Exploration Trends & Developments March 2015

Exploration TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS March 2015

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS

Exploration TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS is an annual publication prepared by Patrick G. Killeen RR # 1, 9759 Highway 509 Ompah, ON Canada K0H 2J0 Phone: (613) 479-2478 E-mail: pkilleen@xplornet.ca Published in co-operation with The Northern Miner 80 Valleybrook Dr Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 Phone: (416) 510-6768 Fax: (416) 510-5138 E-mail: tnm@northernminer.com Editor: Alisha Hiyate Writer: Patrick G. Killeen Art Director: Andrea M. Smith Production Manager: Tracey Hanson Advertising Sales: Joe Crofts Dave Chauvin

MINERAL EXPLORATION TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN 2014

By Patrick G. Killeen Ph.D., Geophysical Consultant and retired Research Scientist, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa 2014 The Canadian Exploration Geophysical Society (KEGS) has been the foremost sponsor of Exploration Trends & Developments since 2007, making this their ninth consecutive year as our primary patron.

The Trends review originated with the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), where for nearly 50 years, GSC scientists prepared an unbiased annual publication on trends and new developments in geophysical exploration for minerals. This year, KEGS’ support came from the companies

Publisher: Anthony Vaccaro Printed in Canada.

All rights reserved.

The contents of this publication may only be reproduced with the written consent of Patrick G. Killeen.

listed in the Sponsor’s Box below.

This marks the 23rd year it has been written by Patrick Killeen, originally as a research scientist at the GSC, and since 2007 through KEGS. Founded in 1953, KEGS has the stated purpose according to its constitution: “. . . To promote the science of geophysics especially as it is applied to the exploration for minerals other than oil; to foster the common scientific interests of geophysicists; to maintain a high professional standing among its members; and to promote fellowship and co-operation among persons interested in these problems.”

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CONTENTS

TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS March 2015

4

EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY IN 2014: It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again!

5

CORPORATE HIGHLIGHTS

8

AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYING 12 Airborne Data Acquisition & Processing 14 Aeromagnetic Surveying 15 Airborne Electromagnetic Surveying 17 Airborne Gamma-ray Spectrometric Surveying 17 Airborne Gravity Surveying

18 GROUND SURVEY TECHNIQUES

18 Physical Rock Properties & Elemental Analysis

19 Ground Data Acquisition & Processing 20 Drillhole Methods 21 Ground Electromagnetic Methods 23 Induced Polarization 24 Ground Magnetic Surveying 24 Magnetotelluric 25 Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) 25 Ground Radiometric Surveying

26 Companies and Websites 26 Abbreviations

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Cover photo: Boreholeinduced polarization (DCIP) and magnetic survey using SJ Geophysics’ Volterra acquisition system at Seabridge Gold’s KSM project, in B.C. Credit: Syd Visser, SJ Geophysics ETD_2015_Issue pages.indd 1

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EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY IN 2014: IT’S DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN!

The words of the famous baseball player Yogi Berra seem appropriate when we compare the level of mineral exploration activity of 2014 to that of 2013. It was again relatively low, with no sign of a turnaround in the depressed mineral industry. Instead, trends established in 2012 and 2013 became more pronounced. For example, more partnerships and alliances were formed and more collaborative

ing” was that more R&D was reported because there was more time for it.

Several companies reported new and improved instrumentation, surveying methodology and data-processing methods for airborne, ground and drillhole geophysical technology. Helicopter-borne TDEM systems continued to increase power (dipole moment) and hence depth penetration capabilities and even more systems are now capable of both shallow and deep surveys. New modifications to AEM systems allow them to fly faster, and systems that use ground transmitters and airborne receivers became available. Several companies are now extracting IP chargeability information from TDEM data and offering it as an optional deliverable product. In airborne magnetics, more options for real-time magnetic compensation have appeared, including an

datasets for mineral exploration targets.

Advances in ground geophysical technology included a new NIR spectrometer for mineral identification and new probes for conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements on rocks and drill core. A portable gammaray spectrometer with a lead-shielded detector for work on drill core was also developed. Two new ground EM systems were introduced, as well as a UXO detector that works over magnetically active soil, and a receiver that works with 3-D downhole EM probes from other companies. New VLF inversion software became available as well as a new interface for an external GPS unit for magnetometers. Other developments included a new IP/EM data-acquisition system, advances in ISR technology, and the construction of a new DCIP system with a versatile wireless mesh network. One

ultra-light system aimed at installation in UAVs. A UAV-borne gradiometer was flight-tested for use in commercial surveys in 2015. Other companies are modifying their technology to be UAVfriendly, including one company which is modifying a version of its gamma-ray spectrometer to be UAV-friendly. The first full-tensor heli-borne magnetic gradiometer using low-temperature SQUID sensors, which can now provide new magnetic information, became available. At least one company acquired a new airborne gravimeter. In data processing, advances were made in forward modelling and joint inversion methods, both 2-D and 3-D, and neural network techniques were introduced to analyze

company evaluated a new methodology for EM and electrical measurements and introduced magnetovariational profiling. In one interesting MT survey on an island, a seismometer was integrated to reduce tidal noise.

In drillhole technology, a new version of optical televiewer was released, as well as new software for automated picking of structure from televiewer logs. A method of geophysical logging in shallow angle or even up-holes was developed, as well as a new MWD gammaray spectral logger. An interesting joint GSC-industry study produced a 3-D model of a mineral deposit compiled from a 3-D seismic survey and gravity logs of holes surrounding the deposit.

Abitibi Geophysics conducting an ARMIT InfiniTEM survey in Morocco with Managem Credit: Abitibi Geophysics

projects were conducted. To cope with the ongoing downturn, companies continued to broaden the application of their technology beyond mineral exploration to find new opportunities, and there were new and ongoing developments on the mergers and acquisitions front. The trend towards international expansion of domestic survey operations continued, with more companies opening new offices abroad. Large regional surveys for government agencies were reported but there were fewer “medium size” surveys worldwide. Again, Africa and South America could be considered relatively active compared to everywhere else.

While the level of activity in the mining industry was low in 2014, the “silver lin-

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CORPORATE HIGHLIGHTS

Precision GeoSurveys on an airborne magnetic and radiometric survey for porphyry targets in Alaska.

Credit: Erik Keyser, Precision GeoSurveys

arhus Geophysics, incorporated in 2009 and based in Aarhus, Denmark, specializes in advanced processing and quantitative modelling of airborne EM and potential field data for virtually any application. In 2014, the company reported significant advances in the modelling of induced polarization from AEM data.

Abitibi Geophysics of Val d’Or, Que., reported a 40% growth rate in revenue in 2014 in spite of reduced mineral exploration budgets across the industry. The company attributes its rapid growth to exploration success achieved with its new technologies; IPower3D IP, OreVision IP, and the

ARMIT TDEM system. Abitibi also enhanced its borehole IP techniques through an alliance with JVX of Richmond Hill, Ont., in early 2014. After recently opening a Thunder Bay, Ont., office, the company has enjoyed increased visibility and reduced mobilization costs for many exploration projects in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and on the mid-continental rift in the United States.

Toronto-based Advanced Geophysical Operations and Services (AGCOS), which was incorporated in 2006, and National Mineral Resources University (NMRU) of St. Petersburg, Russia, offer an integrated application of modern ground

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Left to right: One of SGL’s B3 helicopters on a gravity and magnetic survey in Kuwait.

Credit: Sander Geophysics

Crone Geophysics conducting a Pulse EM survey in Greenland.

Credit: Crone Geophysics

SkyTEM Surveys about to fly a survey for water resources in Texas for oil and gas companies.

Credit: SkyTEM Surveys

One of Novatem’s Piper Navajos flying a mag and radiometric survey in Norway.

Credit: Novatem

electrical surveying technologies such as AMT, MVP, CSAMT and SIP. In 2014, they introduced new reconnaissance and detailed survey techniques, which resulted in higher productivity and lower costs.

Based in Potchefstroom, South Africa, the Assegai Geophysics Alliance consisting of six consulting and contracting companies, continued to deliver integrated geophysical solutions in airborne, ground, marine, wireline and data modelling applications in 2014. GyroLAG, (a part of Assegai) also in Potchefstroom, launched a new applied research centre called “X-farm” to provide affordable ultra-high-resolution manned and unmanned airborne geophysics to the agriculture industry. GyroLAG is now offering its “plug and fly” gyrocopter airborne geophysics platform worldwide as a franchise with two configurations.

Condor Consulting of Lakewood, Colo., marked its 15th anniversary in 2014 and reached a new milestone with the incorporation of Condor Consulting North, with offices in Vancouver, a major centre for minerals exploration in North America.

Crone Geophysics & Exploration, based in Mississauga, Ont., reported steady demand for its time-domain EM equipment and services around the world in 2014, with Pulse EM surveys in Canada, the U.S., Greenland, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Eritrea. The year also saw an increased emphasis on R&D. Dias Geophysical, based in Toronto and Saskatoon, was formed in 2014 to offer survey services using the new DIAS-32 technology, and to carry on the development of the system.

The DIAS-32 system was conceived and initially developed by Saskatoon-based Discovery International Geophysics. The system is a fully-distributed, wireless DCIP system with integrated safety technology. Dias Geophysical is now offering 3-D and 2-D resistivity and induced polarization (DCIP) services.

Montreal-based EON Geosciences continued to conduct surveys worldwide, with a range of airborne high-resolution magnetic, gamma-ray spectrometric and gravity systems using fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters, as well as helicopteronly time-domain and frequency-domain EM systems. EON reported that the level of work in 2014 was similar to 2013 and about 50% of its activity was outside of Canada and the U.S. In 2014, Geotech of Aurora, Ont., officially integrated Aurora-based Aeroquest into its operations, finalizing an acquisition started in spring 2012. Aeroquest’s proprietary AeroTEM

and Impulse systems will still be available through Geotech, which continues to grow by expanding offices and partnerships in emerging markets in Asia. Geotech has partnered with Kazakhstan’s KazGeology to form KazGeotech, and has also opened a new office in Russia as GeotechAero. All of the company’s VTEM, ZTEM, fixed-wing magnetics, radiometrics and gravity services are available in the new locations.

MPX Geoservices of Toronto has remained active throughout North and South America by expanding outside of mineral exploration to offer services in the petroleum, geotechnical, environmental and civil engineering sectors. In addition to its traditional airborne geophysical services, the company is now offering a range of remote sensing, ground geophysics, ground prospecting and drilling services. Remote sensing services include hyperspectral acquisition and LiDAR, and ground services include magnetics, IP, gravity and GPR. Drilling services include diamond core drilling and geotechnical drilling for construction and engineering.

