MinEx CRC - Developing Future Technologies

Andrew BaileyChief Executive Officer

Cu to the World, Adelaide 18 June 2019

Known mineral deposits

By size and commodity

Exploration under cover is required

Cooperative Research

• 36 Participants and $219M cash and in-kind, including 311 FTE, over 10 years

• Covering Technology as well as Safety, Environment, Training and Education

• Drilling to optimise technologies and uncover new mineral provinces through National Drilling Initiative (NDI)

Majors, METS and Survey Participants (16)

Research Participants and Affiliates (20)

Programs and Projects

Program 1: Drilling

Technologies

Program 2: Data from

Drilling

Program 3: National

Drilling Initiative

P 4: Petrophysical Logging

While Drilling (LWD)

P6: Automated 3D Modelling

P 5: Seismic in the Drilling

Workflow

Mining/METS Companies Geological Surveys

P 2: Coiled Tubing

Drilling for Definition of

Mineral Deposits

P 7: Maximising the Value of

Data and Drilling Through

Cover

P 8: Geological Architecture

and Evolution

P 9: Targeting Mineral

Systems in Covered Terranes

Education and Training Program Opportunity Fund

P 3: Real-time Downhole AssayP 1: Drilling

Optimisation

Project 1 - Drilling Optimisation and Automation

• Improving drilling performance of rotary and percussive drilling

• Using drilling advisory systems

• Year 1 of 3, the lab is being equipped with a test rig, with engineering modelling and drill sensor work underway

Project 2 – Coiled Tubing Drilling

• Drilling multiple steered and deviated holes, up to 1000 m, with sample integrity equivalent to diamond drilling

• Year 1 of 3, and IP and design commenced

Project 3 – Real-time Downhole Assay

• Elements for greenfield real-time decisions

• Replace 50% of Au fire assays

• Year 1 of 3, and the prototype build of LIBS system has commenced

Project 4 – Petrophysics for Mineral Discovery During Drilling

• Real time subsurface sensing and imaging for steering during CT drilling to 1000m

• Year 1 of 3, and the specifications document for the sensor complete

Project 5 – Seismic in the Drilling Workflow

• Reduced borehole seismic survey costs and reduced drilling

• Seismic sensors on surface and in boreholes to continuously update a subsurface geological model

• Borehole sensor comparison and 3D virtual mine framework completed already

Project 6 – 3D Automated Modelling

(a)

(b)

Suggested by geology alone

After SOM classification

Goodin inlier and backgroundNon-mafic greenstoneMooloogool groupJuderinaMafic greenstoneKillara

Goodin inlier and backgroundNon-mafic greenstoneMooloogool groupJuderinaMafic greenstoneKillara

• Diverse geological data in rapidly generated probabilistic 3D models

• Deal with uncertainty and facilitate with plausibility filters, so not just a geological model

• Staff on board and server databases installed

Geophysics + Geology

Geology alone

Inversion constrained by geological uncertainty

GSWAProject 3

Real-time downhole assay

Project 5Seismic in the drilling

workflow

Project 1Drilling Optimisation

and Automation

GA GSSA GSNSW

Project 9Targeting Mineral Systems in Covered

Terranes

Project 8Geological Architecture and Evolution

Project 7Maximising the Value of Data and Drilling

Through Cover

Project 2Coiled tubing drilling

for definition of mineral deposits

Project 6Automated 3D modelling

Project 4Petrophysical logging while

drilling

Program 2Data from Drilling

Program 3National Drilling Initiative

Program 1Drilling Technologies

National Drilling Initiative (NDI)

Conclusions

• Demand and range of minerals required is increasing

• Exploration under cover is required

• Exploration innovation requires a Cooperative approach, sustained and directed research, with commercial technology improvements

• The first 3 year phase is now underway, with 75 researchers now working on nine projects