SensOre Ltd (ASX:S3N) has launched iChromite, a new suite of automated mineral chemistry assessment tools that can identify exploration targets more efficiently and accurately.
When the new tool is applied to the mineral chemistry of chromite, an important resistate heavy mineral sample, it can quickly aid in the rapid assessment of fertility, a key ingredient in generating new exploration targets for mineral discovery.
iChromite uses new and highly innovative data processing techniques integrated with machine learning tools delivered from an agile accelerated program.
Moving forward, the application of this technique will unlock value from in-field sample collections and analysis currently concealed in mining and exploration company databases, which represents millions of dollars of previous investment.
New dawn in greenfield exploration
SensOre CEO Richard Taylor said: “As mineral exploration increasingly focuses on a new generation of targets to deliver mines of the future required to meet the world’s increasing demand for critical minerals, the industry is moving into more remote projects and deeper targets.
“Consequently, this shift has brought back into focus the role of resistate mineral geochemistry in early-stage exploration programs.
“Aided by new machine learning tools such as iChromite, the technique is potentially undergoing a revolution or new dawn in greenfield exploration.
SimClust™ technology
SensOre is continuing development to apply its SimClust™ technology to other minerals including porphyry indicator minerals to assist with porphyry target assessment and vectoring.
The new mineral datasets will allow SensOre to provide an advanced suite of machine learning tools, like iChromite, that can be applied to the SensOre data cube to be used in its exploration programs and by clients on their data in SensOre’s Solution as a Service (SOLAAS) targeting services.
The SensOre geochemical technology team has delivered the new tool suite from the first phase of a comprehensive research program directed at improving the fidelity of mineral chemistry.
Importantly, the new technology workflow can be used to rapidly analyse the vast quantity of legacy industry chromite geochemical databases collected from across Australia and the world over many decades.
Mineral chromite
Chromite, a spinel group mineral, is a resilient accessory phase within ultramafic and mafic rocks that are considered to be a petrogenetic and tectonic setting indicator.
It is extremely stable in highly weathered environments as it preserves its unique geochemical fingerprint over geological time and thus has great utility for reliable detection of potential mineralisation and fertility.
It is also one of several Kimberlitic indicator minerals (KIMS) to have been intensively used in the diamond exploration industry since the early 1980s and has been instrumental in the discovery of many of the world’s diamond deposits.
The mineral is also associated with a range of economically significant mineral deposit types of interest in the battery metals space including cobalt, nickel and vanadium.
In addition, chromite is capable of withstanding low-medium grade metamorphism, preserving igneous compositions up to the lower amphibolite facies.