Novatem, based in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., reported that its main activities were again conducted outside Canada in 2014, with airborne surveys carried out mainly for government agencies. Research and development in EM has increased, with efforts focused on data processing, inversion and modelling. The company has new premises in France housing Novatem Aviation aircraft, with three Piper Navajo PA-31 aircraft now located in Europe full-time.

Vancouver-based Precision GeoSurveys specializes in lowlevel, helicopter-borne, high-resolution magnetic, radiometric and electromagnetic geophysical surveys in remote and mountainous terrain. In 2014, the company flew 1TEM time-domain EM, magnetic and radiometric surveys across western Canada and the western U.S. Work continues on the 1TEM design (thirdgeneration single-wrap transmitter loop) to reduce weight, aerodynamic drag, and polar moment of inertia to improve data quality in mountainous terrain surveys. In 2014, the company formed a partnership with McElhanney Land Surveys, also in Vancouver, to offer airborne LiDAR mapping services.

Based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and with offices in Bogota, Colombia, Prospectors continued providing airborne geophysical services, primarily geological mapping with magnetic and radiometric surveys to the mining industry and government agencies. The company survived the 2014 global decline in mining exploration and has secured ad-

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ditional work in Latin America for 2015.

Ottawa-based Sander Geophysics (SGL) specializes in high-resolution airborne surveys for petroleum and mineral exploration, and environmental mapping. It carries out airborne gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic, radiometric and methane surveys worldwide using fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The company reported another busy year flying numerous gravity and magnetic surveys, as well as magnetic, radiometric and methane surveys. The majority of SGL’s surveys in 2014 included airborne gravity, with several large airborne gravity and magnetic surveys for petroleum exploration and regional mapping, as well as multi-parameter surveys in which gravity, magnetic and radiometric data were all acquired simultaneously from a single aircraft. Several large integrated interpretation projects were also completed, involving 2-D, 2.5-D and 3-D modelling of potential field data, using seismic, geology, and drillhole results as additional constraints.

SkyTEM Surveys, headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark, acquired the airborne division of GroundProbe Geophysics based in Malaga, a suburb of Perth in Western Australia, in June 2014. The new SkyTEM Australia (in Malaga) is staffed

with a team of former GroundProbe employees and is run as an independent business unit. SkyTEM also partnered with Exploration Resources International Geophysics (XRI), headquartered in Vicksburg, Miss., to offer combined expertise in airborne geophysical survey services and advanced data processing. XRI is a fully integrated geosciences company providing geophysics, geology, hydrology, and geotechnical engineering services globally. Also in 2014, SkyTEM established an office in South Africa to support its marketing and operating activities.

In 2014, Terraquest of Markham, Ont., celebrated 30 years of operations in 30 countries around the globe. The company provides high-resolution airborne geophysical surveys using advanced gravimetric, total field magnetic, horizontal gradient, radiometric and proprietary XDS VLF-EM methods.

Terraquest reported the level of business in 2014 followed the general global slowdown for minerals and metal exploration, while seeing only slightly lower activity for oil and gas exploration. The company performed surveys in Canada, the U.S., Honduras, Suriname and the Middle East using fixed-wing and helicopter (stinger mode) aircraft.

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS Geosphair Aviation’s new dual-wingtip vertical magnetic gradiometer.

Credit: Geosphair Aviation

AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYING

C

GG Airborne, with offices in Ottawa and Toronto, is part of the Acquisition Division of CGG, headquartered in Paris. The division, which provides fully integrated airborne, land, and marine geophysical data-acquisition services, reported survey activities in areas around the world in 2014. In Australasia, CGG deployed fixed-wing FALCON airborne gravity gradiometry systems on large regional projects targeting base metal, gold, uranium, water and IOCG deposits. Surveys included a large portion of the Canning Basin in Western Australia and the frontier region of West Papua in the Papuan foreland basin in Indonesia. In Brazil, CGG Airborne is conducting an ongoing FALCON survey for copper and uranium exploration, while in Canada’s Athabasca Basin, the company collected fixed-wing FALCON data for uranium exploration in 2014. CGG’s HeliFALCON systems were active across a range of mineral, oil and gas and environmental settings last year in North America, including for base metals in both greenfield and brownfield areas, for overburden analysis in the Athabasca Basin, for geologic mapping of structural controls of gold systems and for detection of discrete kimberlites across the Lac de Gras region. As well, gravity gradiometry assisted in both surface mineable and heavy oil regions of Alberta and in understanding reefs and undulations in the Devonian surface. CGG reported new markets are developing for near-surface characterization

surveys of voids representing environmental hazards.

CGG also flew magnetic and radiometric surveys in government-sponsored geological mapping projects in Africa and North America last year. A large survey was completed in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, and a survey in the northwest Angola is ongoing. In Canada, surveys for the Ministère des Ressources Naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF) in Quebec and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) in Ontario were completed.

In East Africa, CGG conducted high-resolution, helicopterborne magnetic surveys for coal resource mapping and in Southeast Asia, the company flew high-resolution magnetic and gamma-ray spectrometric surveys for gold exploration and greenfields exploration.

In AEM surveying, CGG deployed the GENESIS TDEM system in Ireland for a government-sponsored geological mapping project. The TEMPEST TDEM system was used widely in the Zambian and DRC Copperbelt for identification of conductive shale horizons associated with copper mineralization and in the Australasian region for groundwater resource exploration, as well as base metals, iron ore and uranium exploration. CGG also flew a TEMPEST survey for the Geological Survey of Western Australia as part of the UNCOVER initiative, a major government mapping program. The survey covered roughly 146,300 sq. km over the Capricorn Orogen in Western Australia to map trends in

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS regolith conductivity and thickness and regional variations in for this application. In 2014, Geosphair also worked on a bedrock conductivity. CGG’s HELITEM systems conducted project to develop a Seaplane Bathymetric platform based surveys targeting nickel, copper and gold in Australia and in on the Super-Cub in co-operation with Rimouski-based North and South America, as well as a large geothermal mapCIDCO, funded with a grant from Transport Canada’s ping project in Japan. And in Brazil, the first MULTIPULSE Northern Transportation Adaptation Initiative (NTAI) and IP project is underway for manganese and diamond exprogram. The encouraging results have led to a project to ploration. Finally, in 2014, CGG’s high-definition RESOLVE optimize the system. The company is expanding capabiliand DIGHEM systems were focused CGG Airborne’s FALCON AGG aircraft on infrastructure, tailings stability, in West Papua, Indonesia.

4-D solution migration and aggreCredit: CGG Airborne gate discovery projects.

In 2014, EON Geosciences flew surveys in Canada’s Far North for Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and in northern Quebec, on two separate projects for the Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources Naturelles (MERN) of Québec. Additionally, MERN selected EON to fly a large survey in the Côte-Nord region, a project that began late in the year. For the third year in a row, the ties of its survey installation STC, adding two new wingtip company carried out helicopter-borne magnetic/radiometpod designs to their Certificate, to offer a horizontal gradiric surveys in southern Greenland. It also flew a survey for ent-only solution. The company completed a dual vertical the Geological Survey of Norway, this time in Norway’s far wingtip gradiometer development for military application. north. Sister company EON Airborne, which provides the equipped, fixed-wing aircraft (a Piper Cheyenne II, Piper Navajos, and a Cessna 206) directly to EON Geosciences, provided support in 2014 for an external project in the United States and planned to send an aircraft to South America.

Geophysics GPR of Longueil, Que., continued to offer airborne survey services in heliborne and fixed-wing magnetic, VLF-EM, radiometric, gravity and TDEM (GPRTEM). In 2014, the company completed exploration surveys for mining companies and for MERN in Quebec. It also flew a nationwide gravity survey in Oman for the National Survey Authority. The data will be used for the determination of the National Geoid Model of the country.

Montreal-based Geosphair Aviation, which specializes in airborne survey R&D and the evaluation of actual operation and suitability of survey aircraft, last year tested and evaluated the new online aeromagnetic compensation software developed by GEM Systems of Markham, Ont. The company equipped its Super-Cub aeromagnetic platform with a complete GEM System, including GSMP35A potassium magnetometers, MUX data acquisition and power distribution system, and the online real-time compensation system. A Medusa MS-4000 Cesium crystal gamma-ray spectrometer was also installed and evaluated.

Geosphair reported that both the GSMP-35A and MS4000 were easy to install, calibrate and operate, and that the combination is very light and well suited for a small aircraft or a large UAV. The company then flew a small magnetic and spectrometric survey for rare earth exploration, north of Mont Laurier, Que. The Super-Cub proved to be a low-maintenance, versatile and economic platform Supplement to Feb. 23, 2015 edition of The Northern Miner (Vol. 101, No. 2)

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS

Geotech flying a VTEM survey in Kazakhstan.

Credit: Geotech

The dual vertical gradiometer, with two magnetometers on each wingtip, worked well, with multiple measurements of total field (T), transverse gradient (Gy), and vertical gradient (Gz) that could be averaged to yield significantly lower noise than any of the individual total-field or gradient measurements. In addition, the two vertically separated magnetometers on each wingtip produced an interesting geometry that helped to minimize the magnetic effect of the aircraft, which was somewhat boxed in by the four magnetometers.

For example, any magnetic effects of movement of the right wing or aileron upward were reduced by the equal but opposite movement of the left wing downward.

Geotech officially began flying surveys in Kazakhstan and Russia in 2014 using the company’s ZTEM natural field EM system and VTEM Plus, a large dipole-moment (26-metre diameter) helicopter time-domain EM system, with standard horizontal magnetic gradiometer. Using its own fleet of Cessna Grand Caravan and PAC-750 aircraft, Geotech flew major magnetic and spectrometric surveys in Cameroon, Gabon, Sudan, Finland, Australia and Canada last year.

The number of surveys with the company’s deep penetrating (>1 km) ZTEM helicopter passive natural source EM system exceeded expectations, accounting for nearly 1 in 3 line-km of heli-EM surveys flown.

Geotech flew its first major survey using its newest Fixed Wing ZTEM system for the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Namibia, covering a region of extensive overburden cover. The FW ZTEM system uses a newly designed retractable aerodynamic magnetic field sensor with integrated magnetometer, deployed using a proprietary winch system. Operating at higher speeds with slightly reduced signal-to-noise, the system provides low-cost, deep EM sounding and a magnetic profiling alternative to its heli-

ZTEM system, for regional geologic mapping.

