The MSc study is part of the comprehensive project for the exploration of battery metals in the Modum Co-Cu-Au district in southeastern Norway. The project is coordinated by the Kuniko AS exploration company in cooperation with the University of Oslo. Kuniko AS develops raw material projects in Europe to supply the domestic battery industry with metals. As such, the Kuniko activities contribute to the establishment of electromobility as part of the Green Deal.
Background
The metals Co, Cu, Ni and Li are considered battery metals because these are the essential raw materials required for the manufacture of Li batteries for electric vehicles. Today, these metals are mostly imported from China, Africa, South America and other places, thus making the European industry dependent on these suppliers. The exploitation of domestic metal resources would reduce the supply risks and the carbon footprint due to the short ways of raw material transportation. For Co, for example, Europe’s import reliance is 32%, being imported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Russia. Thus, the development of European Co resources has become part of the European Raw Material Strategy. The Modum district hosts Co mineralization in the Skuterud area with economic potential, which is the target of this study.
Aim of the study
The aim of the study is to integrate underground (mine) scanning data, and structural and lithological data to create an interactive 3D model of the Skuterud mines at the Koboltgruvene. The model will contribute to a better understanding of the 3D distribution of and controls on cobalt-bearing minerals in the deposit. The model will then be used to evaluate the type and genesis of the ore body and identify ‘diagnostic’ criteria for the ore body identification. A best-practice workflow defining which data and data combinations contribute most effectively to the 3D visualization of the mineralization will be provided.
Research questions
- Which are the most indicative petrophysical, geological and/or geochemical parameters that vector towards the highest Co concentrations in the created 3D deposit model
- How this information is applied to adjust the exploration strategy outside the model area?
Implementation / Methodology
The study comprises a survey of the Skuterud underground mines. These field data together with subsurface geological, geochemical and petrophysical data (drill cores) will be fed into a 3D modelling software provided by Kuniko AS. The 3D modelling will reveal zones of Co enrichment and related lithologies. The data evaluation includes the integration of petrophysical logging data and their calibration with core measurements.
What will you learn?
You will learn how to feed 3D modelling software with data, how to create a 3D deposit model and how to interpret and quantify the model.
