Drones to Drills: The GroundTruth Exploration Method
Efficiently generating discoveries using innovative, low impact technologies
GroundTruth Exploration is a dedicated team who strive to provide new and innovative
exploration methods to increase the odds of success for discovery. Through intensive, ongoing
Research and Development we are providing a new exploration approach
that significantly reduces Exploration Cost and Environmental Impact.
Our method is a strategic combination of geochemistry, remote
sensing, geophysics and tactical drilling. It provides a start to finish
solution from target generation to deposit discovery. Each survey
directly answers critical exploration questions to interrogate broad
targets and vector to the area of highest deposit potential.
Discovery
Focused
Targeting
The GroundTruth Method
RAB
Drilling
-Intersect mineralization at
depth on GP+ DC Res/IP targets
GTProbe
-Confirm Bedrock Interface
Mineralization over DC Res/IP
DC Resistivity/IP
-Define Key Structures
associated with Soil Anomaly
UAV Drone Survey
- High Res Imagery/DEM
Blueprint over Target Area
Grid Soil Sampling
-Outline Surface Expression
of Mineralized System
Ridge and Spur Soil
sampling
-Identify Regional Targets
2015
Our Mission
Soil Sampling
Define High Quality Geochemical Target on Surface.
UAV Drone
Project Blueprint – Ultra High Resolution Imagery and Elevation
DC Resistivity/IP
Efficiently Focus Broad Soil Anomalies to Key Structural Targets
GTProbe
Low Impact/Cost Verification of Bedrock Interface Mineralization
RAB Drilling
Lightweight, Track Mounted Rotary Air Blast Drilling to 100m depth
Soil Sampling
Soil Sampling:
Establish the Geochemical Footprint of Mineralized System
GroundTruth’s Exclusive Track Record:
• GroundTruth Soil Sampling has Directly led to the recent significant
Yukon Discoveries such as Golden Saddle (>1.6 M oz Au) and
Coffee Deposits (> 4.2 M oz Au)
Our key is Standardized, Quality Data Collection
• Well trained technicians- standardized protocol, safety, efficiency
• Digital data logging in field with barcode scanning
• We provide Georeferenced Photos of all samples and sites
• We use Munsell Color Charts to standardize color notation
Ridge and Spur Soil
We place high value on the first data collected
on the target. All future exploration activity
will be based on the initial sampling.
A major deposit can be represented by one
reconnaissance soil sample…
Follow-up Grid
Mineralized System
Discovered
We need tools to efficiently interrogate
multi kilometer2 surface soil anomalies to
locate and test the key structures!
Sparse Outcrop makes it difficult for geologist
to follow up on large soil anomaly
Trenching works, but is slow, costly and invasive.
2015
Our Mission
Soil Sampling
Define High Quality Geochemical Targets on Surface
UAV Drone
Project Blueprint – Ultra High Resolution Imagery and Elevation
DC Resistivity/IP
Efficiently Focus Broad Soil Anomalies to Key Structural Targets
GTProbe
RAB Drilling
Low Impact/Cost Verification of Bedrock Interface Mineralization
Lightweight, Heliportable, Track Mounted Drilling Rig
UAV Drone
UAV Drone Survey:
High Resolution 3D Project Blueprint: Imagery and Elevation
Highest Imagery Commercially Available
• GroundTruth Drone Surveys for Property or Target scale mapping.
Unmatched Resolution- up to 4cm/pixel for Imagery and topo model
Extremely Cost Efficient
• 40 minutes per flight, average 10 flights per day.
• Collect up to 40km2 with a pair of drones in a day.
Lightweight and Quick to Deploy
• Hand Launched and can Takeoff/land from existing helipad.
• Setup in 10 minutes, fast data turn around
• Compact - drone is 700g, complete setup fits in small field case.
UAV Drone: High Resolution Orthoimagery and DEM
•
Acquire current imagery data on project at higher resolution that Aerial or
Satellite at a fraction of the cost.