In 2014, Goldak Airborne Surveys of Saskatoon continued to fly surveys with its Triaxial gradient system coupled with attitude determination and correction for airborne magnetic surveys, as well as radiometric surveys combined with gradient magnetics. Last year, the company flew magnetic surveys for the GSC and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and also completed a major magnetic and radiometric survey for Ontario’s MNDM. In technological developments, Goldak added GLONASS capability to its existing GPS capability, and developed an in-house process for NASVD noise reduction for radiometric data.

In 2014, GyroLAG performed what it believes is the first Very Light Aircraft airborne scalar gravity survey with its newly acquired TAGS-6 gravimeter installed on-board its tail dragging fixed-wing Maule M5-235C. The company plans tests and trials with the system on-board its new typeaccredited “Trojan” gyrocopter.

Concord, Ont.-based Pico Envirotec supplies geophysical equipment and turnkey systems around the world, including airborne magnetic, time-domain EM and radiometric systems, as well as portable and mobile equipment. In 2014, Pico delivered another P-THEM system to customers in Japan.

Surveys will start once a Canadian STC for a B3 helicopter that Pico obtained for the system is validated by local authorities in Japan. The company also conducted R&D tests experimenting with system parameters and integrating new technologies into its product line. For example, a P-THEM test flight in the Alliston area of Ontario collected data at 30Hz and 90Hz base frequencies with different lengths of tow-cables and in the Sudbury area, Pico tested the effectiveness of different power outputs of the system to detect a nickel sulphide deposit. This resulted in development of a new

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS version of the P-THEM system with an increased dipole moment of 380,000 NIA. The company continued to modernize its airborne survey navigation system, introducing more options. Radiometric R&D resulted in the integration of new algorithms and solutions in radiation detection, monitoring and surveying products.

SGL flew several large surveys for petroleum exploration, mineral exploration and regional mapping in 2014, using the company’s AIRGrav technology in combination with one or more of magnetic, radiometric, scanning LiDAR or methane sensing measurements. The company completed a 470,000 line-km gravity, magnetic and radiometric survey covering the entire country of Malawi, and large magnetic and radiometric surveys are under way in Uruguay and Chile.

In addition, SGL has released data from a large multi-client (non-exclusive) gravity and magnetic survey completed in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The company also flew smaller gravity and magnetic surveys, including two magnetic surveys in North America to assist directional drilling for petroleum exploration. The magnetic data are used to develop 3-D geomagnetic reference models for real-time steering of directional wells using MWD techniques.

The survey, flown with the SkyTEM512 system, successfully mapped the massive sulphide deposit, located at an approximate depth of 150 metres, as well as the Caber North deposit, a near-vertical mineralized body at a depth of more than 300 metres, overlain by conductive overburden. SkyTEM512 has an NIA of roughly 750,000. SkyTEM plans to re-fly Caber in early 2015 with the new higher power SkyTEM516. The company also flew two SkyTEM304 surveys for mineral exploration in northern and central Quebec. SkyTEM508 and SkyTEM301 were used extensively throughout the U.S. for a variety of mapping projects, including oil and gas, geotechnical engineering and aquifer mapping. SkyTEM301 has a dipole moment of roughly 50,000 NIA with early time measurements at 4 microseconds and late-time channels out to 3,000 microseconds providing high-resolution measurements to depths of 120 metres.

In Africa, SkyTEM and partner Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics (Wonderboom, South Africa) flew tens of thousands of line-kilometres in Angola for diamond exploration. The Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) of France contracted the SkyTEM304 to map the subsurface of Reunion Island, a French territory off the coast of Scott Hogg & Associates’ Heli-GT system ready for flight in Revelstoke, B.C. Credit: Scott Hogg & Associates

SGL flew several surveys for environmental monitoring of methane related to hydrocarbon (natural gas and heavy oil) production and transportation. Airborne surveys were completed in North America, South America, Africa, Australasia, and Asia. The company again provided AIRGrav equipment and expertise in support of NASA’s IceBridge project in Antarctica. With its 12 AIRGrav systems, SGL flew airborne gravity surveys in North America, South America, Australasia, Asia, and Antarctica with fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

In February 2014, SkyTEM conducted a test survey over the well-known Caber deposit west of Matagami, in Quebec.

Madagascar. Two SkyTEM systems, the SkyTEM304 and SkyTEM508, were deployed in Australia throughout 2014, flying several large mineral exploration and groundwater delineation surveys, mainly over the Pilbara region. SkyTEM has signed a co-operative agreement with the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) integrating the company’s airborne technology with NGI’s unique competence in the application of airborne geophysics for geotechnical site investigations. In 2014, the partners completed road and tunnel pre-construction engineering projects in Norway, Zambia and Bhutan.

Thomson Aviation, based in Griffith, Australia, flies

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CGG Airborne’s HELITEM system flying a survey in Western Australia.

Credit: CGG Airborne

Airborne Data Acquisition and Processing

Using its flagship software “Aarhus Workbench,” Aarhus Geophysics can reprocess historic AEM data with proper calibration or recalibration routines. The company’s expertise in AEM covers virtually any arbitrary configuration of AEM systems of all the major airborne survey contractors.

One of the latest applications of airborne EM is the modelling of induced polarization from AEM data, which is particularly relevant for mining applications. The presence of IP effect in AEM data was reported decades ago. AEM systems are constantly being improved to increase the signalto-noise ratio and as a result, contractors are now becoming more aware of the IP signatures within the AEM datasets.

Aarhus uses an unconventional approach to invert EM data affected by IP signatures. Instead of disregarding all negative values to invert the AEM data, by taking the IP effect into consideration, the results of both the convergence and the resistivity sections recovered are greatly improved. The approach allows the extraction of extra physical parameters such as the chargeability. The practical application of this methodology has already been proven in several areas, including disseminated sulphide deposits in Canada and Australia and kimberlites in northern Siberia. The company has produced a case study of AEM data processed and modelled with and without including IP parameters, for a leaddominated base metal orebody at about 300 metres depth, in Western Australia.

CGG’s MULTIPULSE TDEM configuration, available on helicopter or fixed-wing platforms, transmits a complex waveform with a high-powered pulse at the start of the waveform to resolve both deep and shallow conductors. Improvements in the inversion process now allow the entire complex waveform to be incorporated in one pass. In 2014, CGG intro-

fixed-wing gradiometer magnetic surveys and radio­ metric surveys around the world, as well as helicoptertowed time-domain EM surveys using the SOURCE-TEM system through a partnership with Source Geophysics of Perth. In addition to flying numerous surveys for private companies in 2014, the company was selected by Mozambique’s Ministry of Mineral Resources to conduct a World Bank-funded regional magnetic and radiometric survey totalling more than 100,000 line-km. Thomson also conducted a multi-client “group-shoot” magnetic and radiometric survey over the highly prospective Fraser Range belt in Western Australia. The survey totalled more than 100,000 line-km for 13 separate clients over 20 separate areas.

Tundra Airborne Surveys (TAS) of St. Catharines, Ont., reported another quiet year in 2014.

The company flies combined magnetic, horizontal gradient, radiometric, and VLF-EM surveys using its Diamond DA-42 Twin Star and a Piper Navajo leased from KASI Aviation Services of Dorval, Que. The partnership with Scott Hogg & Associates continued with a 4,000 line-km Heli-GT survey flown in Ontario’s Ring of Fire for Noront Resources. TAS also entered into a partnership agreement with ED3-D isosurfaces of magnetic and Falcon AGG data (density) CON-PRJ of Denver, Colo., to collect 22,000 linefrom the Ring of Fire complex in northern Ontario showing the major chromite deposits. km of aeromagnetic data with the DA-42 as part of Credit: GeophysicsOne and Condor Consulting a much larger survey for oil and gas in the U.S.

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS duced IP chargeability derived from airborne TDEM data as a new tool for mineral exploration. Chargeability is normally most obvious in TDEM data as reversed polarity anomalies that appear after the “normal” conductivity anomaly but the chargeability/conductivity effect may be more subtle. Data processing has now been refined to separate chargeability from conductivity. TDEM Chargeability is now available as an optional product in all of CGG’s airborne TDEM surveys.

Condor Consulting continues to expand its GeoInterp services first introduced in 2013, and in 2014, supported client projects in Canada, the U.S., Chile, Africa and Sweden.

While ArcGIS is the standard format for GeoInterp results, outcomes are now being provided as Leapfrog 3-D files where required. For ZTEM surveys, the number of 3-D inversion projects increased and 3-D MT modelling has been added, with projects in the U.S. and Russia. Condor’s extensive library of case studies expanded last year with the addition of an assessment of various airborne and ground datasets over the Ring of Fire complex in northern Ontario, undertaken in collaboration with GeophysicsOne of Oakville, Ont. Condor continues to be a re-seller for the Pitney Bowes Business Insight (PBBI) Encom line of geophysical software.

Geotech has implemented new semi-automated interpretation using Neural Network (NN) and Maximum Entropy Likelihood (MEL) supervised classification techniques for faster analysis of multi-parameter data. The amount of multi-disciplinary (e.g. geology, geophysics, remote sensing) and multi-parameter geophysical (e.g. potential field, EM, gamma-ray spectrometry) data available for mineral exploration is continually increasing. The Neural Network technique analyzes these datasets and can potentially result in identification of missed targets. The analysis of the data for mineralization targeting requires efficient search engines that take the signatures of known mineral deposits (“keywords”), search the data space and return potential new targets (“matches”) for follow-up. These combined techniques were successfully applied for the analysis and interpretation of multidisciplinary data from Geotech’s regional surveys in Niger and Cameroon in 2014.

Development of its new joint MT-ZTEM 2D inversion code in 2013 led Geotech to a partnership with Australia’s

VPem3D inversion of downhole TEM data from Mira Geoscience: two loops, two holes, and three components.

Credit: Mira Geoscience

CSIRO in the first-ever deployment of a helicopter ZTEM system over a regional magnetotelluric (MT) transect in West Australia, in 2014. The hope is that high lateral density sampling of shallow (about 10 metres) resistivity information provided by ZTEM in the upper 1-2 km will greatly augment the more deeply penetrating (about 50 km), but widely spaced (about 10 km) resistivity data provided by MT using new joint MT-ZTEM two-dimensional and three-dimensional inversion codes.

Medusa Systems of Groningen, Netherlands, has released a script-based version of its Gamman spectral processing software for performing elevation, cosmic and radon corrections of airborne gamma-ray data. The new version can now be used from data processing packages like Intrepid’s or Geosoft’s Oasis. For example, using the Oasis script utility and the Oasis GX programming language, it is easy to call an external program from within Oasis to carry out “custom” computations not supported within the Oasis program.

