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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

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Safety, CSR & Environment

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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