Deep Digital Cornwall
Deep Digital Cornwall
Cornwall Resources are working with the University of Exeter and Cornish Lithium as Delivery Partners in the ERDF-funded Deep Digital Cornwall Project
Deep Digital Cornwall
The ‘Deep Digital Cornwall’ Project led by the University of Exeter’s Camborne School of Mines (“CSM”), in which CRL and Cornish Lithium are delivery partners, was awarded funding by the European Regional Development Fund (“ERDF”), through HM Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (“HMCLG”).
Highlights:
• Redmoor exploration licence area will be used as a field laboratory for collection of geochemical and geophysical data, which will also provide CRL with information relevant to several new prospects within its Mineral Rights.
• CRL received up to £446,063 of grant funding for its part in the project from the ERDF, in return for a contribution from CRL of 20% (from existing budget).
• The project strongly aligned with CRL’s objectives for Redmoor, one of which was the continued expansion of its understanding of the geology at this highly prospective site.
• CRL benefitted from access to international-level research and collaboration concerning the use of digital exploration data, through CSM.
• Positive support for Cornwall and its natural resources sector from HMCLG and ERDF.
In 2019, CRL, along with other industry delivery partners, joined the ‘Deep Digital Cornwall’ funding application, led by CSM, for funding from the European Structural & Investment Fund of the European Regional Development Fund. The application was made in response to a call aiming to promote research and innovation in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (Funding call: OC05R18P 0782).
The £4.1m Deep Digital Cornwall project has was approved by HMCLG and included £3.3m of grant funding. Of this amount CRL, as a delivery partner, received funding of up to £446,063, to facilitate the use of its Redmoor exploration licence area as a field laboratory for the project. In order to be eligible for the funding, CRL match funded the work program at 20% of the estimated budget (£111,516), which was provided for in SML/CRL’s 2021 budget.
CRL provided Redmoor as a field site for the acquisition of new geochemical and geophysical data and the development of geological expertise (in conjunction with CSM) for research on such data at deposit-to-district scales around an active exploration project. The raw data has been provided to the Deep Digital Cornwall data centre as an example dataset, while collaborative research at Redmoor helped to improve understanding of both local prospectivity and the wider Cornwall sub-surface. Ongoing research on these data, integration with regional datasets, and engagement with others, has led to a case study in the benefits of applying modern exploration techniques and local expertise to an ongoing Cornish exploration project via emerging digital technologies.
Soil Geochemistry:
One of the main outputs from this collaboration was the collection, analysis, interpretation, and modelling of 2186 soil samples which were collected in 2 phases over the course of the DDC collaborative program. These soil samples we systematically collected throughout the DDC program, with samples taken along N-S trending profiles that were 400m apart with sample points being at 50m spacings. The sample locations were targeted in areas that had previously been untested geochemically and were aimed at traversing the typical E-W trending structures that are known to host W-Sn-Cu and other base-metal mineralisation. Upon collection and cataloguing, these samples were then sent to ALS Laboratories in Loughrea, Ireland to be analysed for a suite of 53 elements using a Multi-Element Induce Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) methodology.
Deep Digital Cornwall: Soil sampling within the Redmoor licence area, using a motorised, handheld soil auger
The results and subsequent data from the soil sampling campaign have been made publicly available for any parties interested in the project (CRL Soils Campaign 2021/2023). Further to the publication of the data collected, CRL has undertaken a comprehensive review and interpretation of the subsequent results, resulting in the identification of numerous anomalous occurrences of Tin, Tungsten, Copper and other base-metals. These geochemical anomalies have been confirmed to be occurring in close correlation with geological structures identified as part of CRL’s aerial geophysical survey undertaken in the spring of 2023, coupled with a close relationship with to the previously identified granitic upwellings identified as part of the gravimetric survey.
Deep Digital Cornwall: Locations of soil samples collected during the DDC soils program
Gravity Survey:
Between July 2021 and December 2021, CRL conducted a ground-based gravity survey over the majority of CRL’s licence area, resulting in the collection of 927 gravity readings. The primary aim of this survey was to infer the underlying geology of the region and link this back to the various mineralised systems seen in Cornwall. The survey data has been made openly available to all interested parties, via DDC’s 3D Visualisation Suite and online via the DDC website.
The data was collected by a team of field assistants, using a high-resolution GPS to locate predetermined points, at which a GPS point would be logged and the CG-6 Autograv Gravity Meter would be set up, ensuring it is correctly levelled and recording. This data was then processed by Reid Geophysics to create a subsurface interpretation of the granite bodies, which has been modelled and collated by CRL with other relevant data. The Survey was used in conjunction with the soils and airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey, to identify potential granite upwellings, hidden by overlying geology. These Granite upwellings are the primary source for the tin, tungsten, copper, and other critical minerals needed for the UK’s green energy transition. The potential for at least two granitic bodies beneath the surface has been identified through this study. Geophysical surveys like this are a low cost, non-invasive way of undertaking regional mineral exploration, and when combined with other exploration methodologies can provide the basis for comprehensive exploration programs.
The gravity data and outputs will provide a key research tool, as well as an example case study for how future regional datasets could be collected to further enhance the understanding of the geology of Cornwall.
Deep Digital Cornwall: Collection of GPS location data as part of the gravity survey
BoxScan Analysis:
In March 2023 CRL hosted the Geotek BoxScan as part of the DDC project.
The BoxScan is an all-in-one core logging machine, using a range of sensors such as XRF, ASD, Magnetic Susceptibility, along with high resolution photography and laser scanning. CRL selected core from a borehole proximal to the primary mineralised system, to collect a wide range of geological data. In addition, structural datasets were provided to Geotek to help design, test and implement the use of BoxScan’s linescan tool, to record and log structural datasets within its workflow.
Deep Digital Cornwall: Use of Geotek Boxscan to collect multi-tool datasets of Redmoor's drill core.
The survey was undertaken by geologists at CRL, who had been adequately trained and certified for the use of all machinery and subsequent analytical apparatus. The process of analysis begins with core preparation, to ensure good data collection, the core to be scanned must be in good condition, therefore the core was aligned, meter marked, orientated, and cleaned. The core was then subsequently placed within the BoxScan system with the parameters of the drill core boxes and drill core type was inputted in to the BoxScan software, allowing the system to run through its various stages, beginning with laser scan, then the XRF, ASD and Magnetic Susceptibility, followed by the wet and dry high-resolution imaging. Sampling was applied consistently across the borehole and picking out areas of interest for detailed data collection.
The primary purpose of the survey was to collect a wide range of geological data from core stored at CRL’s office. The decision was taken to scan core which had been drilled adjacent to the main resource at the old Redmoor mine site. In total, 460m of core was scanned in a 12-day period. This provided a significant amount of new data for CRL geologists to review and interpret, allowing for a better understanding of all the relationships we see in the mineral deposit, and highlighting areas which had been overlooked in the past. These datasets will allow further research to be undertaken into ore genesis, structural relationships and geochemistry and how these can be applied to other potential resources in Cornwall.
Aerial Geophysical Survey:
Data is currently being processed and will be released in conjunction with DDC project partners in the near future.
The Deep Digital Cornwall project received up to £3,313,761 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.