Tag Archives: Mark Gabbitus

IMDEX lines up three new product launches for PDAC 2022

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IMDEX plans to arrive at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto, Canada, next week with a suite of products targeting quality, accuracy, and precision.

The company will use the first in-person PDAC conference in more than two years to showcase new and improved tools and technologies that build on its reputation as market leaders in enabling clients to find, define and mine orebodies with precision and at speed, it said.

The in-person event will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) from June 13-15.

IMDEX General Manager – Rock Knowledge, Mark Gabbitus, said the re-engineering, design upgrades and product evolution inherent in each of the products reflected IMDEX’s approach of constantly reassessing its products to ensure they are the best in market.

REFLEX GYRO SPRINT-IQ™

Responding to customer requirements, IMDEX has re-engineered and improved its REFLEX GYRO SPRINT-IQ running gear, reducing the weight of the total kit by around half, from 90 kg to about 45 kg.

“These improvements really address user requirements,” Gabbitus said. “We have taken a tool that has been in the market for a long time and made improvements around the size and the workflow.

“We’ve made it lighter, shorter, easier to handle and therefore safer. The running gear for overshot applications made the tool around 3.3-m long that came in three cases weighing 90 kg and took two people to handle. Now it’s around 2.7 m and is light enough for one person to manage easily.

“We’ve done a lot of work to improve it, making it smaller and lighter, easier to carry and to operate. This is particularly important in the confines of an underground environment.”

REFLEX OMNI-IQ™

IMDEX will demo its new gyro tool, the REFLEX OMNI-IQ which, it says, maintains its position as the leader in survey accuracy.

“OMNI addresses quality and accuracy of delivered data,” Gabbitus said.

“Sprint has been the most accurate gyro on the market to date, but gyro technology has evolved and now OMNI is the most accurate; it’s the natural evolution of the technology that we have developed and pioneered.

“We’re testing commercial prototype tools in Australia and Canada and the workflow and data results have been excellent.”

REFLEX IQ-LOGGER™

IMDEX will also present the next generation of its IQ-LOGGER, the core logging solution that provides fast, accurate structural measurements.

Gabbitus said the improvements were, again, in response to customer feedback.

“We’ve taken what is a very popular product and revamped it, making the workflow more efficient, and the tool more robust, easier to handle, and better from an ergonomic perspective.

“We launched IQ-LOGGER at PDAC in 2015, so it’s fitting to be able to unveil the new-look, next generation of the tool this year.”

In-field mineral analysis key to unlocking further exploration dollars, IMDEX says

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Exploration companies planning to cash in on the rush of capital into the mining sector risk losing out if they fail to take advantage of the latest tools to deliver real-time results from drilling programs, according to IMDEX.

Exploration activity is on the up ‒ spurred on by strong commodity prices supported by government stimulus, decarbonisation targets and demand across a broad range of sectors, the mining tech company says, referencing an Australia-focused exploration report from BDO.

In a sign of the surge in activity, there are reports of long delays at minerals testing laboratories in Western Australia, with miners and drillers waiting weeks for results, according to IMDEX.

IMDEX General Manager Product Development, Mark Gabbitus, said while verified laboratory samples were vital for mine planning, real-time in-field data also played an important part in decision making.

“The problem explorers face is that by the time they get the results back from a laboratory ‒ if it’s the only data they have ‒ it’s too late to make changes to the drilling program,” he said. “The holes have all been drilled and the rig is off site.

“IMDEX allows the geologist in the field to get quality data in near-real time that will allow them to make informed decisions. This data might not be the same as they use to build a model and make a billion-dollar investment to mine, but it is still material.

“With this real-time data, the geologist can make informed decisions about where to drill next, thereby maximising their limited exploration dollars.”

Additionally, using in-field solutions from IMDEX allows the geologist to decide which samples to send to the lab, or at least to prioritise which samples they need back quickly, helping them beat lab delays, according to Gabbitus.

“Capital will move to those who move quickly. Explorers who take weeks or months to get assay results risk being left behind,” he added. “With trusted data that shows promising results, you then have the opportunity to raise more cash or just change the way you go about drilling by drilling efficient holes.”

Gabbitus concluded: “Having indicative results from the field will help to put exploration and mining companies, alike, ahead of their competitors.”

IMDEX has a suite of downhole survey tools, core orientation and gamma logging technologies and in-field sampling and analysis products all linked to cloud-connected IMDEX HUB-IQ™ and data analysis software IMDEX ioGAS™.

MICROMINE to offer Austmine attendees a preview of Micromine 2020

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Mining software solutions provider, MICROMINE says it is preparing for what will be a busy few days at the Austmine 2019 convention on May 21-23.

The theme of the biannual event is “Mining Innovation: The Next Horizon” and product specialists and experts from MICROMINE will be on hand to demonstrate the company’s leading mining software solutions and answer technical questions, the company said.

Micromine Product Strategy Manager, Mark Gabbitus, said: “Austmine is Australia’s premier event for the mining industry, with insightful presentations, interactive workshops, networking opportunities and the chance to find out about the latest innovations and technology on offer from exhibitors.

