Discovery |

Zircon Knows: Smarter Ore Exploration Through Machine Learning

Using the trace chemistry of zircon, researchers accurately predicted the source rock type—even without visible geological context.
Random Forest models achieved over 90% accuracy in classifying both igneous rocks and ore deposits from zircon element data.
Just eight elements in zircon—including hafnium, uranium, and yttrium—are enough to map mineral systems and guide exploration.

Wen, Z.-H., Li, L., Kirkland, C.L., Li, S.-R., Sun, X.-J., Lei, J.-L., Xu, B. & Hou, Z.-Q. (2024). A machine learning approach to discrimination of igneous rocks and ore deposits by zircon trace elements. American Mineralogist, 109(6), 1129–1142. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2022-8899.

Geochemistry

Geoinformatics and Geocomputing

Resource Geoscience

Listen to the Podcast

CFIGS · CFIGS Research Spotlight - Episode 25 (Zircon Knows: Machine Learning for Smarter Ore Exploration)

Linked Products & Services:

Machine Learning & AI for Geological Materials

Mineral Trace Element Analysis

How heavy minerals reveal climate and weathering histories

Go to Paper

A continental-scale heavy mineral data set captures both geological origin and environmental overprint, allowing distinction between source rock signals and climate-driven mineral alteration across Australia.
Weathering and sediment storage significantly reshape heavy mineral signatures, with labile minerals like apatite rapidly lost in warm, wet, or low-relief environments.
Mineral indices provide a tool to map palaeo-weathering intensity, offering a way to evaluate sediment reworking and upgrading of Ti–Zr–REE placer deposits in ancient landscapes.

Dröllner, M., Barham, M., Kirkland, C.L., Zametzer, A. & Schulz, M. (2025). Australian continental‐scale heavy mineral patterns track climate, weathering and erosion. Sedimentology, 72(5), 1430–1452. https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.70008.

Regolith and Sedimentology

Resource Geoscience

Listen to the Podcast

CFIGS · CFIGS Research Spotlight - Episode 24 (Tracking Weathering in Heavy Minerals)

Linked Products & Services:

Particle Analysis

Precise positioning from commercial broadband satellites

Go to Paper

Differential Doppler models using broadband signals from multiple low Earth orbit constellations, such as Starlink and OneWeb, achieved positioning accuracies under 0.5 m in ideal test conditions.
Even with 15-second signal bursts and 30° elevation limits, models maintained sub-meter accuracy, proving feasibility despite commercial satellite constraints.
Signal degradation was primarily due to free space attenuation, while atmospheric losses from clouds and fog were negligible.

Allahvirdi-Zadeh, A., El-Mowafy, A. & Wang, K. (2025). Doppler positioning using multi-constellation LEO satellite broadband signals as signals of opportunity. NAVIGATION, 72(2). https://doi.org/10.33012/navi.691.

Geoinformatics and Geocomputing

Geomatic Engineering

Listen to the Podcast

CFIGS · CFIGS Research Spotlight - Episode 23 (Precise Positioning Without GPS)

Linked Products & Services:

Satellite Positioning and Navigation Consulting, Specialised Solutions and Technical Services

Positioning and Navigation Solutions

Epithermal mineral systems along the inferred final Nuna suture

Go to Paper

A lithospheric-scale, west-dipping fault system—termed the Empress Suture Zone—likely marks the final Nuna suture and acted as a long-lived pathway focusing fluids into the shallow crust.
Post-orogenic gold-silver-lead-zinc mineralization occurred at ca. 1550 Ma and was probably reactivated in the Permo–Carboniferous (ca. 330–250 Ma).
Geochemistry and mineralogy reveal characteristics of a low-sulfidation epithermal system, including quartz–sericite alteration and gold-to-silver ratios around 1.

Olierook, H.K.H., Affleck, R.G., Evans, N.J., Jourdan, F., Kirkland, C.L., Volante, S., Nordsvan, A.R., McInnes, B.I.A., McDonald, B., Mayers, C., Frew, R.A., Rankenburg, K., d’Offay, N., Nind, M. & Larking, A. (2021). Mineralization proximal to the final Nuna suture in northeastern Australia. Gondwana Research, 92, 54–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2020.12.017.

Geochemistry

Geochronology

Resource Geoscience

Listen to the Podcast

CFIGS · CFIGS Research Spotlight - Episode 22 (Epithermal Mineral Systems Along the Nuna Suture)

Linked Products & Services:

U–Pb Geochronology

Ar-Ar Geochronology

Whole Rock Geochemistry Interpretation

Rift on the Move - Fault timing repositions northern Perth Basin depocentres

Go to Paper

Rifting along the northern Perth Basin migrated south in pulses from the late Carboniferous to the early Cretaceous, shifting depocentres and fault activity.
Many north–south faults in the south initiated later (Jurassic to early Cretaceous) while east–west faults in the north became continuous in the late Triassic to early Jurassic.
Four time‑slices of sedimentary basin fills show shifting extension directions and segmentation.

Watts, C., Elders, C., O'Mara, M., Timms, N.E. & Olierook, H.K.H. (2025). Fault timing and depocentre development in the northern Perth Basin during the evolution of the East Gondwana rift. Gondwana Research, 147, 147–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2025.06.011.

Regolith and Sedimentology

Resource Geoscience

Structural Geology and Tectonics

Listen to the Podcast

CFIGS · CFIGS Research Spotlight - Episode 21 (Rift on the Move)

Linked Products & Services:

Sediment core processing

Geoscience Research Writing, Editing, and Scientific Support

Hidden Copper Clues: Multi-stage fluid history at Nifty revealed by apatite and monazite chronology

Go to Paper

Two major copper-bearing fluid events identified: ca. 810 Ma and ca. 640 Ma, revealing a complex, multi-phase mineralisation history at the Nifty Cu deposit.
Hydrothermal apatite chemistry suggests Cu-mobilising alkaline, low-salinity fluids enriched in medium rare earth elements—similar to Olympic Dam.
Monazite textures and ages show late-stage Cu remobilisation, potentially linked to regional granitic magmatism during the Ediacaran (ca. 640 Ma).

Ribeiro, B.V., Kirkland, C.L., Hartnady, M.I.H., Martin, E.L., West, E. & Polito, P. (2023). Multi-stage alteration at Nifty copper deposit resolved via accessory mineral dating and trace elements. Precambrian Research, 388, 107018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2023.107018.

Geochemistry

Geochronology

Resource Geoscience

Listen to the Podcast

CFIGS · CFIGS Research Spotlight - Episode 20 (Hidden Copper Clues)

Linked Products & Services:

U–Pb Geochronology

Mineral Trace Element Analysis

Petrochronology

Discovery

Discover our solutions

Discovery

Zircon Knows: Smarter Ore Exploration Through Machine Learning

Listen to the Podcast

Linked Products & Services:

How heavy minerals reveal climate and weathering histories

Listen to the Podcast

Linked Products & Services:

Precise positioning from commercial broadband satellites

Listen to the Podcast

Linked Products & Services:

Epithermal mineral systems along the inferred final Nuna suture

Listen to the Podcast

Linked Products & Services:

Rift on the Move - Fault timing repositions northern Perth Basin depocentres

Listen to the Podcast

Linked Products & Services:

Hidden Copper Clues: Multi-stage fluid history at Nifty revealed by apatite and monazite chronology

Listen to the Podcast

Linked Products & Services:

Filter

Topics

Service Request

Your quote cart is empty