How new technology is core to Agnico Eagle’s exploration success.
Understanding what mineral treasures lie beneath the earth’s surface remains an exciting prospect for Agnico Eagle’s geologists. More and more, they are relying on artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies to help answer questions that have persisted since early geological exploration.
Our exploration teams still depend on drill core – samples of rock dating back billions of years – to help them determine the value and potential of mineral deposits in the areas they are exploring. But now, thanks to recent advances in core scanning technology and artificial intelligence (AI), they have the technical tools to do more and to see more with that drill core.
Instead of relying only on visual observations, which can be highly subjective and vary between geologists and with time, core scanning technology allows geologists to more accurately measure and better interpret data. The data then produces resource models that are more complete and reliable, leading to better mine planning and exploration targeting.
According to Guy Gosselin, our Executive Vice President of Exploration, this core scanning revolution places Agnico Eagle on the front line of innovation and improves our critical decision-making capacity. “As one of the largest gold producers in the world, we are using technology to transform our company and propel our future success. We believe our innovative mindset gives us a competitive advantage and we will continue to explore new technologies and applications to drive our business forward.”
“By combining AI with this multi-sensor scanning technology, the quality and quantity of data available allows us to improve our interpretations and produce enhanced 3D geological models.” says Cassandra Clough, Geologist. “These tools also help our geologists identify potential ore-hosting rocks and focus their sampling only on material with mineral upsides.”
Chris Evans, Chief Exploration Geologist at our Macassa Mine says “We see a great opportunity to add another layer of new and consistent data to help us better understand the gold mineralization in this mature mining camp. This technology can unlock the full potential of this region by building a more robust, data-driven model which will allow us to focus our exploration efforts on the areas of highest probability.”
Already, it is being used to help fill information gaps and optimize regional targeting, allowing Agnico Eagle to unlock the full potential of our 646 km2 land package at Detour Lake Mine.
Beyond its technical benefits, core scanning technology is also an important recruitment tool for Agnico Eagle. “We aim to be a technical leader in the industry and a company of choice for new employees.” comments Nancy Guay, Vice President, Technology, Optimization & Innovation. “We are building a team of people who are passionate about using technology to enhance their skills. We believe core scanning technology, as well as other innovations, will help us attract and retain today’s tech-savvy geologists.”
To drill down further into the benefits of core scanning technology, check out this video.