“With representatives of dozens of global mining and exploration companies gathered specifically to hear about product innovation and developments, MICROMINE will showcase its range of software solutions, detailing the latest innovations and enhancements and providing expert guidance on how users can achieve the best results and outcomes from our products.”

Product specialists on the MICROMINE stand at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre will be demonstrating the Geobank (geological data management), Pitram (fleet management and mine control) and Micromine (exploration and mine design) solutions, according to the company.

“Our experts will be on hand to discuss how our applications, which cover the entire mining process, can help delegates meet and exceed their business operation objectives,” Gabbitus said.

Interest in the just-released Geobank Mobile 2019 is expected to be high, MICROMINE said, with the field logging solution boasting an enhanced user interface control, data capture, camera integration, offline help and file exchange functionality.

The team will also be demonstrating the latest innovation in the Pitram solution – with the help of a Lego toy truck!

Using artificial intelligence, the latest advance in the software takes loading and haulage automation in underground mines to a new level. Computer vision and deep machine learning are tapped to enable the on-board video cameras to track variables such as loading time, hauling time, dumping time and travelling empty time, which can then be analysed to identify efficiencies.

A Lego toy loader will be connected to the Pitram mobile device to showcase the new functionality, having its trips around the MICROMINE booth recorded and then using the software to process the data.

With the launch of Micromine 2020 set for October, conference attendees will get a sneak peak at the latest version of the 3D modelling and mine design solution. Software enhancements include new charting tools, a new unfolding tool for model interpolation, a new Scope Optimiser, an improved scheduler and advances in the Implicit Modelling and Pit Optimiser modules.

IMDEX’s ioGAS to feature in Micromine 2020 3D modelling and mine design software

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MICROMINE and IMDEX have agreed to collaborate on the next release of Micromine 2020, with the latter company’s ioGAS solution being incorporated into the 3D modelling and mine design software.

This collaboration, bringing together detailed geoscience analytics with sophisticated 3D modelling and mine design software, will enhance the geological modelling workflow, according to MICROMINE.

According to IMDEX, ioGAS is a leading exploratory data analysis software application developed specifically for the resources industry. “Traditional methods to analyse results would take many hours and is prone to human error; ioGAS can generate accurate results in a fraction of the time. Over the past decade, a wide range of visual analytics and advanced quantitative tools have been developed to help you obtain a greater insight into the underlying structure of your data,” the company said.

The two companies have been working together for several months to integrate output from IMDEX’s ioGAS solution, according to MICROMINE.

“The collaboration means geoscientists will be able to directly import ioGAS (.gas) files into Micromine 2020 software to map and model geological domains,” MICROMINE said.

Micromine Product Strategy Manager, Mark Gabbitus, said the ability to import the files and related geological and geochemical interpretative analysis into Micromine 2020 was a boon for both companies and their thousands of global software users.

“MICROMINE and IMDEX recognise it’s in everyone’s interests to enable the efficient transfer of data between packages,” he said.

“Integrating software with third-party systems like ioGAS not only makes our client’s jobs easier but advances the industry, which MICROMINE values as a thought-leader in the METS sector.”

Micromine 2020 might still be in development, but Gabbitus confirmed some of the key features that would integrate with ioGAS included:

  • In-built ioGAS symbol library so that data imported into Micromine looks exactly as it did in ioGAS;
  • Down hole data that can brought from an ioGAS .gas file directly into Micromine as points where attributes (eg material type) can be modelled or displayed alongside geological logging to validate boundaries and contacts; and;
  • Down hole data displays that effectively show how geochemical properties differ between logged geological units.

MICROMINE added: “In Micromine 2020, drill hole traces can be easily created from down hole points contained in an ioGAS.gas file. This data is then saved as a drill hole database in Micromine.”

With over 10 years of development, IMDEX’s ioGAS software has resulted in optimised workflows and easy to use tools that incorporate industry best practise in interpretive techniques, according to MICROMINE. The exploratory data analysis software offers detection of patterns, anomalies and relationships in geoscience data. With over 350 commercial clients and 20 government organisation users, ioGAS has established itself as a global market leader, MICROMINE said.

Dave Lawie, IMDEX Chief Geoscientist, said: “It is exciting to combine the benefits of these market-leading software packages to provide additional value for our clients. This integration offers a seamless integration of ioGAS files and related interpretative analysis directly into MICROMINE 2020.”

Last month, MICROMINE said Micromine 2020 will no longer support installation or use on computers with a 32-bit processor.

MICROMINE to play leading role in MinEx CRC’s 3D geological modelling project

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MICROMINE says it has been selected by MinEx Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) as the sole software provider for the project.

MICROMINE will provide information and advice on software solutions for mineral exploration as part of the A$218 million ($154 million) CRC project, which was set up to develop new technologies to increase the discovery of new mineral deposits.

