The Elements of Innovation Discovered
The Elements of Innovation Discovered
Metal Tech News - August 16, 2024
Fleet Space Geodes are geophysical sensors that communicate with each other and deliver data to low-earth-orbit satellites.
A grid of Exosphere Geodes uses ambient noise tomography (ANT) geophysics to image buried rock formations and deliver the data to Fleet Space's low-earth-orbit satellites, where it is relayed to a ground station.
Insights provided by ExoSphere has elevated Silver Mountain to a top-priority exploration project for Eagle Mountain Mining.
In the two years since Fleet Space Technologies launched ExoSphere, this satellite-enabled mineral exploration technology has rocketed up the list of solutions for discovering the minerals critical to the energy transition – especially copper.
The list of companies deploying ExoSphere ranges from junior mineral exploration companies like Inflection Resources Ltd., which is leveraging an AI-powered mineral exploration solution to scan for buried copper deposits in Australia, to mining giant Barrick Gold Corp., which has deployed ExoSphere to gain a better understanding of the geology and copper potential in and around its world-class Reko Diq project in Pakistan.
Now, Australia-based Eagle Mountain Mining is leveraging the end-to-end mineral exploration solution offered by Fleet Space to enhance its data-driven copper exploration in Arizona, a state that accounts for 74% of U.S. copper production and is the seventh largest copper-producing jurisdiction in the world.
"We're proud to deploy ExoSphere to accelerate the geological understanding of the United States' premiere copper producing region and drive more sustainable outcomes across the exploration value chain," said Fleet Space Technologies CEO Flavia Tata Nardini.
ExoSphere is a Digital Age upgrade to the geophysical technologies that have helped mining companies discover mineral deposits buried beneath Earth's surface. Much like X-ray and MRI methods to see inside the human body, various geophysical techniques are used to scan for buried rock formations with the potential to be enriched with minerals.
Traditionally, geophysical surveys involved stringing out sensing equipment connected by miles of cables over the area being scanned or specialized equipment mounted to aircraft that fly over the prospective area.
The geophysical information retrieved is then physically transported to a location where geophysicists interpret the data and then forward the results to the exploration company – a process that often takes weeks before useable data is returned to the geologists on the ground.
Fleet Space's ExoSphere is showing that a combination of the latest space and digital technologies can simplify, accelerate, and improve upon the geophysical techniques that have been a mainstay of mineral exploration for more than five decades.
A grid of Exosphere Geodes uses ambient noise tomography (ANT) geophysics to image buried rock formations and deliver the data to Fleet Space's low-earth-orbit satellites, where it is relayed to a ground station.
ExoSphere combines a constellation of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) nanosatellites with earthbound sensors called Geodes, edge computing, and AI to carry out ambient noise tomography (ANT) geophysical surveys capable of delivering high-resolution 3D imaging to depths of 2,500 meters (more than 1.5 miles) below the surface.
This system offers several advantages when it comes to quickly and sustainably delivering high-quality 3D images of subsurface geology and then using that data to define targets for mineral exploration and deposit definition drilling.
Fleet Space's Geodes are hand-transportable, wireless, and battery-powered seismic sensors that are easy to deploy. Once sufficient ANT data is gathered by a grid of Geodes, these sensors use a technology known as edge computing to partially process the raw information before transmitting the streamlined data to Fleet Space's low-earth-orbit satellites. These satellites relay this information to a ground station that is able to deliver nearly real-time 3D mapping of mineral systems and AI-powered drill targeting with near-zero environmental impact.
This speedy delivery and data processing provides geological teams at remote mineral exploration projects access to real-time actionable insights.
"Space, 3D multiphysics, and AI are vital technologies that can make U.S. efforts to strengthen its domestic critical mineral supply chain faster and more scalable, while minimizing environmental footprint," said Nardini. "We're thrilled to bring the latest advances in these technologies and Fleet Space's deep expertise from the forefront of copper exploration globally to deliver unparalleled geological insights that further America's ambitions in AI, electrification, and clean energy technologies."
Eagle Mountain is leveraging ExoSphere to unlock the rich copper potential of its Silver Mountain project about 60 miles northwest of Phoenix, Arizona.
Silver Mountain lies along a corridor known for large porphyry copper deposits. Freeport-McMoRan's Bagdad Mine, which lies about 60 miles northwest of Silver Mountain, produces roughly 200 million pounds of copper per year, and the Resolution mine project being advanced by BHP and Rio Tinto about the same distance to the southeast hosts roughly 1.7 billion lb of copper in high-grade reserves.
Silver Mountain itself covers three significant prospect areas with the potential to host large porphyry copper deposits similar to those found at Bagdad and Resolution.
Complex sediment cover at Silver Mountain, however, has prevented several traditional geophysical surveys from reliably pinpointing deeper targets at the project. This led Eagle Mountain to leverage Fleet Space's ExoSphere solution to generate high-resolution 3D imaging of their deep target zones.
Insights provided by ExoSphere has elevated Silver Mountain to a top-priority exploration project for Eagle Mountain Mining.
The ExoSphere survey revealed new indicators of large-scale mineralized systems deep below the surface – which identified porphyry-style copper targets and surrounding alteration zones – vital features for defining potential mineralizing fluid and heat sources deep undercover.
"The real-time 3D imaging capabilities of Fleet Space's end-to-end solution, ExoSphere, helped us rapidly enhance our geological understanding of the Silver Mountain project, reduce uncertainty, and deliver multiple high-priority targets for further exploration," said Eagle Mountain CEO Tim Mason.
The satellite-enabled ANT survey also enhanced Eagle Mountain's understanding of regional structures thought to be controlling mineralization in the region, as well as identifying unknown large-scale porphyry copper targets in the project's unexplored western target zone.
The new in-depth understanding of the geology and the wider potential revealed by ExoSphere has elevated Silver Mountain to a top-priority exploration project for Eagle Mountain, which is accelerating its exploration of this promising copper exploration project in Arizona.
"The insights we gained from the ExoSphere survey have unlocked the geological potential of our Silver Mountain project, solidifying its place in our exploration strategy moving forward," said Mason.
With more than 16 years of covering mining, Shane is renowned for his insights and and in-depth analysis of mining, mineral exploration and technology metals.
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