Mapping lithium pegmatites using hyperspectral imaging

Description

The rapid emergence of technologies related to transportation and renewable energy is responsible for the sharp increase in demand for lithium. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that lithium is the mineral with the fastest growing demand in the transition to clean energy.

This research project aims to improve and accelerate decision-making in lithium mining through the development of new rapid hyperspectral imaging methods for mapping spodumene pegmatites. The development of mineralogical identification tools for mining sites, based on high-resolution measurements characterizing pegmatite veins on a meter to decameter scale, will improve the efficiency of lithium ore processing. The innovative solutions developed as part of this project will be: 1) Designing the operational methodology for hyperspectral imaging at the mining site in order to characterize the ore and waste rock on the mining benches and the blasting products; 2) Creating a tool for automatic recognition of mineralogical spectral signatures using artificial intelligence (AI). This digital tool will be based on AI image analysis.

This project to map lithium pegmatites using hyperspectral imaging will fill the gap in ore characterization at the decameter scale between the microscopic (<1 mm) and macroscopic (<1-2 m) scales on the one hand, and regional mapping obtained by remote sensing, geophysical methods, and detailed mapping programs of weathered outcrops. At a safe distance of ~10 m, it is impossible, even for an experienced geologist, to visually estimate the proportion of spodumene in the mining face. Hyperspectral imaging will overcome this limitation without compromising worker safety. The decametric-scale mineralogy assessment will aim to provide accurate proportions and spatial distribution of the ore. The solution to be developed aims to enable technical staff to produce detailed mineralogy maps of the mining benches during their daily monitoring of mining production. This will result in a better understanding of the local distribution of mineralization at each mining site studied, particularly through 2D and 3D mapping of the three families of spodumene pegmatite veins. This information will be crucial for planning the development phases of the operation and the temporal stability of the composition of the mineralization that feeds the concentrator.

The ore analysis will be carried out directly by the student in the laboratories of Laval University using mineralogical and chemical measurements. Physicochemical characterizations using polarized light microscopy, electron microprobe, micro-XRF analyzer, portable XRF analyzer, and quantitative XRD will be performed at the university laboratory and will support the development of this innovative method.

- Contact details of three referees

The selection process will begin as applications are received and will continue until successful candidates have been identified.

Application Deadline

January 31, 2026