Mira Geoscience, headquartered in Montreal, continued to expand its integrated interpretation software and consulting services for exploration targeting. Geophysical software development was focused on Geoscience INTEGRATOR for

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS data management, the GOCAD Mining Suite for advanced that simplifies the workflow for complex 3-D magnetic and integrated modelling, and Geoscience ANALYST for decigravity inversion studies and greatly reduces the time resion making and communication. The company is the only quired to investigate multiple targets. ModelVision uses the commercial provider of sales and support of the industryx, y, z location of every sensor measurement during modelleading 3-D forward modelling and inversion software ling and inversion to ensure that the highest precision can be UBC-GIF (Geophysical Inversion Facility) Version 5 and of achieved in physical property and spatial analysis of the geothe Brisbane-based Fullagar Geophysics VP Suite. These logical targets. The inversions are always constrained by the extensive geophysical toolkits are available as standalone geological models used to seed the inversions with full conprograms or fully embedded in the GOCAD The first full-tensor magnetic gradiometer Mining Suite for direct, quantitative integrausing low-temperature SQUID sensors. tion with the geological, geochemical, and Credit: Spectrem Air physical property model. Mira played a part in a breakthrough in 3-D TEM inversion in collaborative work completed for the Australian AMIRA Project, “Rapid Approximate Inversion of TEM Data.” The new algorithm, VPem3D, offers both speed and practicality and is suitable for airborne, downhole, and ground dB/dt or B-field data. As with other modelling and inversion codes in the VP Suite, VPem3D can operate directly on 3-D geological models. It fills an important gap in interpretability of TEM data, providing a fast, approximate solution when rigorous 3-D inversion is too slow and expensive, but neither CDIs nor 1-D inversion is adequate. More rigorous 3-D TEM trol over physical property ranges and spatial positioning. software can refine the interpretation of selected anomalies ModelVision can work with simple shapes for rapid analysis later, if required. VPem3D will be released commercially by of magnetic surveys, or with detailed 3-D model sections Mira in early 2015. In 2014, UBC-GIF released a substantial from mine models, in the search for off-hole resources. There upgrade of its GRAV3D, MAG3D, DCIP3D and DCIP2D foris forward modelling and inversion support for full-tensor ward modelling and inversion programs. The enhancements gravity meters, full-tensor magnetometers, multi-composave time and run efficiently on large-scale problems with nent fluxgate magnetometers and total field cross-wing gramulti-processor capability. They increased the capability to diometers, in addition to conventional gravity meters and incorporate geologic information via a multi-component total field magnetometers. Joint inversion capabilities for regularization function, the reference model, petrophysical multi-component sensors were extended to support general constraints, and use of active and inactive cells. Mira conpolyhedral bodies that could be created in ModelVision or tinued its direct research leadership role in the data integraimported from 3D DXF, Gemcom, GOCAD, Datamine, EStion component of the industry and NSERC-funded CMIC RI TIN and 3D Studio files. Isosurfaces exported from UBC “Footprints” (of ore systems) project. Its software suite is the gravity or magnetic inversion models can also be imported project’s key 3-D integrated earth modelling platform. using the 3D DXF format of GOCAD format options. New During 2014, Scott Hogg & Associates (SHA) of Toronto, tools for diamond explorers provide area calculations for cirwhich conducts Heli-GT survey operations in Canada, addcular and elliptic pipes derived from geophysical inversions. ed more features to its DAQNAV system, a data acquisition Aeromagnetic Surveying and navigation system for airborne surveys. The acquisition In 2014, GEM Systems of Markham, Ont., began delivermodule now logs data to an SD Card from all devices that ing ultra-lightweight magnetometer systems for the shortoutput data via any of the major communication interfaces, range multi-rotor class of UAVs. The systems feature a single including Serial/USB Cable, Ethernet Cable and Wireless lightweight version of GEM’s optically pumped potassium Signal, for maximum compatibility with today’s survey invapour magnetometer sensor, a data-acquisition module, strumentation. In two new 2014 developments, the navigaGPS navigation and laser altimeter to monitor and control tion module now provides real-time aeromagnetic comterrain clearance. pensation in addition to real-time instrument diagnostic The company also took delivery of a fixed-wing UAV (fitinformation for all attached devices, and SHA now ships the ted with wingtip pods for its magnetometer sensors) to flight DAQNAV system on outdoor tablet computers as an alternatest its UAV-borne gradiometer systems. The specific UAV tive to the rack-mount CPU with touchscreen configuration. vehicle was selected based on minimal magnetic interferTensor Research of Greenwich, New South Wales, proence generated, its available payload, its range (which is comduced a new 3D Target Wizard for ModelVision Release 14

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS parable to a manned helicopter) and its affordability. GEM seria, South Africa) helicopter-mounted boom. In addition will begin offering a turnkey UAV-borne magnetic gradient to offering high-resolution data with very low noise valmapping system in early 2015. The autonomous system is ues, the system provides information on the magnetization capable of collecting high-resolution magnetic gradient data character and accurately locates off-line anomalies. Gridin environments that were formerly surveyed using a conding of this information provides more detail at a finer grid ventional manned vehicle, or which are too remote or too and more usable data at low magnetic latitudes than condangerous for manned vehicles. The new UAV gradiometer ventional magnetics. Interpretation products include prohas a cruise speed of 70 km/h and a range of about 1.5 hours. files and grids of the full set of five independently measured Over 100 line-km of magnetic gradient data can be acquired magnetic tensors and grids of the recovered magnetic vecper flight and multiple flights per day are possible because tors. Using these products, Spectrem can interpret magnetic only minutes are required to change the batteries that power remanence and high-resolution geology in complex regions. the craft. The UAV gradiometer is equipped with all the anOverall, the MagSQUID Full Tensor Magnetic Gradiometer cillary software and hardware required to compensate for offers a new level of information from fast and inexpenany magnetic interference from the UAV. GEM continued sive magnetic surveys. After a successful commissioning to flight test and enhance its Grad Comp 32-term aeromagin 2013, Spectrem’s first large-scale MagSQUID survey in netic compensation software in 2014. The solutions allow for South Africa was recently completed for the Anglo Group. the use of multiple vector magnetometers while ultra-lightweight IMUs monitor and correct for the attitude of the airAirborne Electromagnetic Surveying craft. The solution calculates the aircraft’s figure of merit in Geotech has developed a helicopter VTEM system that is able flight, providing the operator with immediate feedback on to fly faster and at a lower cost without sacrificing data qualhow the application of the calculated compensation coeffiity. Based on its lightweight/lower dipole-moment (18-metre cients compare with the tolerances for the project. The softdiameter) transmitter that is typically used in mountainous ware also determines and quantifies magnetic interference terrains, the new system uses reinforced transmitter loop sources as arising from permanent or induced magnetism or bracing and redesigned loop rigging for a more upright flight from eddy currents. at higher survey speeds, typically 60 knots, compared to the RMS Instruments of Mississauga, Ont., introduced a 40 knots for standard heli-VTEM systems. The new VTEM second-generation core for its aeromagnetic compensation was deployed for the first time in commercial surveys for the systems with new functions which include post-flight comMinistry of Mines and Energy of Namibia in 2014. pensation (PFC), and in-depth analysis of calibration flights.

Geotech’s new airborne data-acquisition and processing The PFC capability complements the AARC500 real-time technique, Airborne Inductive Induced Polarization (AIIP), compensation of up to 8 magnetometers and various gradimaps bedrock chargeability from a helicopter TDEM platents. It allows compensation of flights conducted even beform. Most recently, the technique was proven effective by research teams at the University of British Columbia usfore a suitable calibration could be flown, and comparisons ing three-dimensional EM inversion methods. Geotech has and improvements using different calibration datasets. New functions can also evaluate the robustness of compensation solutions. Other enhancements include direct export to Geosoft “GBN” files, better manageTHERE IS NO ment and protection of system files, SUBSTITUTE FOR and comprehensive logging of environmental system operating conditions. An RESOLUTION easy and cost-effective upgrade path from first-generation systems is available. The company is currently focused on developing a very compact, light and low-power real-time compensation sysLeading airborne geophysical contractor, tem suitable for UAV applications. An specialising in technically superior, efficient initial production run is expected in the and professional surveys. The company has first half of 2015. completed in excess of 2,500,000 line Since 2010, Anglo American and kilometres of survey in over 41 countries.

De Beers have partnered with IPHT in Germany to develop the first fullwww.airbornegeophysics.com tensor magnetic gradiometer using T: +27 (0) 21 789 0509 low-temperature SQUID sensors. After E: info@nrgex.co.za tests using a towed bird, the system is now installed on a Spectrem Air (LanSupplement to Feb. 23, 2015 edition of The Northern Miner (Vol. 101, No. 2)

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS

Spectrem’s new high-power SPECTREMPLUS EM system with a single-turn loop around its Basler DC3.

Credit: Spectrem Air

implemented its own AIIP solution using a one-dimensional EM inversion with a parallel Cole-Cole IP solver that is capable of detecting weak IP signals in late-channel EM decays. This new AIIP process adds inductive chargeability as a derived physical property, along with the EM conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measured with standard TDEM systems. AIIP processing can be applied to existing and previously flown VTEM datasets whenever chargeable bodies are suspected, for example, in exploration for gold, chromite and kimberlite.

In 2015, Geotech will also release a new, lower-frequency hybrid airborne and ground EM system, designed for deep electrical mapping below 2 km. Also new this year, the company will introduce on-site ground calibration of its helicopter EM systems for more precise near-surface resistivity controls for shallow seismic static corrections and groundwater applications. Finally, Geotech has reclaimed the industry’s highest dipole moment (over 2 million NIA) with the new VTEM Xtrem, while maintaining all of the characteristics of the standard VTEM. Moscow-based Geotechnologies developed significant new modifications of its EQUATOR helicopter-borne EM system in 2014. The unique advantage of the system is that it provides data in both time-domain and frequency-domain.

The system now has improved signal-to-noise ratio at early times (5 to 50 microseconds) and a broadened range of measured frequencies. The modified system was used in a survey for Alrosa, a company in the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic.

The survey, with a target of small, low-contrast and weaklyconductive (50 to 300 ohm-m) bodies was challenging for electromagnetic methods. The new high-quality measurements at early times made it possible for EQUATOR to detect the targets. Moreover, data in the frequency domain allowed the system to estimate resistivity in zones affected by the inductive IP effect. The survey proved the effectiveness of Geotechnologies’ modifications to EQUATOR. SkyTEM launched its new SkyTEM312FAST in October

2014 as an alternative to fixed-wing EM. The system, which is aerodynamically engineered for data acquisition at unprecedented helicopter speeds approaching 150 km/h, can deliver a higher down-line sample rate than a fixed-wing system. SkyTEM312FAST also offers the ability to safely drape the terrain with low clearance of 35 to 60 metres, flexible logistics, a dipole moment of 510,000 NIA, high-quality accurate data delivered in less than 48 hours, plus the option to collect magnetic and radiometric data concurrently. The SkyTEM516 system, with an NIA of approximately 1,000,000, was also launched. It records data as early as 10 microseconds concurrently with late time measurements at 35 milliseconds, for both shallow and deep investigation. The company is now modelling the airborne IP effect from a SkyTEM dataset and expects to offer airborne IP as an optional deliverable product in 2015.

