MINERAL EXPLORATION
borders , and at military and critical infrastructure sites .
Stuart J Rabin , Chairman of Decision Sciences , says the opportunity to collaborate with KoBold , on top of the lessons learned from the development and sale of the Discovery system into the security , nuclear energy and infrastructure / tunnelling markets , bodes well for the system ’ s introduction to mining .
DSIC ’ s proposed solution will enable KoBold , an advocate of the use of AI for mineral exploration , to harness a new and unique source of data as a key input for its subsurface models of mineral deposits , it says . The data generated will enable the reconstruction of underground density signatures , enhance KoBold ’ s decisionmaking process and accelerate the development of mineral resources , DSIC added .
Kurt House , KoBold ’ s CEO , stated : “ Muon imaging is a powerful technique that allows us to peer deep beneath the earth ’ s surface and see underground ore deposits in new and innovative ways . We are pleased to partner with DSIC to adapt their leading muon imaging capabilities to fit the mineral exploration and mining industry .”
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DSIC and KoBold are not the only companies collaborating on the use of muon tomography for mineral exploration .
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Canada-based Ideon Technologies , for example , recently introduced its supernovapowered solution for exploration , confirming successful deployment of a muon tomography imaging program at Fireweed Metals ’ MacMillan Pass ( Macpass ) project in the Yukon Territory of Canada .
The REVEAL™ for Exploration solution allows mining companies to , Ideon says , precisely target and delineate subsurface features , at depth , on remote greenfield sites like Macpass or in the complex operational environment of active brownfield mine sites . It delivers a high-volume , high-resolution , high-velocity Earth model that can improve the accuracy of density mapping and drill targeting , expedite geological modelling and directly inform mine planning – maximising the potential for discovery and costeffective recovery of metals – Ideon says .
The Ideon REVEAL for Exploration solution is being applied at
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Macpass at depths of 400-600 m to map density at metre-scale resolution over a volume of 1 billion cu . m during the winter season . The goal is to identify and map new targets for drill testing during Fireweed ’ s summer 2025 exploration campaign .
The Macpass project hosts several large zinclead-silver deposits within the 940
The Ideon REVEAL for Exploration solution is being applied at Macpass at depths of 400-600 m to map density at metre-scale resolution over a volume of 1 billion cu . m during the winter season
sq . km property and is recognised as one of the world ’ s largest undeveloped primary zinc districts .
This is the world ’ s first borehole muon tomography system deployment north of 60 ° latitude , Ideon claims .
“ We are committed to leading the way in the application of innovative technology to accelerate our work in Canada ’ s North ,” Jack Milton , VP Geology at Fireweed Metals , says . “ Collaborating with Ideon , we can identify high-priority drill targets without extensive exploratory drilling , improving the cost-efficiency of drilling out deposits in our short seasons on-site , and maximising our chances of exploration success . “ The system is imaging passively over the winter and will directly inform where we begin our work next summer . Not only does this approach help us reduce surface disturbance and overall exploration footprint , but we also see the potential to discover new zones that may have escaped detection using more traditional exploration methods .”
Ideon harnesses the energy from supernova explosions in space to image deep beneath the Earth ’ s surface . Using muons , Ideon creates highresolution 3D density models that help geologists identify , map and characterise mineral deposits and other geological anomalies , it says . The Ideon REVEAL for Exploration solution consists of an advanced suite of proprietary datageneration hardware , software , AI-powered services and multi-physics fusion algorithms that , Ideon says , unlock the exponential power of integrated spatial data .
“ We will be leveraging this powerful combination to extract maximum value from multiple data sets ,” adds Milton . “ Ideon will be integrating a site-wide gravity survey in a multi-
34 International Mining | FEBRUARY 2025