The Elements of Innovation Discovered
The Elements of Innovation Discovered
Metal Tech News - October 23, 2024
Rio Tinto is utilizing Fleet Space's cutting-edge ExoSphere technology to map the subsurface below the salt flats at its Rincon lithium project in Argentina.
Fleet Space Technologies' LEO satellites collect streamlined geophysical data directly from ground-based sensors and relay that information to a ground station to quickly create 3D subsurface maps of the area scanned.
Toward its longstanding commitment to finding a better way to provide the minerals and metals the world needs, Rio Tinto is leveraging Fleet Space Technologies' satellite-enabled ExoSphere mineral exploration solution to gain greater insights into what lies below the surface at its Rincon lithium mine project in Argentina.
"Rio Tinto and Fleet Space share a commitment to pioneering breakthrough technologies to make net-zero a reality," said Fleet Space Technologies CEO Flavia Tata Nardini.
Since acquiring Rincon in 2022, Rio Tinto has been focused on developing a small starter plant there capable of producing 3,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate per year as a first step to a much larger full-scale operation it envisions for the project.
"Rincon strengthens our battery materials business and positions Rio Tinto to meet the double-digit growth in demand for lithium over the next decade, at a time when supply is constrained," said Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm.
Rio Tinto reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its lithium business with a $6.7 billion deal announced earlier this month to acquire Arcadium Lithium, which has two operating mines and two development projects in Argentina.
As Rio Tinto positions itself to become a major lithium producer in Argentina, the global mining company is utilizing Fleet Space's cutting-edge ExoSphere mineral exploration technology to gain a better understanding of the bigger potential at Rincon.
ExoSphere is an end-to-end mineral exploration solution that leverages Fleet Space's constellation of low-earth-orbit (LEO) nanosatellites, earthbound sensors called Geodes, edge computing, and AI to carry out ambient noise tomography (ANT) geophysical surveys to scan rock formations buried up to 2,000 meters below Earth's surface.
Much like MRI scans allow doctors to see inside the body, ANT geophysical surveys provide geologists with a 3D map of buried rock formations – a useful tool for finding deposits of cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel, and other critical metals that are hidden from view.
Fleet Space Technologies' LEO satellites collect streamlined geophysical data directly from ground-based sensors and relay that information to a ground station to quickly create 3D subsurface maps of the area scanned.
By streamlining geophysical data acquisition, processing, and integration, coupled with the delivery of AI-enabled 3D, ExoSphere enhances the quality of the data collected, accelerates the ability to make exploration decisions based on the data, and helps to minimize environmental footprint across the lifecycle of a mineral project.
Rio Tinto is using this modern exploration technology to develop 3D subsurface maps that will show the depth of the lithium reservoir and brine-influencing structures across 39 square miles (100 square kilometers) of the Rincon project's salt flat, as well as nearby subvolcanic (igneous rocks at shallow depths) structures.
"We are proud to deploy ExoSphere's real-time multiphysics capabilities in support of Rio Tinto's data-driven exploration for energy transition minerals," said Nardini. "We look forward to bringing the latest innovations in spacetech, 3D multiphysics, and AI to unlock new insights, predictive capabilities, and sustainability benefits to support the development of a world-class operation at Rincon."
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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