Minerals

Earth Search Sciences, Inc. has been a leader in developing applications of hyperspectral remote sensing for mineral exploration. It was successful in attracting as their first major customer, one of the world’s largest mineral companies, Noranda Inc. A unique, exclusive license agreement with ESSI was negotiated that also included royalties for new mines resulting from the use of the data. A first for the industry.

Hyperspectral remote sensing provided a significant benefit for two of Noranda’s major business processes.

• First, was in support of Noranda’s basic exploration activities, where the PROBE-1′s ability to detect and map concentrations of key mineralogy, even at trace levels, was used to survey large regions of new mine exploration areas. This greatly assisted in the prioritization of projects.
• Second, with increasing world-wide need to ensure environmental stewardship in the development of natural resources, hyperspectral imaging was used to establish baseline analyses and periodic monitoring of existing mine sites fpr reclamation.

As events in recent years bear out, it has been the resurgence in the mineral and oil & gas industries that has attracted new exploration investment capital and as a result, new exploration technologies. This has given ESSI the ability to seek new joint venture and partnership opportunities. The result will be seen in the formation of international joint ventures currently under discussion.

The following paper on Noranda’s use of the PROBE-1 in its exploration activities is re-printed in its entirety thanks to the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.