Laboratories and equipment for Ore Geology
Virtual Reality Lab
The virtual reality (VR) studio, which has two 4K projectors, is being used by researchers and students in areas such as 3D ore deposit modelling, construction, architecture, and mining and rock engineering.
In the studio, it is possible for example to create lifelike environments for urban planning and mining research. The VR studio will be rented by external actors for VR applications, workshops, meetings and presentations.
Software donation to Luleå University of Technology
Researchers in ore geology have obtained 10 licenses donated by Petroleum Experts Ltd - Petex. Valid in 2023 and 2024.
"The MOVE software suite is used for geological 3D-4D-modelling within our courses “GIS in Geosciences” and “Structural Geology” as well as a part of several MSc- and PhD-projects", says Tobias Bauer, Associate Professor in Ore Geology at the University.
Petroleum Experts Ltd (Petex) has donated 10 licences of the MOVE software suite, the commercial equivalent of which is £ 1,525.561.89 to Luleå University of Technology.
- PETEX External link, opens in new window.
Petroleum Experts Ltd
Merlin SEM-lab
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) is a technique where an electron beam under vacuum conditions is focused onto a solid sample surface. The electrons from the beam interact with electrons in the sample, generating different types of signals that can be detected and provide information about sample surface topography and chemical composition of the sample.
The electron microscope is a high-resolution (ca. 0.8 nm) Zeiss Merlin FEG-SEM, equipped with:
- double BSE detectors
- double SE detectors
- EDS (energy dispersive spectrometry)
- WDS (wavelength dispersive spectrometry)
For EDS/WDS analysis the Inca and Aztec softwares from Oxford Instruments are used.
Laser-Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
The Laser-Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) laboratory at LTU was established 2015-2016, and is jointly owned by the divisions of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering and Minerals and Metallurgical Engineering.
Laser-ablation ICP-MS is a state of the art technology which is being extensively used to study features such as trace-element zonation in pyrite crystals from various ore systems, and U–Th–Pb isotope dating of mineralization.
The technique is outstanding when it comes to measuring the in-situ concentration of trace elements, an application of growing importance as it becomes more essential to document the distribution and abundance of critical metals in ores. It was in hopes of being able to undertake just such studies in-house that prompted LTU to establish this new laboratory in 2015.
Unique dronemaps Sweden's geology
Environmental monitoring, detecting fractures in open-pit mines, and gathering crucial information about how ore deposits form. Luleå University of Technology's new custom-made drone is equipped with a camera and magnetometer and can be used for a wide range of purposes.
– Our new drone is used for both research and education. The drone helps us map the Swedish bedrock to understand how rocks and ore deposits have formed, says Joel Andersson, associated lecturer in Ore Geology at Luleå University of Technology
The drone, funded by the Boliden Foundation and the LKAB Research and Education Foundation, is called Hugin (Highly Useful GeoInformation) and is equipped with a magnetometer, a scientific instrument that measures the magnetization.
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