PROJECT
Objectives project
The main goal of the NCBR project is the development and preparation for implementation in the period from the beginning of 2020 to the end of 2023 of a new, innovative method of exploratory geology called Neutrino Geology, used for the exploration of energy resources (crude oil or natural gas) and a large group important critical raw materials, eg rare earth metals or IOCG deposits [iron oxides, copper, gold].
Detailed objectives of the project:
Stage I of the Project (Year I)
research and development of a prototype of a 5-kilogram neutral particle detector and its tests
and calibration in laboratory conditions (as part of industrial research);
Stage II of the Project (Year II)
research and development of a prototype of a 50-kilogram neutron and neutrino detector and its tests. Commencement of the construction of a 500-kilogram neutrino detector and their tests and calibration in the nuclear reactor in Świerk (as part of industrial research);
We have currently built a 64 kg detector and tested it in winter 2022 in laboratory conditions in Świerk. We have built 3 variants of reading electronics. It was possible to register electronic noise (interference) 10 times lower than in the design assumptions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Świerk, tests with neutrons were delayed by 3 months. We built 128 electronics channels for the 500 kg neutrino detector and collected materials for its complete construction.
Stage III of the Project (Year III)
research and development of a prototype of a modular system of portable geo-neutrino detectors consisting of several 500-kilogram devices cooperating with each other as well as testing and calibration of selected modules at NCBJ Świerk and in field conditions (as part of development works).
Due to the reduction of costs and reduction of electronic noise, we managed to design a detector twice as large and thus twice as fast as in the design assumptions. Most of the electronic devices and the data acquisition system have already been built.
The essence of the Neutrino Geology solution is creating a three-dimensional image of the upper layer of the Earth's crust using mobile detectors based on the analysis of the geo-neutrino flux emitted during beta radioactive decay occurring in radioactive isotopes in the Earth's crust.
There are about 20 beta-decay long-lived radioactive isotopes in the crust, but the most important of them are four: 40K, 235Uranium (U), 238Uranium (U), and 232Tor (Th). The upper earth's crust is characterized by their diversified content and most of the geological structures from which mineral resources are extracted are distinguished by an increased U / Th content. For example, a high U / Th level correlates with a higher TOC (Total Organic Carbon) parameter and thanks to the identified correlation between the U / Th level and TOC, it is possible to estimate with high probability whether there are oil or natural gas deposits in a given location. Thanks to the Neutrino Geology method, the probability of the search success increases significantly. Due to the fact that the cost of exploration is mainly drilling, Neutrino Geology allows you to reduce the cost of obtaining oil by 10x.
The co-creator of the technology is Dr. AK Drukier, who, together with prof. L. Stodolski discovered the possibility of developing detectors with a significantly increased (by a factor of 10,000) active cross-section for interaction with neutrinos. This is possible thanks to the quantum process - coherent scattering, the use of which will reduce the mass of detectors from approx. 1000 tons to 1 ton, thanks to which the detectors will be mobile.
Mobile neutrino detectors guarantee the least invasive method of exploration geology. Our device is small, mobile and easy to install. By using our method, the search can be carried out with much less heavy equipment and manpower, thus saving the search area. Thanks to the precise measurement results of the detector can be reduced by up to 10 times also the number of
boreholes themselves that pose a serious threat to groundwater,
and local fauna and flora.
Planned effects
The main result of the project - a new method of Neutrino Geology exploratory geology - will be a process and product innovation. The method will be based on a system of mobile devices - geoneutrin detectors, with parameters and functionalities unprecedented on the market.
The innovativeness of the project results has a global dimension, as a method of searching for deposits based on the detection of geoneutrins has not been developed so far. In addition, 3 geoneutrin detectors operating in the world, weighing approx. 1000 tons each, cannot be used for active exploration of mineral deposits due to their huge mass and lack of mobility.
The innovative nature of the Neutrino Geology solution will translate into significant economic benefits for potential customers, i.e. domestic and foreign companies looking for mineral deposits. The developed method will allow:
◦ at least a 4-fold reduction in the period of exploration and reconnaissance works,
◦ reduce the cost of exploration and reconnaissance works by at least 5 times.
Its implementation will have a significant impact on the field exploration market.
Ultimately, Neutrino Geology will be used for exploration for deposits both on land and under water. As part of the Project, it is planned to fully prepare the technology for commercialization in terrestrial application (Technology Readiness Level - TRL IX). The development of a prototype of an underwater version of the neutrino detector will be made possible thanks to the funds raised by crowdfunding.
Neutrino Geology methods allow the cheap detection of new rare earth deposits and reduce strategic dependence (dependence on Russia and China). Our method will reduce the shortage of many critical materials. It is expected that the fraction of the energy generated in nuclear reactors in 2030-2040 will increase from 10% to about 20%. This will create a huge uranium / thorium deficit, the prices of which are rising very fast today. Our method allows a simplified search for shallow-lying and more accessible uranium and thorium deposits. For technical reasons (larger geo-neutrino flux), this could be the first product of Neutrino Geology.
Neutrino Geology will be used mainly at the stage of exploration for a deposit, both when the purpose of the exploration is to discover new, previously unknown deposits in a specific area, and when the goal is to document / exploit a deposit in the periphery or in the vicinity of an already known deposit.
Neutrino Geology can also be used at the deposit recognition stage, contributing to a significant reduction in the scope of drilling works and resulting in a significant reduction in exploration costs.
Neutrino Geology will be able to be used in a complementary manner to other methods of exploration for deposits, in particular seismics. Using Neutrino Geology, it will be possible to enrich seismographic maps with additional information related to e.g. with the content of elements whose deposits correlate with the content of U, Th in the earth's crust .
Project value
European Union's Contribution
The essence of Neutrino Geology
• Neutrino Geology is about creating a three-dimensional image of selected areas of the Earth's upper crust based on the analysis of neutrino flux emitted during beta radioactive decay occurring in radioactive isotopes located in the Earth's crust.
• In beta radioactive decay, the decaying nuclei emit electrons and neutrinos.
• The electron (positron) is relatively easy to detect, but has a short range (less than one meter).
• Neutrinos interact very weakly with matter, due to which they have a huge range, but at the same time they are difficult to register directly.
• Neutrino Geology will become practically possible thanks to the creation of portable detectors developed by Neutrino Geology, based on the patents of A.K.Drukier, who has been one of the world's leading specialists in neutrino detection for many years.
Correlation between the sources of neutrino emissions in the earth's crust and commercially significant
raw material resources
The concentration of neutrino-emitting isotopes in the Earth's crust is strongly correlated with the concentration of minerals of economic importance. Thanks to this, and thanks to the location of the sources of neutrino emissions, 18 out of the approximately 20 commercially most important geological structures (providing 80 percent of the value of the Earth's resources) can be detected.
Measuring ability
OF first generation detectors
• Based on the patent applications, Neutrino Geology is working on the development of a technology that allows the measurement of geo-neutrino fluxes at a given point using a portable detector placed there for a certain period of time.
• By using a 5-ton detector and a 7-day measurement period, statistically significant measurements can be made to detect 10 out of 20 economically most important geological structures.
• By moving the detectors to successive measurement points, it is possible to build a three-dimensional map of the concentration of geo-neutrino emission sources, with a spatial resolution similar to the distance between the nearest measurement points.