WA exploration supercharged by next-gen tech

The WA Government has unveiled a next-generation spectral scanner to accelerate resource discovery across the state.

Developed by CSIRO, the new HyLogger 4 system replaces the ageing HyLogger 3. It captures high-resolution data from drill core samples, allowing users to rapidly analyse geology and improve resource targeting.

Since its commissioning in 2009, the HyLogger 3 processed more than 600,000m of drill core from more than 2,000 drill holes across WA.

Though the HyLogger 3 offered reliable mineralogical data, the updated HyLogger 4 delivers higher-resolution capture and enhanced analytical capabilities, improving the detection and understanding of mineralisation undercover.

WA Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael says the upgrade strengthens the state’s ability to deliver precompetitive data industry relies on to plan exploration programs and reduce risk.

“The WA Government’s investment in geoscience infrastructure is accelerating exploration, creating regional jobs and supporting critical mineral supply chains for the global energy transition,” he said.

The new system also enables the WA Mines, Petroleum and Exploration Department (DMPE) to continue supplying high-quality data to the National Virtual Library Core — the world’s largest online drill core database, with more than 1,600km of data accessible worldwide.