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.”