KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Atomionics’ Breakthrough Technology: Singapore’s Atomionics launches Gravio, a groundbreaking technology using gravity and AI to identify ore bodies, aiming to revolutionize mineral project development.
- Strategic Contracts with Mining Majors: Atomionics secures contracts with three major mining companies, employing Gravio to locate essential metals like copper, nickel, and zinc, potentially reducing costs and accelerating projects.
- Deployment in Key Regions: Gravio is actively rolled out in Australia and the U.S., with mining majors expected to complete data collection and analysis using the innovative “virtual drill” technology early next year.
- Precise Ore Mapping with AI: Atomionics utilizes gravity signatures and real-time AI processing to pinpoint mineral locations more accurately than traditional survey methods, potentially cutting costs significantly in the exploration phase.
- Cost Reduction Impact: Traditional drilling costs between A$10,000 to A$50,000 per hole. Gravio aims to create a more accurate virtual representation before drilling, potentially reducing expenses and minimizing the risk of drilling “empty” holes by at least 50%.
- Backed by Singapore-Based Investors: Atomionics is privately held and supported by Singapore-based government agencies and strategic investors, highlighting confidence in the potential of its technology to transform the mining industry.
- Competition in AI Exploration: Atomionics faces competition from other startups like KoBold Metals, backed by notable figures like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, indicating a growing trend in using AI for mineral exploration in the energy transition era.
Atomionics’ Gravio Technology in Mineral Exploration for Clean Energy
Singaporean start-up Atomionics has successfully introduced its groundbreaking technology, leveraging gravity and artificial intelligence, to identify ore bodies. The company anticipates that this innovation will not only reduce costs but also accelerate the progress of mineral projects. Atomionics recently secured contracts with three major mining corporations as part of its overarching strategy to pinpoint ore bodies crucial to the energy transition.
Atomionics CEO Sahil Tapiawala revealed that the company is actively engaged in deploying its technology for critical minerals, specifically focusing on copper, nickel, and zinc. The technology, known as Gravio, utilizes a “virtual drill” to collect and analyze data more efficiently than conventional air-based survey techniques. The deployment is currently underway in Australia and the United States.
Tapiawala emphasized that the technology enhances precision in identifying ore bodies beneath the earth’s surface, surpassing the capabilities of typical survey methods. The real-time processing of data through artificial intelligence expedites the ore body definition process. This advancement is particularly valuable in comparison to traditional methods, where drilling a single hole in search of minerals can cost between A$10,000 to A$50,000. Given that a lithium miner might need up to 400 holes to validate a resource, having a more accurate virtual representation before drilling proves to be a cost-effective approach.
Advantages of Gravio Technology in Clean Energy Mineral Exploration
The CEO highlighted a significant challenge in traditional drilling methods – the risk of not hitting the reserve. Atomionics aims to address this issue by reducing the occurrence of “empty” samples by at least half, thereby improving the efficiency and success rate of mining projects.
Despite the competitive landscape in mineral exploration, Atomionics stands out by leveraging gravity signatures and artificial intelligence. The company, privately held and backed by various Singapore-based government agencies and strategic investors, refrains from disclosing the identities of its mining partners due to commercial confidentiality.
The mining industry traditionally employs diverse techniques like ground-penetrating radar and aeromagnetic surveys in the quest for minerals. Atomionics’ Gravio technology is poised to present a cost-effective alternative to traditional exploration methods, as noted by Cameron Fink, the exploration manager at Bridgeport Energy, one of Atomionics’ partners. With the ongoing development of Gravio, it is anticipated to become a preferred, low-cost exploration option within the energy industry, challenging established practices in the field.
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Source(s): The Daily Star
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