Fleet takes next big step in exploration space
- 26 October 2024
Fleet Space Technologies CEO Flavia Tata Nardini says the fast-moving Australian scale-up has taken another key step in its mission to accelerate terrestrial mineral exploration discovery rates by integrating gravity survey data gathering into its multi-physics technology platform.
Tata Nardini, who will update on ExoSphere Gravity and a big recent haul of new Fleet customer alliances at IMARC 2024 in Sydney on October 29, says combining gravity with the company’s real-time Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) surveys can boost exploration productivity and speed.
“By leveling up traditional geophysical methods with ExoSphere’s vertically integrated hardware stack powered by space and AI we can maximise the value of multi-physics datasets like gravity and decrease cost per discovery, all while minimising environmental impact,” she says.
“Reducing the friction between data acquisition, integration and targeting is essential to accelerate the path to discovery.”
Fleet Space chief scientist Gerrit Olivier says an integrated multi-physics approach can cut common gravity model false positives and put more high-value data in front of geoscientists early in search cycles.
He says density, as measured by gravity surveys, and seismic velocity, as measured by ANT, are critical metrics for effective mineral detection.
“Joint analysis of ambient noise tomography and gravity is critical to enhance vectoring into mineralisation and optimise drilling design,” Olivier says.
“By simultaneously analysing multiple physical properties we significantly de-risk and reduce the uncertainty of interpreting geophysical anomalies by delivering a far more comprehensive understanding of the subtle and significant geological connections of the subsurface composition.”
More than 40 users, including mining majors Rio Tinto and Barrick Gold, have deployed ANT and Fleet’s ExoSphere nano-satellite real-time 3D imaging tools.
Extension of Fleet’s ongoing collaboration with Rio Tinto into Argentina was recently announced with a large-scale ExoSphere deployment at the Rincon lithium project. Rio Tinto will develop 3D subsurface maps across 100 square kilometres of the project’s salt flat and nearby subvolcanic structures to probe reservoir basement depth and brine influencing features.
Fleet says ANT data acquisition and processing using its satellite network can deliver actionable 3D subsurface insights in days with near-zero environmental impact.
This year it has already conducted its largest real-time ANT copper survey across 1800sq.km of Australia’s Macquarie Arc for Inflection Resources and AngloGold Ashanti, and done the world’s highest ANT survey for Gold Fields at Salares Norte in Chile.
Barrick engaged Fleet Space to deliver 3D subsurface maps across 1150sq.km of its major Reko Diq copper project in Pakistan.
Fleet Space announced a new A$50 million private equity funding last year.
