Tellus makes Northern Ireland the most surveyed part of the planet
Wednesday, 17 October 2007The Tellus Survey reveals a wealth of new information about the natural resources of Northern Ireland, including platinum, gold, sand, gravel and gas.
The Tellus Project, a unique scientific initiative which commenced in 2004, involved a land-based geochemical survey and an airborne geophysical survey.
The initial findings from the Survey were announced to delegates at the two-day Tellus conference at W5, the interactive discovery centre at Odyssey in Belfast.
Speaking at the conference today, Economy Minister Nigel Dodds said: “Northern Ireland is now the most surveyed part of the planet. The geological data generated from the Tellus Project will help to develop Northern Ireland’s economy. All economies depend to some extent on the availability of natural resources. Development cannot take place without natural resources. Similar surveys in other countries, such as Australia, have resulted in significant increases in inward investment.
“The data will provide excellent opportunities for future scientific research in Northern Ireland, both within our universities and through public-private partnerships.
“The project will have a major informative impact on Northern Ireland’s economic, environmental, agricultural and health sectors for years to come. This research will make a significant contribution to the development of long term policy planning.”
Director of the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI), Garth Earls, said the research would benefit the economy, the environment and animal health policies.
Mr Earls said: “Volumes of new data have been collected that will inform our understanding and management of the natural environment and the impact of human activities. As research findings are analysed, GSNI will be engaging with interested parties, including the farming and business communities, to inform them of the significance of the project’s data, which will help shape decisions on various aspects of Northern Ireland’s future.”
A selection of Tellus Survey findings:-
Precious Metals - The Tellus survey has generated new detailed maps of Northern Ireland, from the surface down to depths of several kilometres. This data provides new information about the possible presence of precious metals such as gold and platinum.
Other Minerals - Aggregates like sand and gravel, which are an important natural resource for our construction industry, have been better defined.
This new data will attract interest from potential investors, for example, international exploration companies. Such investment will further develop the Northern Ireland economy. The data also provides a geochemical baseline, meaning the environmental impact of any future development can be more accurately monitored.
Energy Resources - New geophysical data integrated with existing geological maps will produce improved models of the Earth’s structure. This will help identify new areas for gas exploration in Northern Ireland. Indigenous gas reserves would both boost the economy and help maintain the security of Northern Ireland’s energy supplies.
Geological storage of CO2 - This new data will provide a springboard for further study of suitable sites in Northern Ireland for the possible long term storage of carbon dioxide (CO2). By storing CO2 underground, the carbon released from burning fossil fuels is returned to the earth, rather than released into the atmosphere. This is an important possibility in the race to significantly reduce greenhouse gases and help mitigate climate change and ocean acidification.
Heavy Metals - The Tellus project has produced the first Belfast-wide survey of soil chemistry. Initial results show that Belfast, once a heavy industrial centre, has much less lead and other heavy metals in its soils than many other former industrial centres across the United Kingdom.
Hot Rocks - Geothermal energy potential: the new improved geological maps resulting from the Tellus project will identify possible sources of heat in rocks close to the Earth’s surface. A potential deep heat source will increase our existing range of renewable energy options.
Animal Health - The Tellus geochemistry maps provide detailed information on trace elements present in the soil. Such data highlighting mineral deficiencies or toxicities are relevant to farmers, animal nutritionists, industry and veterinary practitioners.
The Tellus findings will be of interest to everyone concerned with the strategic management of the environment and natural resources in Northern Ireland. Delegates at the conference included planners, regulators and policy makers, central and local government officers, earth and environmental scientists and managers, environmental health officers, the agricultural industry and extractive and energy industries.
Dr Iain Stewart, presenter of BBC’s ‘Journeys from the Centre of the Earth’ and ‘Rough Science’ and academic contributor to several other programmes, all of which have widened the popular understanding of geology, was just one of the many distinguished speakers attending the conference.
A new exhibit on the natural resources of Northern Ireland and their importance to the economy was officially opened during the conference.
The survey results will be processed and published as maps and images on DETI Tellus website and will be available to interested parties. For further information and to register your interest in the Tellus conference visit www.tellus.detini.gov.uk, telephone 028 9038 8462 or email tellusconference@detini.gov.uk.
Notes to Editors:
1.Scientists from GSNI, the British Geological Survey and other organisations presented the first results of various applications of Tellus data in the fields of natural resources exploration and development, agriculture and environmental management.
2.GSNI was established in 1947 and, as part of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment provides geological expertise for government, industry and the public.
3.“Tellus” was the Roman goddess of the earth also called Terra Mater.
4.The aircraft being used in the survey was a white twin-engined De Havilland Twin Otter (3) with a distinctive red and white striped tail-plane and the registration letter OH-KOG.
5.It flew:
In daylight hours between Mondays and Saturdays;
Mostly in a north or north-west or south south-east direction
Along lines spaced 200m apart at an altitude of 55-90metres over rural areas and higher over towns
At a speed of approximately 130mph, with a noise similar to that of a passing lorry.
6.The land based geochemical field-sampling programme ran between 2004 -2006. The programme comprised of trained teams collecting soil, water and stream gravel samples every two square kilometres over Northern Ireland.
7.The airborne geophysical survey ran during the summer seasons of 2005 and 2006. It used a small aeroplane fitted with instruments to collect data on the magnetic and electrical properties of the earth.
8.An extensive awareness-raising campaign, involving schools, farming and equine organisations and other relevant parties was conducted.
9.Tellus is co-funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the EU Building Sustainable Prosperity programme.
10.For media enquiries, please contact the DETI press office on 028 9052 9297.
11.Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
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