Spectrem Air completed a major upgrade to its airborne EM survey system by developing a new high-power transmitter and installing a 19-mm single-turn loop around its Basler DC3 aircraft. The system is now capable of transmitting just below 1900 A using Spectrem’s proprietary wave signal. The new SPECTREMPLUS system is now one of the most advanced fixed-wing airborne EM systems. It

Installation of a GT-2A gravimeter on a Terraquest Piper Navajo.

Credit: Terraquest

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS

Medusa’s MS-UAV being mounted underneath a heli-drone.

Credit: Medusa

is ideal for mineral exploration, hydrogeological investigations and geo-engineering applications. Spectrem claims that the 100% square wave signal of the SPECTREMPLUS has considerably better low-frequency content than most pulse systems, allowing great depth penetration for the same dipole moment while still effective for resolution at shallow depth. The company has entered into an agreement with GPX Surveys of Belmont, Western Australia, to market services in Australia and Asia.

Terraquest, which has operated its proprietary broadband XDS VLF-EM system for over eight years, became the exclusive provider of the new Matrix VLF-EM system in 2014. Developed by Newmarket, Ont.-based Magenta, the Matrix system has tri-axial EM coils coupled with a digital, frequency-specific receiver capable of monitoring up to four VLF frequencies. Processed outputs include the total field and vertical ellipticity for each station. The broadband XDS and frequency-specific Matrix systems complement each other to provide improved definition of conductors with variable orientation and are especially applicable to structural mapping.

in diverse environments, including the remote fjords of Greenland, jungles of Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, the plains of the Midwestern United States and the metropolitan Los Angeles Basin. The company continued to develop rotational and horizontal invariants that heighten visibility of geological targets and map linear features, linear structures and contacts are highlighted with Contact Lineament Processing (CLP), which uses unique properties of the full tensor. Inversion methods, such as fulltensor migration, produce a density cube model that represents changes in geology and provides an image of the size and shape of targets such as orebodies.

Terraquest has been carrying out airborne gravity surveys internationally for six years and has gained significant experience with three types of gravimeters. The company will take delivery of a GT-2A gravimeter from Canadian Micro Gravity in early 2015. The system is designed primarily to detect longer-wavelength, deeper sources as are targeted in petroleum exploration.

Airborne Gamma-ray Spectrometric Surveying

In early 2015, Medusa plans to release MS-UAV, a new series of airborne radiation detection systems optimized for use on UAVs (drones). Medusa has minimized the system’s weight and power consumption by using a low-weight carbon-fiber housing, newly developed low-power, small-footprint electronics and by integrating data processing and storage into the sensor. At present, the MS-UAV systems are used mostly in monitoring and security operations but they also have increasing potential for use in prospecting.

Airborne Gravity Surveying

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS

GROUND SURVEY TECHNIQUES

Crone Geophysics preparing to transport Borehole Pulse-EM equipment in Colombia.

Credit: Crone Geophysics

D

iscovery International Geophysics was active in North America and Asia in the past year using a variety of technologies, including the high-sensitivity Jessy Deep (JD) SQUID EM and MIP/MMR survey systems, the DigiAtlantis fluxgate borehole EM system, and Discovery’s MRI (Multi-pole Resistivity Imaging) system in conjunction with high-power transmitters. Discovery performed JD SQUID surveys with a relatively small transmitter loop using in-loop mode or Slingram mode. These styles of surveys were completed in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec for uranium, base metals and nickel exploration.

The company also carried out borehole TEM surveys using the EMIT DigiAtlantis system on projects in these provinces as well as MRI surveys throughout Saskatchewan. In addition to numerous DCIP resistivity surveys in Saskatchewan for uranium exploration, the company carried out a large reconnaissance-style IP (RIP) survey in China for regional porphyry copper exploration. The RIP method, which has existed for many decades for reconnaissance exploration for large targets, is now seeing a resurgence. This is because of the application of fullwave data processing to handle the low signal strengths that result from large Tx-Rx separations ranging up to several kilometres in a conductive environment.

Last year, Discovery partnered with GAP Geophysics (Australia) to complete two surveys in Canada using GAP’s Heli-SAM technology. The HeliSAM system uses a highpower ground loop or grounded dipole, and an airborne Bfield receiver. The use of a helicopter for the receiver allows for much more efficient survey data acquisition, and eliminates line-cutting of survey lines. A survey in Manitoba over Hudbay Minerals’ Lalor VMS deposit, the top of which is at a

depth of 575 metres, confirmed the effectiveness of this technology for detecting deep massive sulphides. In addition, a survey in the oilsands area of Alberta was effective in mapping resistivity to great depth. The HeliSAM system will be returning to Canada in early 2015, primarily for base metal exploration.

Geophysics GPR, which now offers ground gravity and magnetotelluric survey services, completed several ground gravity surveys in Africa (Madagascar, Zambia, Mozambique) for mineral exploration in 2014. It also acquired ground gravity data in Oman to be used with data from the airborne gravity survey it flew for the computation of Oman’s National Geoid Model. In addition, the company completed a large MT survey in Ethiopia for oil and gas exploration, as well as a CSAMT survey in Colombia for coal exploration.

Physical Rock Properties & Elemental Analysis

In 2015, Quebec-city based Instrumentation GDD (GDD) plans to release a new handheld Wi-Fi MPP probe for magnetic susceptibility and EM conductivity measurements that can be used with any device with Wi-Fi connectivity such as a computer, cell phone or PDA. The probe will be accessible through a built-in wireless access point and have a web application to display and collect data. The MPP probe can measure magnetic susceptibility as well as the relative and absolute EM conductivity of small and large objects, such as drill core, field samples, boulders and outcrops.

Spectral Evolution of Lawrence, Mass., released the oreXpress and oreXpress Platinum field portable NIR spectrometers last year. Both models are for single-user operation in the field during exploration and core logging. The oreXpress

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS family offers high-resolution and full-range scanning (3502,500 nanometers) with high signal-to-noise ratios, autoshutter, auto-exposure, and auto dark correction. The ore­ Xpress delivers rapid scanning/data collection in the field, sturdy construction and reliable operation with no moving optics, and a range of accessories, including a rugged mineral contact probe. Either model can be ordered with the optional EZ-ID mineral identification software and the USGS and SpecMIn mineral spectral libraries. With EZ-ID, unknown minerals are matched in seconds to a known spectral library.

In 2014, Terraplus of Richmond Hill, Ont., introduced the KT-20 Physical Property Measuring System, which can measure the magnetic susceptibility, conductivity and density of a geological sample or drill core. The two dual-frequency sensors have been configured specifically for high-sensitivity magnetic susceptibility or conductivity measurements. The KT-20 features a modular design enabling the sensors to be interchanged, a large transreflective colour display, built-in high-resolution camera and integrated GPS. In addition to adding the KT-20 to its rental pool, the company added the oreXpress UV-VIS-NIR Spectrometer. With the oreXpress, geologists can quickly scan samples and identify minerals and different mineral phases. The company also added the QL40ABI-2G Acoustic Televiewer, which features an increased logging speed, higher image resolution in large-diameter boreholes, and an improved signal-to-noise ratio for better results in adverse borehole conditions.

AGCOS folding three-component precision tripod for quick setup of induction magnetic sensors on any terrain.

Credit: AGCOS

tion System. A dedicated workspace allows the simultaneous display and processing of tool manufacturer-independent image datasets. Formation MicroImager (FMI) data can be interpreted next to 3-D core images as well as acoustic and optical televiewer images interpreted in the same workspace.

Preprocessing of the images provides feedback about suitability of zones for automated processing. Automated Picking detects planar structures in all downhole image types and provides confidence values for the results. Users retain control to confirm and classify auto picks or add picks manually. The acquired structural data is corrected in real-time for borehole orientation and magnetic declination and displayed as tadpole, 3-D planes on virtual cores, in rose diagrams and Ground Data Acquisition and Processing interactive stereonets.

The use of drillhole ultrasonic, optical, electrical and core imAfter several years of research and developage data often requires manual picking of geological structure ment and field trials, AGCOS and NMRU have from the images, which is time consuming and subjective. proposed an innovative two-stage exploration The latest WellCAD release from Advanced Logic Technolmethodology. Data acquisition is realized in ogy (ALT), based in Luxembourg, provides a faster, objective one pass using the AGCOS multi-function analysis method with its new Image & Structure Interpretadata-acquisition receiver, GEPARD-8, to record AMT, MVP, CSAMT and SIP. The first stage is acquisition of AMT and MVP data along broadly spaced reconnaissance profiles set out to detect conductors and to derive vectors indicative of conductor location. High productivity in the field is achieved with the AGCOS tripod, which allows rapid collection of data from the three-component magnetic induction sensor. The advantage of the MVP method is it has high sensitivity to conductors and it yields directional vectors. Field work progresses rapidly using the AGCOS folding threecomponent precision tripod for quick setup of the induction magnetic sensor. In the field, the MVP data are interpreted and (Inset) Terraplus’ KT-20 Physical Property Measuring System.

Credit: Terraplus drill target co-ordinates determined using a (Bottom) Spectral Evolutions’ oreXpress field portable NIR spectrometer. process developed by AGCOS and NMRU. Credit: Spectral Evolutions The second stage is detailed work over the Supplement to Feb. 23, 2015 edition of The Northern Miner (Vol. 101, No. 2)

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS the ellipticity), as measured by VLF-EM instruments. The program can also be used in modelling studies. Some advantages are that data can be split into individual transmitter stations for presentation; VLF data can be modelled at different resistivities; several VLF lines can be combined and viewed as plan maps or topography; Fraser and K-H data can be viewed as plan slices; and grid line models can be viewed in 3-D with rotation capabilities.

Drillhole Methods

Lamontagne Geophysics’ WebGL MultiLoop X user interface showing an XZ oriented protractor tool used to compose and modify forward models in 3-D to interpret EM data.

