniques.
"This latest technology is very popular in South America at the moment, where many
companies are eager to take advantage of government incentives designed to encourage the
development of a strong mining industry," Dr Agar said.
AGARSS runs in-house courses on remote sensing applications in mineral exploration
using data over the customer’s own projects. These courses allow the customer’s
own geologists to get up to speed with the latest airborne technology, evaluate the hidden
benefits in re-analysing archival data while at the same time advancing their own
exploration program.
The company is part of an alliance with Geochemex Australia and Martinick McNulty Pty
Ltd called Amigo Australasia Pty Ltd. Dr Agar believes the three companies complement each
other well in an increasingly competitive environment.
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