Project: Tellus GeoChemistry Programme
Client: Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) a division of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC)
Business Sectors: Geochemical Surveying
Services (Technical Disciplines) : GSI is conducting a flagship project to sample and measure the geochemical characteristics of the surficial environment of Ireland. The Tellus geochemistry workstream commenced in 2011.
Aurum Exploration have been successful in a number of contracts since 2020, providing soil sampling acquisition services and more recently data QA/QC and project management services to the programme.
Project Objectives/ Outcomes: The Tellus geochemistry programme has the aim to produce spatial data to determine the geochemical baseline of shallow and deeper topsoil, stream sediment and stream water in predominantly rural Ireland. Once complete this freely available national data set, and archived sample material will see Ireland be one of the best geochemically mapped countries in the world.
Aurum Exploration’s ultimate objective was to provide seamless continuation of high-quality geochemical samples and data to the longstanding Tellus programme. Other objectives included advanced development and roll out of a multifaceted digital data capture system solution, streamlining workflow efficiencies in the field, at field manager QA/QC checking stage, for project manager quality and performance monitoring and clear real-time Client facing metrics.
Aurum Exploration Outcomes:
- Successful sample acquisition covering southern 50% of ROI, collecting samples from nearly 9000 individual survey grid cells (including the highest ground in the country and development of protocols to see continued safe working throughout challenges of COVID-19)
- Lowest Client sample quality rejection rates in programme history; with multiple survey blocks having zero such failures – a testament to Aurum Exploration’s internal QA/QC sample and data procedures and development of a robust bespoke digital data capture system solution
- Accelerated acquisition with nearly 6000 of Aurum Exploration surveyed sites collected in one calendar year, covering over 30% of the ROI land mass
- Sample acquisition of all Tellus geochemical urban sampling
- (Block G8 Dublin in 2020 and Block G12 comprising of four urban centres: Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Cork in 2024)
- Lowest Client sample quality rejection rates in programme history; with multiple survey blocks having zero such failures – a testament to Aurum Exploration’s internal QA/QC sample and data procedures and development of a robust bespoke digital data capture system solution
Our Role Aurum Exploration provides a specialist team to deliver:
- Project management services
- Specialist survey design planning and sampling strategy
- Technical training on sampling methodologies
- Data management services
- QA/QC of geochemical data services
- Community outreach
- Communications
