Research Facility/Centre | Hyperspectral Scanning Unit (HSU)
Institution:
Location:
St. John's
The Hyperspectral Scanning Unit (HSU) is a mobile laboratory that offers world-class, high-resolution hyperspectral imaging capabilities over most currently accessible EM spectral ranges, spanning the Visible Near Infrared (VNIR) to the Longwave Infrared (LWIR) regions. The primary focus of the HSU will be to investigate geological materials, but there are no restrictions on the type of samples that can be analyzed – from organic samples to industrial materials.
Working in close collaboration with our mining industry partners, the HSU will primarily investigates mineralogical or other physico-chemical variability within geological samples. The HSU is designed to quickly scan diamond drill core using a 5 camera system with a scanning speed of a single box (1.5 m long) in under a minute. Other sample types, including hand samples, blast hole cuttings, and thin section offcuts can also be scanned and characterized using the HSU system. Providing a better understanding of the geology and mineralogy of a mineral deposit will allow our partners to improve their processes, from initial exploration stages through to final ore-processing and even end-of-mine-life reclamation.
- In-house hyperspectral scanning
- Hyperspectral data analysis
- Characterization of deposit geology (allowing vectoring towards mineralization)
- Applied research in ore-processing
Current equipment and capabilities:
The HSU system is currently equipped with five hyperspectral cameras capable of scanning wavelengths within the 400–5000 nm and 8000–12000 nm ranges, an RGB camera, and a 3D profiler.
| Equipment | Spectral range | Minerals | Other |
| Visible-Near Infrared (VNIR) | 400–1000 nm | REE-bearing minerals | – |
| Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) | 1000–2500 nm | Hydrated minerals | Oil |
| Midwave Infrared (MWIR) | 2500–5000 nm | Carbonates | Plastic, wood, vegetation, food products |
| Longwave Infrared (LWIR) | 8000–12000 nm | All silicates | – |
| RGB | – | – | Core box images |
| 3D profiler | – | – | 3D core profile |
The spectral response of a specific material is related to the elemental makeup of that material. Because of this, the equipment used for each project will be chosen based on the needs of the partner and the materials being scanned. The data provided will be project specific and could include:
- Processed data displaying the minerals or material of interest
- Raw data
- High-quality RGB images
- 3D profiler data
