MINERAL EXPLORATION
availability , which is a critical measurement for resource definition in applications such as in-situ recovery or brine extraction .
“ In the next 12 months , we will be piloting our downhole assay tool – which takes a fundamentally different , and simpler , approach to downhole assaying than other market offerings and we are confident will be significantly more reliable and workflow-aligned as a result ,” he added .
Leckie concluded : “ With a global team of over 50 engineers working across our Orebody Intelligence portfolio , we are looking to make Orica a global leader in the space .”
ERG ’ s Nomadic exploration tool
Eurasian Resources Group ( ERG ) is looking to change the early-stage mineral exploration process with a ground-breaking smart exploration rover , NOMAD , launched recently at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia .
A remotely-operated soil sampling robot , NOMAD has been specifically designed to thrive in challenging terrains , such as those found in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , as well as contribute to a smarter , greener and more sustainable economy .
NOMAD , based on Mars rover technology and developed by ERG Technology Intelligence , a division of ERG , incorporates three core elements that , according to the company , makes it fit-forpurpose in exploration contexts : n A remote , all-wheel drive semi-autonomous navigation system , key to navigating the Kingdom ’ s challenging terrain ; n The inclusion of a multi-sensor platform that allows for efficient and immediate scanning of samples , integral to efficient , safe and methodical sampling ; and n A built-in , percussion soil drill that drills 800 mm into the earth ’ s surface , to fast-track sampling and transfer to scanning trays . These features boost efficiency by taking more than 120 samples per day , which , the company says , is a major improvement on the maximum of 30 samples that can be achieved manually .
“ With rising temperatures and increasingly arduous geological work conditions , NOMAD can perform formerly manual work more safely and proficiently , while allowing exploration of larger surface areas at pace ,” the company explained .
Chile-based robotics company Godelius has partnered on the NOMAD development , while the unit incorporates Geotek ’ s BoxScan multi-sensor platform , which includes a BoxScan X-ray Fluorescence sensor for chemistry analysis , a hyperspectral sensor for mineralogy assessment , a magnetic susceptibility laser profiler for magnetic property analysis and a high-resolution line scan imagery solution for detailed visual data .
“ This solution was chosen strategically based on their comprehensive range of exploration capabilities as a multi-element geochemistry solution ,” Aaron Baensch , Head of ERG Technology Intelligence , told IM . “ NOMAD ’ s uniqueness lies in its integration of these sensors in a single , mobile , fit-for-purpose drilling and scanning unit , making it the first of its kind to combine these advanced technologies .”
Once samples are collected by NOMAD , it returns to a central , remote , mobile analysis base station that houses the robots and re-charges the batteries that power them . The base station , part of ERG Arabia ’ s complete end-to-end smart exploration solution , conducts analysis of the collected sample on site , working to fast-track operations , by helping the geology teams on the ground to make decisions in real time .
“ This level of agility is integral to developing a more responsive and sustainable mining sector ,” ERG says .
Baensch added : “ With NOMAD , we aim to analyse a wide range of characteristics beyond just ore grade , including : elemental composition , mineralogy , magnetic properties and visual data . The units are equipped with low-level sensitivity sensors to detect even trace amounts of elements and minerals .”
The unveiling of the first NOMAD follows successful field testing in Ad Dawadmi , a location