OreFox applies AI know-how at Mount Chalmers

Geological data analytics company OreFox is applying its proprietary AI technology to gain further knowledge of QMines' Mount Chalmers deposit, near Rockhampton. Everything from the slag left behind by historical smelting at the site and waste dumps through to current drilling results and sub-surface data is being investigated. The aim is to increase the known mineral endowment and identify new economy minerals opportunities at the site. The OreFox project is one of five recipients of the Queensland METS Collaborative Projects Fund receiving a share in $1 million to accelerate the commercialisation of technology into industry. The Mount Chalmers project, 17km north-east of Rockhampton, is centred on a former copper and gold mine that operated sporadically between 1898-1982. OreFox chief executive officer Warwick Anderson said that while a significant amount of copper had been mined at Mount Chalmers over the years, there had not been a lot of work about what else the area may hold and that many commodities in demand now - such as cobalt and rare earth elements - would not have been on the radar during previous exploration. Related: Data trawl reveals Mount Chalmers ‘lookalikes’ OreFox is using deep learning algorithms and machine learning methodology to map site geology. Its techniques allow it to analyse large volumes of data - at scales that are not achievable by humans. "We have a database that has about 10,000 ore samples in it from all around the world and so we can look at your assay results and compare them to mines all around the world to identify what they most look like. And we can do the same thing with geophysical data," Mr Anderson said. OreFox is working in a consortium with QMines and Ironbark Marketing to further commercialise its technology. QMines has exploration underway across the Mount Chalmers project, including an aggressive drilling program, and is planning an airborne EM survey. QMines has reported an initial JORC 2012 Inferred Resource equal to 73,000 tonnes of contained copper. Historical drilling at the site shows the mineralisation is open in multiple directions. The consortium will carry out a comprehensive multi-element geochemical sampling program focused on critical minerals at the mine site and other notable prospective sites around the historic mine site. QMines believes the discovery of further economic minerals will enable the company to move to development faster, thus bringing economic benefits to the region and the state. Mr Anderson said the project had the potential to increase exploration activity in Queensland, particularly for new economy minerals, and could be applied to numerous other historical mines and deposits. “The partnership between OreFox, QMines and Ironbark Marketing is anticipated to bring more regional jobs to Queensland and aid Queensland exploration frontiers," he said. “If we can prove the value of this project, then that opens the door to a significant export market for the processes we are developing.” OreFox co-founders Warwick Anderson and Sheree Burdinat.

OreFox applies AI know-how at Mount Chalmers

Industry Queensland

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