Tag Archives: Hillgrove Resources

SensOre signs DPT machine-learning tech pacts with Barton Gold, Deutsche Rohstoff

21st March 2022Base metals, Energy minerals, Mineral exploration, Mining software, Precious metalsArgonaut Resources, Aroha Resources, Barton Gold, copper, Deutsche Rohstoff, Gawler Craton, gold, Hillgrove Resources, Lithium, Richard Taylor, SensOreDaniel Gleeson

SensOre Ltd and its artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning DPT® technology are continuing to gain traction across the exploration sector, with the ASX-listed company having progressed work with Barton Gold Holdings Limited and Deutsche Rohstoff AG.

SensOre says its exploration tools predict the location and economic viability of deposits, generating information on endowment (size), grade and depth at a cell dimension small enough to quicken decision making and move directly from predicted target to drill testing cost effectively and with a narrower environmental footprint.

The company has, first, signed a terms sheet with Barton Gold to adapt and refine its Discriminant Predictive Targeting (DPT) technology to a circa-60,000 sq.km portion of the Gawler Craton in South Australia surrounding Barton Gold’s assets (pictured). The companies will focus on the targeting of gold and copper mineralisation.

Second, the company has agreed terms with Deutsche Rohstoff on the identification, acquisition and exploration of SensOre-generated lithium targets in Western Australia following what it says were “exciting results” from its first lithium-targeting program completed in December 2021.

The agreement with Barton is worth up to A$400,000 ($295,662) in co-funding to add data to the company’s South Australian data cube in the area surrounding Barton Gold’s tenements, with SensOre and Barton Gold operating in exclusive partnership on DPT targets generated in that area. Barton will also become a SensOre client and, subject to production from new gold and copper targets identified via DPT, SensOre will be entitled to additional royalty fees linked to gold ounces produced (or copper equivalent), it said.

Under the contract, Barton Gold will also join SensOre’s South Australian gold and copper prospectivity mapping initiative, which includes Hillgrove Resources, Argonaut Resources and Aroha Resources. The subsequent DPT engagement includes provision for integrating Barton Gold’s extensive data sets and deploying SensOre’s DPT in the area.

SensOre and Barton Gold will now advance the terms sheet to a detailed binding agreement ahead of commencement.

In the Western Australian lithium sector, meanwhile, SensOre stands to benefit from Deutsche Rohstoff as a partner through agreed targeting, acquisition and geological consulting fees for a minimum of eight accepted lithium targets, worth A$125,000 per target for a total of A$1 million.

The company will hold an initial participating interest of 30%, with Deutsche Rohstoff holding the balance. A preliminary budget of A$4 million has been agreed to fund exploration activity (A$2.8 million contributed by Deutsche Rohstoff and A$1.2 million by SensOre).

SensOre’s agreements with Deutsche Rohstoff and Barton Gold are the latest of several client engagements that leverage the potential of SensOre’s multidimensional Data Cube and AI-enhanced targeting technology, it said.

SensOre Chief Executive Officer, Richard Taylor, said: “We are excited to collaborate with Barton Gold who understand the tremendous upside potential that machine learning can bring to exploration and are already trialling machine learning technologies in the area including CSIRO’s machine-learning adaptive sampling platform. This partnership is an important milestone in offering Australia-wide prospectivity mapping and AI-enhanced minerals targeting to innovative explorers.”

He added on the agreement with Deutsche Rohstoff: “We look forward to collaborating with Deutsche Rohstoff to find the mines of tomorrow to reinforce Europe and Australia’s supply chain of battery and critical minerals needed to underpin global energy transition demand.”

Master Builders Solutions reinforces decline work at Hillgrove’s Kanmantoo

18th November 2021Base metals, Explosives and blasting, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Mining techniquesground supporting, Hillgrove Resources, Kanmantoo, Komatsu, Master Builders Solutions, Pybar Mining Services, rock anchors, Sika, Strata ConsolidationDaniel Gleeson

Master Builders Solutions has helped the team at the Kanmantoo copper mine in South Australia speed up the excavation of its new decline portal by supplying fast-reacting, instantly thickening anchoring resin.

