Bengaluru-based Squadrone Infra & Mining has adopted a drone based Airborne Magnetometer known as Magarrow for Geophysical survey for mineral prospecting and exploration. The company has deployed the technology at Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (GMDC), Ambaji, Gujarat. This technology revolutionises mineral exploration and mineral discovery, particularly in prospecting of copper, lithium, gold, lead zinc, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and REE minerals.
Magarrow is a UAV-enabled drone based technology equipped with non-radioactive laser-pumped cesium vapour with a total field scalar Magnetometer that enables mapping of shallow and deep-seated virgin mineral deposits ranging up to 600-800 m below from the ground level. Therefore, it enables geologists, geophysicists, and researchers, to conduct studies of the earth’s strata for new and greenfield mineral discoveries with much more ease, particularly the inaccessible areas.
Cyriac Joseph, Founder and CEO of Squadrone Infra and Mining calls it a successful deployment of Magarrow. He further shares that this drone-based world-class technology would bring about a significant shift in the current methods of mineral prospecting and revitalise mineral discoveries in the country, particularly greenfield deposits of Lithium, Copper, Gold, REE minerals and other critical minerals. We can locate mineral deposits faster and more accurately in many inaccessible areas, harsh terrains, forests, deserts, and farmlands, without physical human entry into these areas. As it is a drone-based technology, there is no need to build approach roads or disturb the ecology and environment of the mineral prospect areas. Additionally, mineral prospecting projects that traditionally take up to three to four years can be completed within five to six months, with greater efficiency and accuracy, using this technology.He extends his best wishes and gratitude to GMDC and Datacode, Nagpur to facilitate this futuristic stride in the country.
Further, Piyush Shah, GM, GMDC, confirmed that through this initiative, we have shown that mineral prospecting and exploration can greatly benefit from this new technology, especially when conducting geophysical surveys in hilly areas and other areas that are inaccessible. It will greatly benefit the mining sector as it takes the use of drones to the next level.Although the geological studies at Ambaji is still underway, we are sure that it will add immense value not only to the procedure of geophysical surveys but also in terms of safety and security as it lessens physical human intervention.
Recent data suggests that India has identified 5.71 lakh sq km (57.1 million Ha) as the Obvious Geological Potential (OGP) area, but only 10 percent of it has been explored with 1.5 per cent being mined. This makes India one of the few countries in the world to have a high greenfield exploration potential given its highly under-explored mineral deposit and mining potential.