National Virtual Core Library

The National Virtual Core Library (NVCL) is a collaborative infrastructure project with AuScope, an institution that promotes the use of innovative infrastructure to produce and deliver geoscientific data. The purpose of the NVCL is to improve our understanding of the geology of the uppermost 2 km of the continent's crust.

The Geological Survey of NSW (GSNSW) has a NVCL node at the W B Clarke Geoscience Centre, Londonderry, NSW. The NVCL project uses the CSIRO-developed HyLogger™ drillcore scanning system for imaging and acquiring spectral information about rock, ore and alteration minerals in drillcore, chips and pulps. The images and data are archived within the NVCL so that mineral explorers and researchers can view and download them via the internet. The node has its own portable X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence  instruments for supporting NVCL projects and validating HyLogging data.

The work program is guided by exploration industry requests and research priorities of the GSNSW. The exploration industry has shown strong interest and several companies are collaborating with the project.  A drillcore imaging and spectroscopic scanning service is available to industry.

Project update

NSW NVCL Drillcore Status
Click to enlarge

As of 2021, over 682 drillholes have been scanned, equivalent to 174 km of core and chips. The data collected is uploaded to the AuScope Discovery and AusGIN Geoscience portals and will continue to be populated with high resolution hyperspectral data and corresponding photo-logs of scanned drillcore. As of April 2021, over 598 drillhole datasets are available for download from the portals.

During 2020-2021, projects were conducted at Southern Nights-Wagga Tank McPhillamys and scanned with the HyLogger^™ to help in the characterisation of alteration associated with mineralisation in shear-hosted mineral systems. Commonwealth (NCRIS2) funds were used to transport this core from regional NSW to the core library in Londonderry.

NSW NVCL Drillcore information can be viewed via MinView.

• AuScope Discovery Portal
• AusGIN Geoscience Portal
• Drillcore scanning services - HyLogger^TM

For further information please email phil.blevin@planning.nsw.gov.au.