Boost for resource sector as Perth Core Library extension completed

THE State Government’s $7.3 million extension of the Perth Core Library in Carlisle has opened and been welcomed as a boost to the resource sector.

The Department of Mines and Petroleum facility stores drill core samples that can be studied by researchers and explorers seeking new petroleum and mineral discoveries.

The previous capacity of more than 8500 pallets of core has been almost doubled to 15,300 pallets.

The world-class facility also has a new covered viewing area that provides confidentiality, a dedicated temperature-controlled area to house the HyLogger spectral scanner used to analyse drill core, and a conference room.

Geological Survey of Western Australia acting executive director Don Flint said this had prevented the possibility of the library running out of room for core samples through a massive increase in supply in recent years.

The surplus was due largely to the State Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme’s Co-Funded Drilling Program.

“Everyone involved in this project deserves congratulations for bringing it in on time and on budget,” he said.

“A 300 per cent increase in waiting times to view core has been a problem in the past 10 years, but this situation will be markedly improved by the upgrade.

“This is a red-letter day for GSWA, the resources sector and academia that celebrates the guarantee of the core library’s continuing invaluable contributions to geoscience and mineral and petroleum exploration in Western Australia.”

Mines and Petroleum Minister Sean L’Estrange said the library was a vital resource for geologists, other scientists and anybody who is interested in exploring for minerals and resources in Western Australia.

“The core library continues to expand and this $7.3 million extension enables us to add new mining exploration samples to the collection,” he said.

“We have also completed a new covered viewing area, as well as a dedicated area to house the state-of-the-art HyLogger spectral scanner used to analyse drill core.”

Mr L’Estrange said there had been a 300 per cent increase in viewing of core samples over the past 10 years and the added capacity and space would reduce current waiting times and make it easier to access the core samples.

“The pre-competitive geoscience information provided through the core library promotes the mineral and energy prospectivity of the State, and encourages innovative research and more targeted, lower-cost exploration for mineral and petroleum resources,” he said.