South Australia's resources industry celebrates opening of new drill core library
The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) applauds the opening of the new Drill Core Reference Library today at Tonsley, which will house over 7.5 million metres of drill core material and the State’s extensive data metallogenica collection.
Jason Kuchel, Chief Executive of SACOME said “Bringing together South Australia’s drill core in this new facility is a huge boost to the continued development of our sector, and Tonsley the perfect location with its focus on mining and energy education and services.”
The library is a critically important resource for geoscience explorers, providing access to South Australia’s wealth of drill cores from past and recent exploration including core extracted over 100 years ago.
With most of South Australia’s ore bodies located deep under cover, access to data that could narrow or fine tune the search is important to reduce costs and fast track discoveries of the future.
“The vast majority of major deposits are discovered by junior explorers, whose resources are minimal even at the top of the cycle,” Mr Kuchel said. “The availability of an extensive drill core library is immensely valuable - and an integral part of the government support that helps make our State so attractive to resources focused investors and explorers.”
Terry Burgess, President of SACOME and Chair of the Tonsley development steering committee, presented at the official opening. He said “The State’s drill core library has been instrumental in many key discoveries, including Olympic Dam and also OZ Minerals’ Prominent Hill deposit.”
“In a clear illustration of the value of the facility, OZ Minerals has just released its annual results which revealed $24 million of royalties paid to South Australia over the 2015 reporting year. That one year of royalties, from one mine alone, represents the cost of this entire new facility,” Mr Burgess said. "Future discoveries will generate royalties for the State which will pay for the core library time and time again".
The State’s drill core library has also been instrumental in petroleum investment. It will continue to be a catalyst for future mineral and petroleum discoveries, enabling jobs, service opportunities and providing billions of revenue into the State from royalties and taxes.
Drill core was previously held at four locations throughout Adelaide, with the majority at a Glenside facility that had exceeded capacity. The new library has capacity for over 20 more years of samples.
The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) applauds the opening of the new Drill Core Reference Library today at Tonsley, which will house over 7.5 million metres of drill core material and the State’s extensive data metallogenica collection.
Jason Kuchel, Chief Executive of SACOME said “Bringing together South Australia’s drill core in this new facility is a huge boost to the continued development of our sector, and Tonsley the perfect location with its focus on mining and energy education and services.”
The library is a critically important resource for geoscience explorers, providing access to South Australia’s wealth of drill cores from past and recent exploration including core extracted over 100 years ago.
With most of South Australia’s ore bodies located deep under cover, access to data that could narrow or fine tune the search is important to reduce costs and fast track discoveries of the future.
“The vast majority of major deposits are discovered by junior explorers, whose resources are minimal even at the top of the cycle,” Mr Kuchel said. “The availability of an extensive drill core library is immensely valuable - and an integral part of the government support that helps make our State so attractive to resources focused investors and explorers.”
Terry Burgess, President of SACOME and Chair of the Tonsley development steering committee, presented at the official opening. He said “The State’s drill core library has been instrumental in many key discoveries, including Olympic Dam and also OZ Minerals’ Prominent Hill deposit.”
“In a clear illustration of the value of the facility, OZ Minerals has just released its annual results which revealed $24 million of royalties paid to South Australia over the 2015 reporting year. That one year of royalties, from one mine alone, represents the cost of this entire new facility,” Mr Burgess said. "Future discoveries will generate royalties for the State which will pay for the core library time and time again".
The State’s drill core library has also been instrumental in petroleum investment. It will continue to be a catalyst for future mineral and petroleum discoveries, enabling jobs, service opportunities and providing billions of revenue into the State from royalties and taxes.
Drill core was previously held at four locations throughout Adelaide, with the majority at a Glenside facility that had exceeded capacity. The new library has capacity for over 20 more years of samples.
