Quantec leading technologies lead to improved drill plans, efficient drilling and discoveries

When you have accurate subsurface images, drill targeting becomes more effective. It is easier to plan and justify budgets and the chances of discovery go up. Quantec’s growing list of case studies prove that deep imaging before drilling can save money and help companies explore smarter.

ORION 3D, TITAN 24 and SPARTAN MT geophysical surveys make economic sense when it comes to improving return on exploration dollars (ROI).

 

Some success stories

Gold and silver – Hidden Hill and Golden Arrow (Nevada, U.S.A.)

  • The Hidden Hill deposit’s basic shape and depth were estimated by traditional surveys but drilling was hit and miss. Alterations and other geological complexities skewed drilling results and high-grade veins were obscured.
  • To successfully tackle the complex geological setting, the ORION 3D survey collected orders of magnitude more data points than traditional, 2D or pseudo 3D methods could provide.
  • The omni-directional approach of data collection and interpretation accurately identified alterations. The resulting interpretation focused drilling on areas with the high chargeability indicative of gold.
  • Based on the resistivity and chargeability measured by ORION 3D, the survey grid was extended to see previously unidentified mineralisation on the Golden Arrow Property.

 

 Mine-site exploration – Kidd Creek Mine (Timmins, Canada)

  • Traditional geophysical methods were frustrated by over 50 m of thick overburden, by extreme cultural noise (e.g. power lines, haul roads, active pits).
  • The TITAN 24 survey provided deep mapping of the subsurface to depths of 3000 m, expanding geological understanding outside of previously drilled areas.
  • In one area, a focused drill program reduced costs by eliminating potential ground from exploration drilling. The survey examined another significant area to show that further investigation was not warranted, saving the company another 15 years of barren hole drilling (and an estimated cost of $15 m).

 

Uranium exploration – Athabasca Basin (Saskatchewan, Canada)

  • Traditional technology provided limited depth of subsurface image penetration and accuracy.
  • TITAN 24 DCIP and MT successfully identified the position and alteration of element data consistent with uranium at 650 m depth.
  •  The data was used to create a 3D representation for better planning of a drill program.

 

Copper porphyry – Copper Mountain Mine (British Columbia, Canada)

  • Brownfield challenges impeded traditional geophysics: old mine workings, open pits, sloping rock fragments and extreme culture (e.g. power lines).
  • TITAN 24 collected large volumes of data simultaneously over a large array configuration.
  • Advanced digital signal processing created results that led to a deep drill program.
  • Targeted drilling found intersections of a significant mineralisation 1200 feet below the existing pit.

 

Nickel sulphide exploration – Norman and Levack Minesite (Sudbury, Canada)

  • Drilling was very expensive and inefficient for the company.
  • Prospective terrains with the potential for nickel sulphide ore bodies needed to be explored despite a brownfield environment (thick overburden and a culturally-contaminated mine site).
  • The TITAN 24 survey discriminated between mineralised and non-mineralised conductive sources 1.5 km below the surface to identify known resources as well as additional exploration targets.
  • The results were mapped in three dimensions to differentiate high tonnage potential deposits from small sulphide bodies.

 

Copper porphyry – Copper Basin (Nevada, U.S.A)

  • Needed to map chargeability anomalies consistent with copper near historic open pits.
  • TITAN 24 survey mapped the location of igneous rock intrusives and fault structures consistent with copper mineralisation, despite a lack of outcropping.
  • TITAN 24 detected IP (chargeability) and mapped MT (resistivity) to show the deposit location and to target drilling.

 

Gold – Gralheira, Portugal

  • Required Quantec to increase the geological understanding of the subsurface outside of previously drilled areas, and reduce drilling costs by eliminating potential ground from exploration drilling amongst an old mine, cultural noise and small targets.
  • In less than one month, the TITAN 24 survey identified targets at 100-750 m depth, consistent with gold mineralised zones.
  • The survey results helped prove the system continued and showed the depth extent could be more than 1250 m below surface.
  • A means for cost-effective drill targeting was created and mineralisation was intersected 511 m below the surface, when the majority of holes previously drilled were not looking for mineralisation deeper than 200-300 m.

 

Copper, gold, silver porphyry – Miner Mountain Project (British Columbia, Canada)

  • An understanding of the depth and areal extent of mineralisation, as well as any interconnectivity between known mineralised zones, was required, over a rugged terrain of volcanic andesite flows, heavy faults and altered mineralisation.
  • TITAN 24 DCIP survey indicated the mineralisation was more extensive than historical surface drilling and trenching suggested. The defined depth and strike potential was identified.
  • The survey results proved to be an invaluable guide to direct further drilling and sampling programs.

 

Copper porphyry – Kemess Mine (British Columbia, Canada)

  • The land had varied topography with slopes and rugged terrain. Previous drilling was encouraging, but could not outline the mineralisation.
  • TITAN 24 detected that mineralisation could occur at depths below 400m. High tonnage potential deposits were differentiated from small, mineralised bodies.
  • Sulphide-rich cap zones were mapped to depth. A geologic model was created to focus drilling on specific target regions to reduce drilling expense and project risk.
  • Based on the TITAN 24 survey results, drilling intersected with the longest mineral interval ever drilled on the Kemess property.

 

Uranium – Beartooth Island, Athabasca Basin (Northern Saskatchewan)

  • With the property largely underwater and completely frozen over, a survey was required to map (in one month) depths of 600 m before the ice broke up on the property.
  • The SPARTAN MT survey was completed in 3 weeks, mapping uranium indications through ice at 700 m.

 

Diamonds – Jwaneng Mine, Southern Botswana

  • As the world’s largest active diamond mine, the survey area was extremely culturally affected.
  • Despite surrounding noise, TITAN 24’s DCIP + MT survey used distributed technology, digital signal processing and data over-sampling to identify early stage volumetrics (tonnage) and geometry (shape, location, position) of resource.
  • TITAN 24 showed two new kimberlite pipe bodies at 800 m.
  • The survey results highlighted the best intersections and grades, and set next stage drilling priorities.
  • Survey results were used to estimate mining potential, helping investor relations, financing, and mine life planning.

 

VMS sulphide bodies – Half Mile VMS deposit (New Brunswick, Canada)

  • Decades after the near surface zone was discovered, TITAN 24 identified the largest and deepest massive sulphide lens ever discovered.
  • TITAN 24 demonstrated an ability to discriminate large, high tonnage target potential from smaller less prospective targets 1500 m below the surface.
  • TITAN 24 provided an indication of the shape, size and vertical & lateral extent of potential VMS deposits.
  • Exploration of prospective volcanic terrains to depths beyond the limit of traditional geophysics is possible with TITAN 24.

 

Oil & gas: Central Trap, Neuquen Basin, Argentina

  • 3D seismic survey results led to drilling at 600-650 m, but oil and two types of water interfered with drill results.
  • SPARTAN MT data was acquired and modeled to enhance seismic results showing lithologic units, porosity variations and structures at all depths.
  • SPARTAN MT detected and indicated the position of porous formations despite the petroleum-saline water interface.

 

Learn more about how Quantec can help your oil & gas, geothermal or mineral resource development project, by obtaining more accurate subsurface geologic details. Speak with a senior geophysicist about your exploration objectives.

 

Please visit our TECHNOLOGY page for information on TITAN 24, SPARTAN MT and ORION 3D or our other Geophysical services.

 

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