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www.cmic-ccim.org
Innovation in Exploration
F. Robert
Outline• Explorationchallenges
• Industryresponse
• ExplorationInnovationConsortium– Historicalbackground– Footprintproject– NowandFuture
• Lessons&recommendations
Needdiscoveriestosustainhealthyminingindustry.But…• Miningcampsmaturing
• Discoveriesgettingdeeper• Globaldiscoveryratesdown
– Only45%becomeproducers– 12.4yearstoproduction!
• Costsincreasing
Alsoneedqualitydiscoveries• 80%metalintop20%mines• NeedTier1discoveries
Exploration (Technical) Challenges
FromSchodde (2015)
Canadiandiscoveries:only3“Tier1”/decade
Industry response• Becomingmoreengaged&proactive
• DrivingdevelopmentofrelevantR&DPrograms– FacilitatedbygroupslikeAMIRAorCMIC
• Twoexamples:– DeepExplorationTechnologyCRC(Australia)– CMIC“Footprint”Project(Canada)
• 2aspectsofinnovation:technologyandconcept
Deep Exploration Technology CRC• AU$61Mcashand$93Min-kind(2010-2018)
– $28McashfromAustralianGov’t
• Sponsors:Industry,ServiceProviders,ResearchOrganizations,Gov’tagencies– 13Corepartners($450K/y)– 24AffiliateSponsors ($10K/y)
• ~90researchersin10organizations– 52graduatestudents
• Incorporatedentitywithindependentboard
• Industry-drivenprogram– Reducetime&costofdrilling– Improvevaluefromdrilling
• Step-changetechnologiesfor“deep”exploration– Coiledtubingdrilling– Down-holesensing– Top-of-hole sensing:Lab-at-Rig
Deep Exploration Technology CRC
Cheaper,faster,saferdrilling• 50m/h,500mdepth,$50/m• <10tonnes &smallfootprint
DET-CRCCoiledtubingrig
• Portablesemi-automatedlab• Quantitativemineralogy&
chemistryfromdrillmuds
• Databackin<12h:~real-time
DET-CRC: Lab-at-Rig
Fe S MnCa Ba%SulfidesMineralsXRDLogged QXRD
DensityPy Po
• Created2010underCMIC– Industry-driven
• Vision:– Improvediscovery ratesthroughstep-changinginnovationandtargetedR&D
• Objectives:– Defineexplorationchallenges– DevelopR&Droadmap– CatalystforR&Dprojects
• ~35Partners– Explorationcompanies– Serviceproviders– Institutions
• Howwasitdone?– Extensiveconsultation– Part-timeconsultant(Tosdal)– FulltimeCMICperson(Galley)– DedicatedIndustry champions
CMIC Exploration Innovation Consortium
Themes DiscoveryCriteria
DiscoveryTechnology DatatoKnowledge
Focus Knowledgeandmodels Detection&Delineation Interpretation
KeyQuestions• Wheretolook?• Whattolookfor?
• Howtobestdetect? • Whatdothedatamean?
ExplorationChallenges
• Terraneselection• Areaselection• Vectoringtoore
• Mappinganddetectiontools
• Cheaperdrilling
• Visualizationandintegration
• Physicalpropertymodels
Education&TechnologyTransfer
Critical Research Areas
10 year Exploration R&D Program
DeepMatureCamps Remote&CoveredAreas
1. Multi-parameterfootprintsand3Dvectoring
• Detectingedgesandvectoringtoore
1. Characteristicsoffertileterranes anddistricts
• Howtoidentifymostfertileareas?
2. Techniquestounraveldeep3Dgeology• Deeppenetrating detectionandmapping
techniques
2. Techniquestomapsub-surfacegeology• Drilling,data integration• Datadensity fordetection
3. Real-timedown-holedatacollection• Real-timedecision
3. Secondarydispersion• Understandmechanisms• Developtechniques
Footprint Project• Objective:developnewapproachforsubtledistal
footprintsdetection+ vectorstoore= discoveryofconcealeddeposits
• 5-yearprogram,$13Mbudget(nowinY4)– LargestCRDgrantedbyNSERC
• 28companysponsors,45researchers,24Canadianuniversities,andGov’tpartners
• Silo-breakingcollaborativeeffort betweenIndustry,ResearchersandServiceProviders
• Concept– Multipleparametersonsamesamplesuites,samedeposits
– Integration:bigdataanalytics– Betterresponse
• 3studysites,3commodities
Footprints Project
Deposit
Ore system footprint
UCu
Au
Increasedfootprintsize Dataintegratedin“CommonEarth”model
Footprints Project: Key results
3km
Phengitic Micafootprint
CanadianMalartic
• Exploration-focused– Permafrostdrilling– Lightweightheli-portabledrill– Muon technology– ExplorationSimulator
• ImpactacrossLOMstages– Real-timeportableanalyzer– Mine-based rockmasscharacterization
– IronOreR&DConsortium
Other R&D projects considered (2012-15)
Explorat ion Extraction Processing Tailings Remediation
• Exploringthroughcover– Focus:surficialgeochemistry.– Industryexpertgroupformed– Projectscopebeingdefined
EIC Next Steps: Footprints IIWhereisthedeposit???Remote&CoveredAreas
1. Characteristicsoffertileterranes anddistricts
• Howtoidentifymostfertileareas?
2. Techniquestomapsub-surfacegeology• Drilling,data integration• Datadensity fordetection
3. Secondarydispersion• Understandmechanisms• Developtechniques
EIC Next Steps: contribute to TZWM• Innovationportfoliosimpactingmultiple businessareas
CMICPortfolios
Increasing Mining
Intensity
Underground Mining
Energy / Processing
Environmental Management
Decreasing Capital
Intensity
Exploration
Decreasing Energy
Intensity
Increasing Labour
Productivity
ü
ü
ü
ü
ü
ü ü
ü
ü
Safety, CSR & Environment
ü
ü
ü
ü
ü
EICROADMAP
Lessonslearned• Focusonrelevantproblems• Industry-drivenfocus,
research-drivendelivery• 3yearprojectsbetter
• Needstrongchampions– FromIndustry&Research
• Proactivecommunication
KeystosuccessfulRDI• CatalyzingVehicle- CMIC• Vision&unifyinginitiative
– TZWMproposal
• SupportfromSeniorIndustryLeaders
• AdequateGov’tfunding
• …andtiming!
Keys to future success