Credit: Lamontagne Geophysics

selected targets, performed using the same multiple electrical methods. Low cost is achieved by selecting measurement stations and by recording four stations simultaneously on one receiver. Three stations record the electric field component Ex. The fourth station records five components (Ex, Ey, Hx, Hy and Hz), which enable data computation for all methods.

Over the past four years, the technique has been successfully used in Russia, in Eastern Siberia and in Chukotka.

Toronto-based Caracle Creek International Consultants (CCIC) continued to develop and expand applications of MyMAPS, a cloud-based information management and mapping software released in 2013. The software is a secure, web-based interactive data warehouse and mapping suite that provides a practical lands management toolkit to organize information both spatially and logically.

Lamontagne Geophysics of Kingston, Ont., introduced MultiLoop X and 3C Plotter, two HTML5 software tools that use the new capabilities of modern browsers in interactive 3-D and vector graphics. MultiLoop X uses WebGL libraries to compose model scenes for the MultiLoop 3 compute engine (multi-conductor curved surface EM modelling) and also to view the results. The models can be exchanged, viewed in 3-D and modified by anyone in a work group with a modern browser, even those without a MultiLoop 3 license. In a similar manner, the web application 3C Plotter uses an interactive scalable vector graphic (svg) layer in a browser to view or print plotted field or modelled EM data in a format that can be changed interactively. These free Javascript applications can be run from the company’s website or offline by opening the locally stored html files with a browser.

VLF2DMF is a software package that has been developed

by EMTOMO of Lisbon, Portugal, and used by Superior Exploration of Batchawana Bay, Ont., for processing and inversion of EM induction data acquired at very low frequency (VLF). VLF2DMF is capable of inverting VLF-EM data acquired along a survey line at different frequencies. Data can also be processed as raw, Fraser or KH resistivity profiles.

The input data are the real and imaginary parts (in-phase and quadrature components) of the tipper (or the tilt angle and

During 2014, Abitibi Geophysics completed a five-hole borehole gravity survey surrounding Hudbay Minerals’ Lalor mine in Manitoba. The survey was carried out as part of the Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI) program of the Geological Survey of Canada and was sponsored by the TGI-4 Indirect Sensing Project, in partnership with Hudbay Minerals.

Density variations in the holes provided a detailed picture of the lithology and also identified a new potential target. Under the TGI-4 Methodology Development Project, 3-D seismic data were also acquired and were processed and interpreted

by GSC geoscientists. The interpretation of the borehole gravity data and integration with 3-D seismic data was completed by the GSC’s TGI-4 team and compiled into a 3-D model that was presented at the BCGS Lalor Symposium held in VanDGI Geoscience conducting geophysical logging in a shallow-angle drillhole.

Credit: DGI Geoscience

couver in October 2014. The GSC interpretation and Abitibi Geophysics’ presentation on borehole gravity are available through the Symposium website.

ALT released the second generation of its optical televiewer in 2014. The new QL40-OBI-2G implements the latest generation of CMOS digital image sensors and digital signal processors to provide high-resolution images — up to 1,800 pixels over the borehole circumference. When operated with the BBOX/ALTLogger acquisition systems, new telemetry improvements allow users to record high-resolution image logs at faster logging speeds.

Caracle Creek provides integrated surface and borehole IP surveys using the EarthProbe DCIP technology developed

by Markham, Ont.-based partner Geoserve Logging and Tomography. The company has taken delivery of a new superresolution cable that provides easy and rapid deployment of

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS electrodes with only 2-metre separation for highly detailed resistivity/chargeability surveys. The first deployment of the new system was for a tailings dam study in Central America, mapping sub-2-metre features to 80 metres depth. EarthProbe operates as surface IP, borehole profiling, hole-to-hole and surface-to-hole tomography.

Toronto-based DGI Geoscience provides field geophysical logging services in holes steeper than -45° from horizontal.

In 2014, the company developed and implemented logging procedures for horizontal, “uphole,” and boreholes shallower than -45° where gravity cannot pull the probe down. The method can be used in any borehole orientation drilled in underground mine workings. Working with drillers, an anchor with a pulley is installed at the end of the borehole. A line is run through the pulley, allowing the operator’s winch to pull the borehole sonde down (or up) the hole. The sonde acquires data quality equivalent to a downhole run by gravity. The method can be used to collect a variety of measurements, including: natural gamma, density, neutron, magnetic susceptibility, acoustic velocity, inductive conductivity, temperature, apparent resistivity, caliper, flow rate and acoustic and optical televiewer images.

In 2014, Medusa completed the integration of its fullspectrum analysis package “Gammabase” into ALT’s new WellCAD version 5.0 to allow for processing of gamma-ray spectral logs. The Gammabase package now also contains a toolbox for the correction of gamma-ray data for various borehole parameters, for logging tool diameters ranging from 25 mm to 100 mm. The company is a partner in “SoiMon,” an EU-funded R&D program to develop an actively compensated Measurement While Drilling (MWD) tool for soil research. Together with the Danish Technology Institute (Aarhus, Denmark), Medusa developed a vibration-compensated sensor kit that combines a radiation sensor with a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) sensor. The sensor combination should provide on-line measurement of soil composition and pollution levels for rapid site characterization. Test runs of the new MWD system were planned for early 2015.

Through its sister company Micro-g LaCoste of Lafayette, Colo., Scintrex Ltd. of Concord, Ont., continues to offer full borehole gravity logging services with its Gravilog probe for mining applications and its Bluecap probe for oil and gas applications. Accuracies of better than 5 microGals have been reported for the borehole gravity surveys. The company is expanding its borehole gravity services to more countries. In 2014, Gravilog surveys were conducted by Abitibi Geophysics at Hudbay Minerals’ Lalor mine. A Bluecap survey was also conducted by Micro-g in Estevan, Sask. Scintrex now offers hybrid gravity surface surveys using the A10 Absolute Gravimeter and the CG-5 Autograv relative gravity meter. Presurvey feasibility studies and interpretation services, using state-of-the-art forward and inversion modeling techniques for surface and borehole gravity surveys, are also available.

Also recently introduced, the MGS-6 Marine Gravity System is the latest generation in a long line of marine gravity meters developed over the past 40 years.

Abitibi Geophysics conducting an ARMIT TDEM survey in Tanzania.

Credit: Abitibi Geophysics

Ground Electromagnetic Methods

Last year, Abitibi Geophysics conducted an ARMIT TDEM (step-wise moving loop configuration) survey over Denison Mines’ Wheeler River uranium deposit in the Athabasca Basin. The ARMIT B-field data, which had exceptionally low noise, was used to map the 500-metre-deep conductor. Surveys on an Archean volcanic belt in the mid-north of Quebec with ARMIT TDEM (InfiniTEM loop configuration and Borehole InfiniTEM) for Coulon Mines, resulted in the discovery/delineation of two polymetallic lenses. The company expanded its geophysical service capabilities in Morocco and Ivory Coast by working with local mining groups. A joint case history with Morocco-based Managem describing the success using an ARMIT InfiniTEM system to identify a copper-zinclead VMS target at Khwadra in Morocco, under 260 metres of very conductive conglomerate, will be published in 2015.

Crone Geophysics reported continued demand for both B-field (mag) and dB/dt (coil) time-domain EM sensors in its borehole and surface Pulse EM surveys along with its Step Response Transformation which detects and resolves conductors of very high conductance. Interest in B-field can be explained by the fact that these sensors (fluxgate and SQUID), which measure the magnetic fields created (induced) by the Pulse EM system, have slightly lower noise and appear to produce smoother data than dB/dt sensors, which measure the time rate of change of those fields. The company continued to use CSIRO’s LANDTEM units with its own Pulse EM system

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS for EM profiling and mapping to greater depths (up to 60 metres). The two-man, easily opCredit: GF Instruments erated instrument with variable dipole separation of 10, 20 and 40 metres and minimized weight, can quickly characterize geological structures such as bedrock, weathered zones, cavities, fissures and differentiate rocks and sediments. The contactless measuring technique is suitable for surveys on stony, arid, frozen or artificial nonferrous surfaces. The CMDDUO SW package supports Bluetooth communication and GPS connectivity, has flexible data management and processing and features export to common mapping and inversion software.

GDD’s enhanced NordicEM24, 8-channel, 24-bit EM receiver has been in use by geophysical contractors and mining companies for the last two years, especially in cold temperatures to minus 40°C. In a new 2014 development, it is now possible to use the compact, rugged, portable GDD EM receiver with the model BH43-3D three-component EM downhole probe from Geonics. The receiver can be easily adapted to be compatible with other downhole probes on the market.

In addition, enhanced post-processing software allows users to generate new output files from the raw data using different survey parameters and to visualize collected data, including raw and stacked data, decay curves, profiles and a computed spectrum analysis of the stacked data. Original files can be reprocessed with new parameters including: transmitter current (for current normalization), stacking algorithm, delay (correction for timing error), ramp (turn-off time) and window scheme. It is possible to apply a sensor conversion factor, invert the signal or discard noisy decays from the final stack.

The NordicEM24 EM receiver output data file is compatible with Maxwell and other data-analysis and inversion software and customized export functions can also be created.

The existing NordicEM24 Tx controller is compatible with EM transmitters available from other manufacturers.

It allows crystal and GPS synchronization between the EM transmitter and the GDD EM receiver. In 2015, GDD will introduce a new, versatile EM-IP Tx controller compatible with both GDD IP and EM instruments. For EM surveys, the new GDD EM-IP transmitter controller will allow users to record the current sent into the loop in real time from 0.001A to 40A with a GPS timestamp.

Lamontagne Geophysics has built a prototype UTEM 5 Inductive Source Resistivity (ISR) system which will make Efield measurements with large-loop UTEM transmitters. The UTEM 5 ISR system is designed for use with normal contact electrodes or with capacitive (contactless) electrodes suitable

GF Instruments’ CMD DUO digital conductivity meter for EM profiling.

in 2014, in PEM-SQUID surveys for high conductivity targets and/or very deep exploration. The sensors were improved during the year with a new type of cryostat. The speed of fluxgate B-field surface and B-field borehole surveys was also increased through hardware and software improvements, and an improved interface on the CDR3 receiver, which measures three components simultaneously.

Although B-field fluxgate sensors shift the range of conductors that can be detected during the off-time towards higher conductance, weak conductors can be missed, which supports the continued use of dB/dt sensors to detect the full range of conductors from near-perfect to weakly conductive targets. Crone’s unique Step Response Transformation, which allows near-perfect conductors to be seen with dB/dt sensors, was extended to a similar transformation of B-field data. The new B-field Step Transformation converts B-field data collected on a typical TDEM 50% duty-cycle waveform into the step response on a 100% duty-cycle waveform. This supplies the step response at channel times up to twice the length of the time base, providing an additional advantage over offtime measurements when exploring for extremely high conductance targets. The new algorithm was tested, proven, and extensively used in 2014.

