Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is introducing the latest capability of its iSURE® drill and blast software; iSURE Geo for development drilling. This new capability, Sandvik says, will enable miners to optimise the excavation process through geological data.

Designed to be used with Sandvik i-series development and tunnelling drills, iSURE Geo delivers real-time on-board analysis of the rock mass using information gathered from the drilling data.

iSURE Geo offers an easy-to-use solution to optimise the excavation process, anticipate potential challenges and improve safety through accurate geological information, the OEM says. It delivers improved understanding of the local geological environment for optimised underground development mining and tunnelling operations.

iSURE Geo takes full advantage of the drilling data through a rig-integrated on-board calculation and utilises extrapolation, visualisation and export of data to produce geological mapping information. iSURE Geo can assist to identify weakness zones requiring rock reinforcement, optimise the use of explosives, plan the optimal location for stope openings, reduce over- and under-break and provide comprehensive reporting.

During field testing at Agnico Eagle’s Kittilä mine in northern Finland, iSURE Geo was used to validate the existing rock mass condition data and take the precision of geological information to the next level by creating detailed three-dimensional imagery of the rock conditions and geological properties of the area.

Alexandra Heller, Structural Geologist, Agnico Eagle, said: “Sandvik iSURE Geo provided us with valuable additional information on the mine geology; the precision was astonishing. iSURE Geo information is important for mine infrastructure development as well, serving both production and safety aspects.”

Eemeli Bergström, Structural Mapping Geologist at Agnico Eagle, sees the most value for Kittilä mine in getting very precise data. “I would say that the most important benefit of iSURE Geo is that we are getting very good quality confirming data for our use,” Bergström said. “It is both a productivity and a safety factor.”