Winner of the International GoldCorp Challenge

The Challenge

On March 6, 2000, GoldCorp offered a challenge to exploration experts anywhere in the world, offering US $500,000 in prize money to help find the next 6 million ounces of gold at its high-grade gold mine at Red Lake, Ontario, Canada.

A valuable geological database as well as software to visualise and analyse the data was made available via the internet. Within a week, the website had received over 475,000 hits. More than 1,400 corporations, consultants, agencies and universities from 50 countries registered for the challenge.

An independent panel of judges reviewed the submissions and selected 25 semi-finalists who were awarded US $10,000 each. On March 12, the three finalists were announced.

Our Submission

Fractal Graphics (our company before we split into Fractal Technologies and Geoinformatics) and Taylor-Wall and Associates collaborated to develop a conceptual geoscientific understanding of the geology and mineralisation at Red Lake. A full three-dimensional geological model was constructed and visualised using FracSIS software.

Grade shells showing gold distribution were created and incorporated into the model along with magnetics "worm" interpretations, drillholes and existing Goldcorp models and maps. The report and models were initially presented as an electronic PDF document and hard copy report.

Judging and Results

After qualifying for the finals Fractal Graphics revisited and refined some of the models and interpretations. The presentation was resubmitted in interactive format including animations and images taken directly from the three-dimensional model. An updated PDF document was also submitted.

In the finals judging, Fractal Graphics was voted unanimously number one.