Mississauga, Ont.-based Geonics, has developed a new UXO Detector for locating UXO devices such as bomblets or submunition in highly mineralized magnetically active soil. The main components of the system include a transmitter with 2.7 by 0.7-metre transmitter loop, four receiver coils, acquisition and processing console and proprietary software that filters out the effect of magnetically susceptible soil. The survey is guided by a high-resolution GPS system. Initial field trials showed excellent results in terms of target detection and soil-response rejection.

GF Instruments of Brno, Czech Republic, has expanded its series of advanced multi-depth frequency domain digital conductivity meters with the new CMD-DUO instrument

22 Supplement to Feb. 23, 2015 edition of The Northern Miner (Vol. 101 No. 2)

EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS for arid or frozen surface conditions. Like the UTEM 5 surface feedback coil sensor, the ISR measuring system uses a fibre optic-isolated connection to the UTEM 5 receiver. Simultaneous measurements of up to nine sets of UTEM channels (three electric dipoles and three transmitters at once) are possible. Lamontagne is evaluating two prototypes of the new UTEM 5 transmitter in the field. The new medium-power systems feature a 10% higher maximum output voltage and a 25% improvement in power efficiency compared to the highpower UTEM 4 transmitter. The new system has a 4,300W maximum output power and a maximum peak-to-peak 1,200V reversing voltage drive across the loop. Similar to the UTEM 4 system, the UTEM 5 transmitter features synthetic waveform generation adjustable to any base frequency and pre-emphasis filtering and it uses 4-quadrant current regulation suitable for a reactive load. The system can be powered by 240V AC generators of 3 kW to 6.5 kW output. The new transmitters will be used mainly for UTEM 5 surface surveys and UTEM 5 ISR surveys. They are particularly effective for

Geonics’ UXO detector for use over magnetically active ground.

Credit: Geonics

light gauge wire loops larger than 2 km in size where the output is limited by available voltage.

Superior Exploration has been carrying out ground VLF EM-16 surveys for the past year for various mining companies in North America, Mexico, Ireland and Portugal. The advantages of this field technique include; only a handheld GPS is required (no grid lines), several transmitters can be read at each station and up to 6 km of VLF survey can be carried out in a survey day. VLF surveying is processed using VLF2DMF software. It has been successful in discovering several new gold, massive sulphide and breccia pipes in the Batchawana Bay area of Ontario.

Induced Polarization

In 2014, Abitibi Geophysics acquired the Clarity3D Downhole Spectral IP/Resistivity survey equipment from JVX and will use it to expand its data-acquisition capabilities.

JVX will continue to provide geophysical consulting services to its client base and will collaborate through an alliance with Abitibi on joint projects. In another reported success,

Alexandria Minerals intersected 150 metres of coppermolybdenum-gold porphyry-type mineralization under 60 metres of conductive overburden near Val-d’Or, Que., as a result of drilling an OreVision IP anomaly. The OreVision IP method uses a unique addressable-electrode cable technology for increased depth of exploration without increased cost of data acquisition.

Dias Geophysical’s new DIAS-32 system is a fully-distributed (single-channel receiver) DCIP system that employs a wireless mesh network to link all receiver units to the operational base. The network facilitates instant quality control, receiver status monitoring, and targeted troubleshooting, as well as crew safety and operational efficiency.

One of the more significant advantages of wireless is the removal of operational complications relating to the emplacement and maintenance of wires and the noise that these additional wires can create. The DIAS-32 system incorporates two unique new safety measures. A current lockout system mitigates the risk of electrocution by the high-voltage transmitter wires through the use of networked handheld devices that monitor and can control the transmitter function. In addition, a lightning shunt system reduces the risk of electrocution from lightning energy transmitted through the survey wire grid.

The fully-distributed system architecture allows for virtually any array geometry at any scale, and the use of a common voltage reference wire further enhances the flexibility in array design. Dias offers a survey array optimization process to enhance the sensitivity of a given survey design for a particular application, and also to optimize survey operations. DIAS-32 acquires timeseries data in each of the receiver units, and the current waveform is measured using a proprietary time-series recorder. Inversion of the results is carried out using Geotomo Software or UBC-GIF codes.

The company has completed several test and demonstration surveys with the DIAS-32 system in Saskatchewan, and a full production-scale test in October confirmed data quality.

GF Instruments developed a new method of vector correction applicable to its ARES II multi-electrode systems for advanced time-domain IP surveys. The method, implemented with the built-in powerful ARES II current transmitter, significantly suppresses artificial and telluric noise. This makes high sensitivity evaluation at a wide range of IP levels possible, using 2-D/3-D tomography (or a simple VES technique) with dipole-dipole, Schlumberger and other electrode arrays. The vector correction method is especially valuable for surveys in urban and industrial areas as well as for investigation of deep or low-contrast IP structures.

In 2015, GDD will introduce an EM-IP Tx controller compatible with both GDD IP and EM instruments. For IP surveys, it will be possible to use this new accessory with any IP transmitter available on the market to record the real

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS current injected into the ground from 0.001A to 40A with a GPS timestamp. It will also allow accurate resistivity values to be recalculated with post-processing software as well as GPS synchronization between IP transmitter and receiver when the signal is too weak to do otherwise. The company also plans to release a new compact, inexpensive and lightweight GDD 8-channel IP receiver in 2015 that will allow 3-D, multi-line configurations, e.g. 1 line, 8 channels or 2 lines, 4 channels (1/8, 2/4). In 2014, GDD also released an enhanced software version for IP receivers that is extended beyond dipole-dipole to allow pole-dipole, pole-pole and gradient 3-D and multi-line configurations (1/32, 2/16, 4/8). The software

is stored locally in the untethered unit, avoiding data cables; and its light weight, at only 1.1 kg for each 4-channel acquisition unit. In addition, it is versatile, with the ability to connect any sensor for the collection of a suite of geophysical datasets, including Resistivity/IP, EM, MT, CSAMT and MMR/MIP. The Volterra system is being widely used for custom IP surveys in British Columbia, Yukon, Mongolia, Chile, Australia and the Dominican Republic. In addition to IP, the system can be configured to collect three-component surface EM data using high-sensitivity B-field coils. A custom-designed, lightweight, EM transmitter, also developed in-house by SJ Geophysics to run with a 2000W generator, has been proven to work efficiently in both winter and summer environments.

The electronics of these data-acquisition units are also packaged in a slim borehole probe that allows surveying in BQ holes or through NQ drill rods. Some key characteristics of the lightweight Volterra borehole system are: an internal data logger that eliminates the need for data cables; the ability to survey through drill rods, with the borehole probe lowered through the drill rods and drill-bit for surveying as the drill-rods are being pulled out of the hole — especially useful when a hole is at high risk of collapse; and the ability to connect multiple sensors for different survey configurations (EM, Mag, IP, etc).

Quantec Geoscience deploying the Spartan MT system in Saskatchewan.

Credit: Quantec Geoscience

also increases productivity by combining new keystrokes on the Allegro PDA. GDD reports that the acquisition startup process is now easier and much faster. A new time base of 16 seconds has also been included in GDD IP instruments. For safety, a new optimized ON /OFF switch system, including an emergency button, has been added to new IP transmitters.

IRIS Instruments of Orleans, France, released its new Tipix 3 kW IP transmitter, a low-cost, reliable, easy-to-use transmitter for induced-polarization and deep resistivity sounding surveys. It can generate a maximum of 2,400 volts for work in high-resistivity areas and up to 13 amperes for low resistivity regions. The Tipix also offers full control of limit values for voltage, current or power, and can be operated with a standard motor generator.

Vancouver-based SJ Geophysics has for years used and experimented with unconventional arrays for resistivity/ induced-polarization data collection, from simple expanding arrays to complex “interlaced diamond” arrays. The company found that commercial receivers were unable to manage the 3-D IP acquisition approach efficiently, which led to the inhouse development of the Volterra Acquisition System. Features include: improved signal-to-noise ratio using advanced acquisition hardware and full-waveform signal processing techniques; distributed independent dipoles with greater flexibility and ability to use complex customized arrays; data

Geometrics’ Geode EM3D CSAMT instrument ready for deployment.

Credit: Geometrics

Ground Magnetic Surveying

GEM Systems developed interfaces for external GPS units in 2014 for the company’s GSM-19 and GSMP-35 series of magnetometers. The option should be of particular interest for customers willing to sacrifice some system sensitivity due to any magnetic interference from the GPS for slight improvements in positional accuracy.

Magnetotelluric

AGCOS has upgraded its multifunction data-acquisition system for implementing AMT, MVP, CSAMT and SIP methods. The system consists of the GEPARD-8 multifunction EM Receiver, the AT-100 multifunction current source, the AMS-15 induction magnetic sensors and the TRI-3/30 folding three-component precision field tripods for installation of the induction magnetic sensors on any terrain and

24 Supplement to Feb. 23, 2015 edition of The Northern Miner (Vol. 101 No. 2)

EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS

➠

soil conditions. The GEPARD-8 has a flexible channel conmonitor a fluid injection experiment. And in an island surfiguration that allows implementation of a variety of electrivey at American Samoa, Quantec integrated a seismometer cal surveying methods. The receiver (data logger), current with the MT survey to help reduce the effect of tidal noise source and induction magnetic sensors have an upper freon the MT. Improvements in QA and QC software for MT quency limit of 50 kHz, allowing detection of small bodies. include a large suite of coherency and signal plots, impedThe precision field tripods for magnetic sensors increase ance rotation and tipper strike. In 2014, Quantec experiboth the measurement accuracy and survey productivity. mented with built dipoles, i.e. the determination of electric Besides mineral exploration, the turnkey system can also field data from time-series for dipoles that were not physibe used for geological engineering, groundwater exploracally measured, and found they retain robust chargeability tion and investigation of environmental problems. The GEinformation over kilometres of integration. In 2015, Quantec PARD-8 and AT-100 can also be used for methods such as will introduce built dipoles both for QC and to augment data IP, VES or electrical tomography without changes in hardavailable to inversion engines. ware or firmware.

