New Airborne Methods and Procedures for the Exploration of Mineral Resources - An Overview of BGR Activities

One of the major tasks of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR – Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe) is to contribute to a sustainable future supply for Germany with minerals for industrial use. Part of the BGR’s strategy is to develop innovative ways of mineral exploration. The presented study focusses on airborne technologies, being applied and developed in ongoing projects. The methods used can be classified in established methods and newly evolving systems. The repertoire of established methods includes airborne electromagnetics, magnetics, radiometry and hyperspectral imaging. Systems based on latest technologies are full tensor magnetic gradient (FTMG) systems and audio-frequency magnetics (AFMAG) systems. Since a single airborne system usually cannot reveal the whole complexity of mineral bearing structures, new combinations of survey systems are being tested and new techniques are under development. The projects used to demonstrate and develop new systems, combinations and designs are E3 (Ore exploration in the Ore Mountains of Saxony, Germany), HYPGEO (New procedures for exploration of mineral raw materials using hyperspectral and geophysical sensing systems) and DESMEX (Deep Electromagnetic Sounding for Mineral Exploration). HYPGEO is being introduced as a new conceptual project combining different sensing systems and resources of BGR and partners.