Tag Archives: drill core scanning

Orexplore furthers critical mineral core scanning push with Green Critical Minerals, Northern Minerals agreements

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Mineral scanning technology company, Orexplore Technologies Limited, has made inroads into the critical minerals industry after signing two scanning agreements with companies from that sector and progressing an R&D project in collaboration with Uppsala University.

Green Critical Minerals has extended its engagement for a further 2,500 m of core scanning, in addition to 300 m already scanned in 2023 via Orexplore’s laboratory service. This order brings the total value of the engagement to approximately A$226,000 ($149,589) and encompasses scanning of graphite-bearing drill core and the delivery of ore-sorting evaluation, grade proxy modelling and emerging graphitic flake analysis solutions using the dataset captured by the company’s GeoCore X10® hardware, Orexplore says.

Green Critical Minerals is developing the McIntosh graphite project in Western Australia, which, it says, currently has the third largest graphite resource in Australia with 1.1 Mt of contained graphite.

Northern Minerals, meanwhile, has extended its engagement for an additional 900 m of core scanning, following the 420 m already scanned to date. This order brings the total value of the engagement to approximately A$130,000 and encompasses scanning of rare earth-bearing drill core and crushed samples. The project focuses on delivering two Orexplore solutions – ore-sorting evaluation and a proof of concept for operational grade control, the company said.

Northern Minerals is developing the Browns Range heavy rare earth project in Western Australia, which is currently the subject of a definitive feasibility study.

On top of these two agreements, Orexplore said its research and development on critical minerals accelerates with a project it is carrying out in collaboration with Uppsala University in Sweden having recently progressed to scanning samples from Talga Group Limited’s (ASX: TLG) Swedish resources. It has also received a development grant of A$77,000 for advancing a project on lithium scanning technologies with a Swedish lithium producer, which is supported by Sweden’s Vinnova innovation agency.

Orexplore Technologies wins GeoCore X10 drill core scanning contract from OZ Minerals

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Orexplore Technologies says it has signed a binding agreement valued at around A$2.35 million ($1.6 million) with OZ Minerals that will see the ASX-listed mineral scanning technology company deliver site-based drill-core and sample scanning services using its GeoCore X10® hardware and Orexplore Insight® software.

This work will support the testing of new data-driven processes focused on optimising resource, scale and value outcomes, the testing of innovative processes and technologies across the value chain, and exploration for new resources, Orexplore says.

Through the Think & Act Differently (TAD) incubator, OZ Minerals is running several study-stage investment review and screening processes, using its new Concept of Operations approach. Concept of Operations are commonly used in other sectors such as the space sector to rapidly test multiple new value chain options. To support this approach TAD has assembled an extended team to identify and test new flowsheet options and leverage open-source crowds to apply advanced data analytics to large data sets that will be generated.

The scope of Orexplore’s field deployment is focused on the scanning and analysis of approximately 30,000 m of historical drill core and samples on site, delivered across a period of approximately six months from an overall estimated 100,000 m of available core and samples. Subject to site conditions and the emerging requirements from the TAD team, additional site-based historical core and samples may be added to the scanning quantity, Orexplore says.

The scan results will be used by the TAD team to inform digital “enhanced resource models” that will feed an overall process and project optimisation simulation system as a tool to deliver accelerated options support and outcomes, it explained.

Orexplore’s Technology Platform comprises its field-sensing GeoCore X10 hardware product that rapidly extracts information from drilled core in less than 15 minutes per metre, and its Orexplore Insight software. The software enables remote geological decision makers anywhere to analyse and interpret results to improve orebody knowledge acquisition. This can potentially accelerate decision making across the mining value chain from exploration to operational improvements.

The company will deploy its Technology Platform to site in a self-sustained containerised unit that will be operated by on-site scanning technicians and support staff.

Orexplore’s Managing Director, Brett Giroud, said: “This agreement further demonstrates increasing demand for non-destructive, 3D information sourced rapidly from the field to inform decision processes. This deployment will seek to illustrate the value this can create within accelerated studies and the ability to provide additional support to techno-economic assessments.

“The in-field deployment of Orexplore’s patented Technology Platform provides an innovative new data set to OZ Minerals through the technology’s ability to ‘see through the core’ in addition to its full surface sensing capability. This unique combination can unlock a broad suite of information from deep within the core to further advance orebody knowledge.”

He concluded: “We remain focused on the commercialisation of our transformational Technology Platform through field deployments and laboratory scanning to unlock new value for our customers. The capability of the technology to power unique value propositions across the mining value chain is being demonstrated further, from our recent ‘x-ray eyes’ exploration decision support commercial deployment, to this innovative orebody knowledge solution for OZ Minerals. The company also continues to further advance additional potential applications for the technology such as emerging assay efficiency optimisation, grade control products and sustainability enablers.”

Minalyze CS drill core scanner heads to Intertek’s Global Centre of Excellence

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Intertek, a Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, has announced an agreement with Minalyze to install a Minalyzer CS patented drill core scanner at Intertek’s new Minerals Global Centre of Excellence in Perth, Western Australia.

The Minerals Global Centre of Excellence opened in July 2021, which consolidated Intertek’s Minerals operations into a single 19,000 cu.m building and houses over 500 employees. With the introduction of the Minalyzer CS, the centre’s state-of-the-art laboratory will support the mining and exploration industry allowing its customer’s geological data acquisition and access to related software for data visualisation, Intertek says.

John Fowler, Intertek’s Senior Vice President of Minerals and Exploration and Production, said: “Our new Minerals Global Centre of Excellence is designed to provide instant and efficient access to world-class technology, expertise and service. Incorporating the Minalyzer CS into this exciting new facility delivers on our commitment to investing in advanced technology to continuously improve quality, sustainability, safety, efficiency and deliver value for our clients.”

Minalyze CEO, Annelie Lundström, added: “We are excited for this new agreement with Intertek which demonstrates Intertek’s commitment to bring value to the industry through state-of-the-art technology and through the new Minerals Global Centre of Excellence in Perth. Our strategic collaboration provides our clients with the tools that will enable faster and more efficient discoveries needed for a sustainable green transition.”

Minalyzer CS is a scanner offering a contactless and non-destructive service able to generate geochemistry, high-resolution images, rock quality designation (RQD), structures, specific gravity and bulk density for drill cores and other drill samples. The patented scanner is designed for handling large volumes of drill samples and is capable of scanning drill cores directly in core trays. A laser (LiDAR) generates a 3D model of the topology of the core and trays, and enables the control and precision of the continuous XRF scanning. RQD and structures are also derived based on the 3D model.

The objective, continuous and consistent nature of the datasets as well as the high but compact data density generated by the scanning technology is paramount in machine learning and deep learning applications and approaches to geology, according to Minalyze.