“Australia’s share of global mineral exploration reduced from about 25% in the 1990s to around 12.5% in recent years,” MICROMINE said. “The decline in activity has driven the establishment of the CRC, which is backed by A$50 million in Australian Government funding and another A$165 million in private sector support.”

MICROMINE joins 34 MinEx CRC partners from the mining equipment, technology and services sector and major miners BHP, South32, Anglo American and Barrick Gold, as well as research organisations in Australia and overseas, such as CSIRO, Geoscience Australia and various universities.

MICROMINE will be involved in the team focused on 3D geological modelling, which brings together mining companies, geological surveys and research institutions from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the UK.

Mark Gabbitus, Product Strategy Manager for MICROMINE’s exploration and mine design software, Micromine, said: “MICROMINE will work with our project partners to develop a 3D geological and geophysical modelling package, which will help geologists, researchers and exploration companies to find mineral deposits in a more efficient and cost-effective way.”

The resultant solution will allow field geologists, researchers, explorers, resources modellers and managers to better define their 3D geological environment and assess the need for additional data and research, according to the company.

“It will also address existing problems explorers face that are related to urban geology, basin resources exploration and exploitation and mineral and scientific exploration in poly-deformed metamorphosed terranes,” MICROMINE added.

Gabbitus said the CRC complements the work MICROMINE is already undertaking to develop its geological software solution, Geobank.

“MICROMINE will contribute to the development of an open source algorithm, while scoping the development of a commercial version that could fit more seamlessly into the workflow of the explorers or miners that work with Micromine,” he said.

“There is a significant amount of work to do over the coming years but there are some exceptionally smart people involved in the project and it is very exciting for MICROMINE to play a role in developing the next generation of exploration and modelling tools.”

MICROMINE after more bits for newest version of exploration and mine design software

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MICROMINE says the next major release of its exploration and mine design software, Micromine 2020, will no longer support installation or use on computers with a 32-bit processor.

There are a number of technical reasons why the company has made this move, mainly revolving around the ability to access more RAM, MICROMINE said.

Thirty-two-bit processors are limited to 4 GB of RAM, which is starting to become a limitation to functionality in Micromine, especially in some of the future development projects the company has planned for users, the company said.

Additionally, the development effort to support both 32-and 64-bit processors was high and impacted on the company’s ability to deliver new functionality to MICROMINE’s clients, it said.

MICROMINE’s decision follows closely on the heels of graphics card producer, Nvidia, announcing it was ending support for 32-bit operating systems in April last year.

Mark Gabbitus, Strategic Product Manager for Micromine, said: “We surveyed all of our regional offices, prior to making this decision, to ensure that this would not significantly impact our clients. We appreciate that there are probably a few older computers out there with 32-bit processors running Micromine that will need to do a hardware upgrade but we felt that the time was right to make this move.”

MICROMINE open to integration in the face of interoperability hurdles

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MICROMINE says its digitisation strategy is focused on ensuring clients are able to use its products in tandem with those from other third parties, alleviating any potential interoperability issues.

The company said it places a strong emphasis on integration and ensuring its software solutions can fully integrate with various third-party systems in a mining environment. “It is something the company prides itself on and sees as key to not only making the client’s job easier, but also advancing technology and innovation across the industry,” MICROMINE said.

“As mining companies continue to advance their digital transformation strategies, the ability for different systems to integrate and share data with one another has become a critical success factor. Integration has been a key theme for the METS sector in recent times and it will continue to be a focus for the industry in 2019.”

Data management solution Geobank Mobile has led the way in this area, according to MICROMINE, offering integration across barcode scanners, magnetic susceptibility devices, GPS and scale devices and DSLR cameras.

MICROMINE’s fleet management and mine control solution, Pitram, includes Pitram Restful Integration Services (PRIS), which allows third party software applications to submit and retrieve Pitram information without having to directly access the Pitram database, according to the company.

Micromine Product Strategy Manager, Mark Gabbitus, said: “Whilst we would love everyone to use only Micromine, we know there will be preferred solutions for certain applications, so it is in everyone’s interests for us to enable the efficient transfer of data between packages. We have always had this approach to data integration and that is why Micromine has been the market leader in this space for many years.”

Three dimensional modelling and mine design solution Micromine has also made significant progress in the integration space, according to the company. A recent example is the latest release of mining consultancy group Snowden’s ‘Supervisor’ resource estimation tool, which now includes added functionality for Micromine users. This means users can now directly export variogram parameters directly to a Micromine control file, according to MICROMINE.

“This new functionality will save time and effort for exploration geologists when conducting resource estimation and streamline the process for exchanging data between the two platforms,” the company said.

Gabbitus said: “When Snowden first came to us to discuss how we could integrate Supervisor with Micromine, we were only too happy to help. Snowden have been doing some great things in the mining software space recently and we wanted to make sure that our mutual clients had a good experience when transferring data between the two systems.”

Micromine is an exploration and mine design solution, which offers integrated tools for modelling, estimation, design, optimisation and scheduling. The latest version of MICROMINE’s exploration and mine design solution, Micromine 2018, comprises 10 modules.