Geometrics of San Jose, Calif., introduced a new EM exGround Penetrating Radar (GPR) ploration instrument for mineral exploration in 2014. The In 2014, MPX introduced GPRplus, a new ground penetratGeode EM3D is a distributed, networked CSAMT instruing radar system from Terravision Radar, based in Lonment designed for high-resolution geophysical characterdon. The company claims it can investigate geological feaization of a mining property to depths of 1,500 metres or tures to a depth of 250 metres, whereas most GPR systems more. A reliable Ethernet communication network elimipenetrate to less than 25 metres. MPX partnered with Ternates problems with GPS dropouts or lost satellites, line of ravision to offer this new technology in North and South sight communication failures, loss of radio or Wi-Fi sigAmerica. Several GPRplus survey trials were successfully nals, or blocked antennas. The instrument makes collection completed in Colombia. of dense datasets (CSAMT and AMT data) practical with maximum sensor-source multiplicity. A single network of Ground Radiometric Surveying receiver stations can be designed to optimize the instrument Mississauga, Ont.-baed Radiation Solutions (RSI), which configuration for any project. Full-tensor CSAMT 2-D and supplies and supports the airborne and ground geophysical 3-D surveys are scalable from 6 to 240 electric and magnetic survey industry, reported another positive year in 2014. Late channels on a single network. Ultra-low noise and ultra-low in 2013, RSI and longtime Czech partner Georadis of Brno, distortion on all channels results in higher-quality data for introduced the RS-330 multipurpose gamma-ray spectrombetter interpretation of geologic structures. Advantageous eter with a 76mm x 76mm NaI detector. Now, the new RSfeatures of the new Geode EM3D include: greatly reduced 330S has a 51mm x 51mm BGO detector with a lead shield to acquisition time; ability of the receiver to detect a CSAMT reduce background and collimate the gamma rays striking transmitter at distances of more than 30 km; immediate the detector for applications such as drill core scanning. Sevfeedback on data quality during data acquisition; the ability eral new features for both models include built-in GPS with to make decisions based on real-time, quality-control infor2.0-metre positional accuracy CEP, data storage for a minimation in the field; and local referencing for ambient and mum of 2,000 datasets system noise reduction during processing. of full 1,024-channel ➠ Toronto-based Quantec Geoscience has borrowed the spectra and lithiumFor fixed wing terminology of “patches” of acquisition from the seismic ion rechargeable batgradient or business, since the company’s ORION 3-D method is detery for 10 hours of Heli mag airborne ployed as an areal network rather than parallel lines. A typioperation. survey, we provide cal patch consists of up to 49 loggers and 294 our services on a: dipoles all acquired at once, as channels, for ADVERTISERS’ INDEX ➠ Daily basis each transmit location. Quantec reported 2014 ➠ Partial contract basis was its busiest year for ORION to date, with Condor Consulting, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ➠ Full contract basis more than seven patches run. The company Crone Geophysics and Exploration Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 experimented with buffer amplifiers from Try Us! Numeric Resources of Salt Lake City, Utah, GEM Systems Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Geotech Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC Flux Geophysics Limited for high impedance environments and has NRG (New Resolution Geophysics) . . . . 15 Box 230 purchased 20 units, enough to outfit a small Pico Envirotec Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Durham, Ontario, TITAN system. The amplifiers were successSander Geophysics Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Canada N0G 1R0 fully calibrated for use in high-frequency MT (519) 767-1767 (up to 10 kHz). In 2014, two new applications PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY for MT surveys were explored. At the USDOE info@fluxgeo.com Raft River geothermal plant, MT was used at Flux Geophysics Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 www.fluxgeo.com 18 sites run continuously for over 10 days to Supplement to Feb. 23, 2015 edition of The Northern Miner (Vol. 101, No. 2)

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EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS

Companies and Websites Aarhus Geophysics: www.aarhusgeo.com Abitibi Geophysics: www.ageophysics.com Aeroquest Airborne: www.aeroquestairborne.com AGCOS: www.AGCOS.ca Advanced Logic Technology: www.alt.Lu AMIRA: www.amira.com.au Assegai Geophysics: laurent@exigesa.com Bell Geospace Inc.: www.BellGeo.com BRGM: www.BRGM.fr Canadian Exploration Geophysical Society: www.KEGSonline.org Canadian Micro Gravity: www.canadianmicrogravity.com Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc.: www.caraclecreek.com CGG: www.cgg.com CGG Airborne: www.cgg.com/airborne CIDCO: www.cidco.ca Condor Consulting: www.CondorConsult.com Crone Geophysics & Exploration: www.CroneGeophysics.com CSIRO: www.CSIRO.au Danish Technology Institute: www.dti.dk DGI Geoscience: www.dgigeoscience.com Dias Geophysical: www.diasgeo.com Discovery International Geophysics: www.discogeo.com EDCON-PRJ: www.edcon-prj.com EMIT: www.electromag.com.au EMTOMO: www.emtomo.com EON Geosciences Inc: www.EONgeosciences.com ESRI: www.esri.com Fullagar Geophysics: www.fullagargeophysics.com GAP Geophysics: www.gapgeo.com GEM Systems: www.gemsys.ca Geological Survey of Canada: www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/ Geological Survey of Norway: www.ngu.no Geological Survey of Western Australia: www.dmp.wa.gov.au Geometrics: www.geometrics.com

Geonics: www.geonics.com Geophysics GPR International: www.geophysicsgpr.com GeophysicsOne: Diorio@GeophysicsOne.com Georadis: www.georadis.com Geoserve Logging & Tomography: www.Geo-LT.com Geosoft: www.geosoft.com Geosphair Aviation: www.geosphair.com Geotech Ltd.: www.geotech.ca GeotechAero: www.geotechairborne.com Geotechnologies: www.geotechnologies-rus.com Geotomo Software: www.geotomosoft.com GF Instruments: www.GFinstruments.cz Goldak Airborne Surveys: www.goldak.ca GPX Surveys: www.gpxsurveys.com.au GroundProbe Geophysics: www.GroundProbe.com Gyrolag: laurent@gyrolag.com Instrumentation GDD Inc.: www.gdd.ca Intrepid: www.intrepid-geophysics.com IPHT: www.IPHT-jena.de IRIS Instruments: www.iris-instruments.com JVX Ltd.: www.jvx.ca KASI Aviation Services Inc.: www.kasiaviation.com KazGeology: http://kazgeology.kz/ru KazGeotech: www.geotechairborne.com KEGS: www.KEGSonline.org Lamontagne Geophysics Ltd: Lamont@kos.net Magenta: www.magentageo.com McElhanney Land Surveys: www.mcelhanney.com Medusa Systems BV: www.medusa-sensing.com Micro-g LaCoste Inc.: www.microglacoste.com Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources Naturelles (Quebec): www.mern.gouv.qc.ca Ministère des Ressources Naturelles et de la Faune (Quebec): www.mern.gouv.qc.ca Ministry of Mineral Resources of Mozambique: www.mirem.gov.mz Ministry of Mines and Energy of Namibia: www.mme.gov.na Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (Ontario): www.mndm.gov.on.ca

Mira Geoscience: www.mirageoscience.com MPX Geoservices Ltd.: www.MPXgeophysics.com NASA’s ICE Bridge project: https://espo.nasa.gov/oib National Survey Authority of Oman: www.nsaom.org.om Natural Resources Canada: www.nrcan.gc.ca NMRU: www.spmi.ru Norwegian Geotechnical Institute: www.ngi.no Novatem Inc.: www.novatem.com Numeric Resources: jstodt@numericresources.com PicoEnvirotec: www.picoenvirotec.com Pitney Bowes Business Insight: www.PBBusinessInsight.com Precision GeoSurveys: www.precisiongeosurveys.com Prospectors Aerolavantamentos e Sistemas: www.prospectorsbr.com Quantec Geoscience: www.quantecgeoscience.com Radiation Solutions Inc.: www.RadiationSolutions.ca RMS Instruments: www.RMSinst.com Sander Geophysics: www.sgl.com Scintrex Ltd.: www.scintrexltd.com Scott Hogg & Associates: www.shageophysics.com SJ Geophysics: www.sjgeophysics.com SkyTEM Surveys: www.SkyTEM.com Source Geophysics: www.sourcegeophysics.com Spectral Evolution: www.spectralevolution.com Spectrem Air: www.spectrem.co.za Superior Exploration: www.superior-exploration.ca Tensor Research: www.tensor-research.com.au Terraplus Inc.: www.terraplus.ca Terraquest Ltd.: www.terraquest.ca Terravision Radar: www.terravisionradar.com Thomson Aviation: www.ThomsonAviation.com.au Tundra Airborne Surveys Ltd.: www.tundraair.com University of British Columbia: www.ubc.ca United States Department of Energy: www.energy.gov United States Geological Survey: www.usgs.gov Xcalibur: www.xagsa.com XRI Geophysics: www.xrigeo.com

Abbreviations (for acronyms used in the text) A Ampere AC

Alternating Current

AEM

Airborne EM

AFMAG Audio Frequency Magnetotellurics AMIRA Australian Mineral Industry Research Association AMT

Audiofrequency MT

B

Magnetic Field

BCGS British Columbia Geophysical Society BGO

Bismuth Germanate

CEP

Circular Error Probability

CMIC Canada Mining Innovation Council CMOS Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor CDI

Conductivity Depth Images

CPU

Central Processing Unit

CSAMT Controlled Source AMT

CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization dB/dt rate of change of B with time DC Direct Current DCIP Direct Current Induced Polarization DXF Data Exchange Format; for AutoCAD files EM Electromagnetic ESRI Environmental Systems Research Institute GIF Geophysical Inversion Facility GLONASS Global Navigation Satellite System GPR Ground Probing Radar GPS Global Positioning System Hz Hertz = cycles per second IMU Inertial Measurement Unit IOCG Iron Oxide Copper Gold IP Induced Polarization

ISR Inductive Source Resistivity kHz kiloHertz kW kiloWatt LiDAR Light Detection And Ranging MIP Magnetic IP MMR Magetometric Resistivity MT MagnetoTelluric MWD Measurement While Drilling MVP Magnetovariational Profiling NaI Sodium Iodide NASA National Aeronautic and Space Administration NASVD Noise Adjusted Singular Value Decomposition NIA Dipole Moment of EM loop (N= Number of turns, I= current, A= area) NIR Near InfraRed NSERC Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada PDA Personal Data Assistant

26 Supplement to Feb. 23, 2015 edition of The Northern Miner (Vol. 101 No. 2)

QC/QA Quality Control/ Quality Assurance SD Secure Digital SIP Spectral IP SQUID Superconducting Quantum Interference Device STC Supplementary Type Certificate TDEM Time Domain EM TEM Transient EM (= TDEM) Tx/Rx Transmitter/Receiver UAV Unmanned Airborne Vehicle UBC University of British Columbia USB Universal Serial Bus USDOE United States Department of Energy UXO Unexploded Ordnance V Volt VES Vertical Electric Sounding VLF Very Low Frequency VMS Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide W Watt

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