Real-time information about ore quality

Surface mining requires close attention to geology, geotechnical planning, scheduling of earthmoving equipment, and drill and blast technology. Through constant monitoring and improvement, each aspect of mining aims to control and reduce costs and improve the extraction of ore from the ground in the most efficient manner.

The overarching objective of this work is to develop a drill-mounted system to measure and characterise material whilst blast-hole drilling, enabling more effective blasting, as well as allowing for selective mining within a blast.

Mining3 has developed significant expertise in Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD) and Logging-While-Drilling (LWD) technologies. These technologies have been shown to be effective if applied and configured appropriately for specific equipment and operating environments.

Mining3 is developing Logging-While-Drilling (LWD) tools to improve orebody mapping and delineation.

Specifically, the intent is to further develop and adapt Mining3’s gamma and density logging technology to produce a suitable configuration for surface blast-hole drilling.

This is also an opportunity to extend Mining3’s development of resistivity measurement technology for this application.

This solution will obtain real-time or near-real-time information about ore quality and boundaries while blast-hole drilling, to improve drill and blast operations, and enhance material classification for sorting, blending and processing.

There is a significant opportunity for this technology to provide valuable information, in a very timely and cost-effective manner, to drive decisions that will improve ore recovery and enhance mining efficiency.

Further research is underway.