Global gold major Barrick Gold has contracted Australia’s Fleet Space Technologies to use its ambient noise tomography (ANT) survey and AI-driven data analysis technology to generate 3D subsurface mapping of 1150 square kilometres of its Reko Diq porphyry copper-gold project in Pakistan.
Barrick’s engagement of Fleet Space follows recent completion of “the world’s largest real-time ANT copper survey” over 1818sq.km of eastern Australia’s Lachlan Fold Belt.
Multiple new high-priority targets were said to have been identified with Fleet Space’s ExoSphere technology at Inflection Resources’ and AngloGold Ashanti’s Duck Creek project on the belt.
“Barrick Gold and Fleet Space are united in our use of cutting-edge technologies to enhance mineral discovery and unlock sustainability benefits across the exploration journey,” said Fleet Space co-founder and CEO, Flavia Tata Nardini.
“By applying the latest innovations in space, AI, and 3D multi-physics to copper exploration, we demonstrate a more sustainable, scalable path to achieve the copper supply needed for our clean energy future, in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.”
ExoSphere will be used to map local groundwater systems and copper porphyry complexes at Reko Diq.
Barrick wants to start production in 2028 at one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold projects, in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
Fleet Space says ExoSphere leverages its low-Earth-orbit nanosatellite network, edge-computing enabled seismic sensors and rapid data processing to deliver “real-time” 3D mapping of mineral systems and AI-powered drill targeting with “near-zero environmental impact”.
“By radically simplifying data acquisition, processing, integration and insight delivery with space technology and AI, ExoSphere enhances the quality and speed of decision making, while also reducing the environmental footprint of a project,” the company says.
The company raised a A$50 million funding round last year that it said doubled its valuation to $350 million.