Kanmantoo, owned by Hillgrove Resources, is currently going through the initial stages of developing an underground operation at the former operating open-pit mine. It has employed a Komatsu MC51 to excavate a circa-500 m decline, with the continuous cutting trial focused on demonstrating the commercial viability of the machine and trial new materials handling and ground support processes.

One of these new processes includes the use of Master Building Solutions’ MasterRoc RBA 380 anchoring resin, which, according to the company, reacts in just three minutes.

This resin has been injected into 10, 9 m self-drilling anchors (SDAs) at the decline portal of Kanmantoo since mechanised cutting operations recently started up.

Master Builders Solutions explained: “Traditionally, cementitious grouts are used to encapsulate the SDAs, which can pose hazards such as dust inhalation and burns to contractors. In waiting for these grouts to cure, mining teams also lose critical heading for approximately 12 hours.”

In choosing the MasterRoc RBA 380, Hillgrove Resources was able to continue the safe excavation with the Komatsu MC51 after just five minutes, according to Master Builders Solutions.

Also involved in this project are Strata Consolidation and PYBAR Mining Services (now part of Metarock Group Limited).

Master Builders Solutions recently announced a planned transaction with Sika that would see the Switzerland-based shotcrete major acquire the company, formerly referred to as BASF Construction Chemicals.

Komatsu MC51 gets cutting at Hillgrove’s Kanmantoo copper project

1st November 2021Base metals, Explosives and blasting, Mine operation news, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, Sustainable miningcontinuous cutting, Hillgrove Resources, Kanmantoo, Komatsu, Lachlan Wallace, MC51, Pybar Mining Services, South AustraliaDaniel Gleeson

The world’s first portal cut using “transformational continuous mining technology” is now underway with the help of Hillgrove Resources’ team at the Kanmantoo copper mine in South Australia and Komatsu’s MC51 machine, powered by DynaCut tech.

The underground decline at Kanmantoo commenced last Friday, just over a month after Hillgrove announced that the South Australian Government had awarded it a A$2 million ($1.5 million) grant to trial the new underground mining technology.

The continuous mining technology, which is also being tested at Vale’s Garson mine in Ontario, Canada, and has previously been trialled at Newcrest’s Cadia mine, removes the need for blasting, providing the potential to transform the traditional underground development process and result in improved safety and operational performance, Hillgrove said.

On top of this, the Komatsu MC51 technology is 100% electrically powered, providing a mine development option for companies pursuing zero-emission mining.

The Komatsu MC51 will be used to develop a portal and a circa-500 m underground decline at Kanmantoo, a former-operating open-pit mine that is transitioning to underground operations. This transition is permitted and benefits from having all existing infrastructure in place, including an operational 3.6 Mt/y processing facility and tailings storage facility, Hillgrove said.

The continuous cutting trial will focus on demonstrating the commercial viability of the machine and trial new materials handling and ground support processes. Ground support assistance is to be provided by PYBAR Mining Services.

“The underground decline has multiple benefits to Hillgrove, including the development of underground drilling platforms which reduce drilling cost as Hillgrove continues to expand and infill drill the existing Kanmantoo Underground resource,” the company has previously said.

It could also help bring forward potential first copper production and reduce future development costs, Hillgrove added.

Hillgrove CEO and Managing Director, Lachlan Wallace, said the development of the underground decline and establishment of underground drilling platforms was a key milestone in the Kanmantoo Underground development program.

“We are also excited to advance the mine development in a way that leads the industry towards zero-emission mining, which is without question the way of the future,” he said.

On top of the A$2 million grant from the South Australian Government, Hillgrove says it has secured favourable payment terms from Komatsu, which sees no payments until funding for the mine development is secured. The deferred and contingent nature of the agreement and grant funding results in minimal cash outflow to Hillgrove while the company focuses on the drilling program.