QGIS for Mineral Exploration

Overview

This course is offered again in March 2026. If you’re interested in attending the course next March please send an Expression of Interest. Registration will open late in 2025.

Delivery
Online & Interactive

Structure
4 x stand alone modules
Each module is 4.5 hours, inclusive of breaks

Course Leader Grant Boxer, FAIG, MGSA

Dates
Module 1
Tuesday 10 March
Introduction to QGIS

Module 2
Wednesday 11 March
Importing, Managing & Displaying Data

Module 3
Tuesday 17 March
Working with Drillhole, Geochemical & Geophysical Data

Module 4
Wednesday 18 March
Working with Satellite Data

Daily Session Times
9:00 to 13:30 AWST (Perth)
11:00 to 15:30 AEST (Townsville, Brisbane)
12:00 to 16:30 AEDT (Sydney, Melbourne)

Professional Development 4 hours per module

Participation in this course may contribute to the Continued Professional Development (CPD) requirements of professional institutes.

Registration Fees

Fees per module TBD
AUD inclusive of GST

EGRU Member
Non Member
AIG Member
Student (full-time)

Please send course enquiries to EGRU_training@jcu.edu.au.

Confirmation Date: Friday 20 February 2026

Content

Module 1

Introduction to QGIS

Tuesday 10 March 2026

Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of GIS

What is QGIS?
QGIS interface and menus
Menu bars, tool bars and panels
Selecting features and the attribute panel
Basic map making, use of templates and map legends, adding WMS
Creating a map and designing a print layout
Add map features, grid, scale bar, legend, north arrow
Duplicate layout and add geological map
Importing and display of field data (points, lines and polygons)
Adding field data from csv
CSV markers, layer properties
Creating forms and displaying photos

Module 2

Importing, Managing & Displaying Data

Wednesday 11 March 2026

Prerequisites: Completion of Module 1 or previous knowledge of QGIS

On-Line Sources for GIS data
gov.au, Landgate, DMIRS, Geoscience Australia
QuickMapServices plug-in
Basic editing skills, selecting data
Create points, lines and polygons
Importing GPX files
Importing SVG and style files, using the QGIS style manager
SVG geological pattern fills
Labelling
Spatial and non-spatial joins
Georeferencing images

Module 3

Working with Drillhole, Geochemical & Geophysical Data

Tuesday 17 March 2026

Prerequisites: Completion of Module 1 or previous knowledge of QGIS

Drill hole display using the Geoscience plugin
Geochemical data import, gridding, contouring and display
Geophysical data import, basic gridding and display
3D Visualisation using the QGIS2Threejs plugin
Spatial and non-spatial joins
Georeferencing images

Module 4

Working with Satellite Data

Wednesday 18 March 2026

Prerequisites: Completion of Module 1 or previous knowledge of QGIS

Satellite data, data sources, NASA and ESA data portals
Download, display and basic processing of ASTER and Sentinel 2 data
Band combinations for enhancing geology and regolith in satellite imagery

Course Leader: Grant Boxer

Grant is a consultant geologist based in Perth, Western Australia, with over 40 years’ experience in exploration and mining geology. For almost two decades he was employed by CRA Exploration, Argyle Diamonds and Rio Tinto Exploration on exploration and evaluation activities for diamonds and other commodities. Since 1998, Grant has been undertaking project generation, primarily for diamonds in Australia and overseas, carrying out GIS data compilations, project reviews, field visits, project management, and drilling and sampling program supervision.

Grant has a keen interest in GIS and remote sensing and has been a user of GIS since the mid-1990’s. He has been running QGIS courses tailored for geoscientists around Australia for many years, usually in association with the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Grant also has a keen interest in meteorite impact structures.

Grant is a RPGeo and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, member of Geological Society of Australia, the Geological Remote Sensing Group, and the Meteoritical Association.