Orthoimage
Elevation model
Topo Contours
UAV Drone: Understand your target in Detail!
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A Current ‘Blueprint’ of project for planning and remote decision making
Accurate 3D modelling with coincident data such as drillhole and geophysics
Identify subtle structures and lineaments associated with mineralization.
Locate outcrop, contacts, alteration from Imagery prior to going to the field.
UAV Drone: High Resolution Orthoimagery and DEM
•
The Drone flies autonomously on preplanned flightlines, and collects hundreds of
overlapping photos that are merged into one model that produces an
orthoimage and topo model at a ground resolution up to 4cm/pixel.
Location of photos
That produced model
Drone 3D Model
UAV Drone: High Resolution Orthoimagery and DEM
•
The final elevation model is a Point Cloud similar to LiDAR, from which standard
DEM grids and topo contours are produced for typical mapping tasks.
The data has enough density where trees and their branches are easily visible
in the point cloud. The point cloud can be used for precise volume calculations.
Drone 3D Model: Ground level view
Trees
Bare Ground
2015
Our Mission
Soil Sampling
Define High Quality Geochemical Targets on Surface
UAV Drone
Project Blueprint – Ultra High Resolution Imagery and Elevation
DC Resistivity/IP
Efficiently Focus Broad Soil Anomalies to Key Structural Targets
GTProbe
RAB Drilling
Low Impact/Cost Verification of Bedrock Interface Mineralization
Lightweight, Heliportable, Track Mounted Drilling Rig
DC Resistivity/IP
High Resolution DC Resistivity and Chargeability:
Detect the Key Structures Under the Soil Anomaly
An Effective New Method to Detect Mineralized Structures
We use an 84 electrode system at very close dipole spacing (5m) to
generate high resolution resistivity and chargeability inversions that are
suited to detect narrow structures near to surface.
• This method directly interrogates overlying surface geochemistry and
focuses broad soil anomalies to well defined structural targets.
• Standard profiles 420m length, up to 100m deep.
• Data is processed nightly with inversions to client next day.
Light weight, Cost Efficient and Low Impact
• Streamlined workflow permits a crew of 4-5 to survey 2 profiles per
day with crew camped onsite . No precutting required.
HR DC Resistivity/IP
Survey Specs:
Supersting R8/IP Meter
Manufactured by:
Advanced Geosciences Inc.
• Low powered 200W output
• Reads 8 channels simultaneously
• +/- 1050 Res+IP readings in 40 min
• Can read multiple array types
successively
HR DC Resistivity/IP
Survey Advantages:
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Identifies key structures on potentially
large soil anomalies.
High Resolution to detect potentially
very narrow features.
Data can be made available next day.
Cost effective-Portable,good productivity
Can be operated in Winter
No Linecutting!
Low environmental impact
•
Kaminak’s Coffee Gold Project: IP on Supremo T3 Deposit
Chargeability
Kaminak’s Coffee Gold Project: IP on Latte Deposit
Chargeability
Comstock Metals’ VG Zone: Resistivity
2013 YGS Test Case:
QV (VG Zone)
DC Resistivity modelled with Soil and Drone data in 3D
DC Resistivity Level Plan Map overlay on Drone
UAV Drone with
Legend
2015
Our Mission
Soil Sampling
Define High Quality Geochemical Targets on Surface
UAV Drone
Project Blueprint – Ultra High Resolution Imagery and Elevation
DC Resistivity/IP
Efficiently Focus Broad Soil Anomalies to Key Structural Targets
GTProbe
RAB Drilling
Low Impact/Cost Verification of Bedrock Interface Mineralization
Lightweight, Heliportable, Track Mounted Drilling Rig
GT Probe
GTprobe:
Low Impact Bedrock Interface Sampling with Real Time XRF
Effective replacement for Heliportable Trenching
• GroundTruth’s GTprobe is a powerful direct push probe mounted on
an rubber tracked platform. Rod is quickly driven to bedrock
interface, rock + soil sample is extracted and XRF analyzed at site to
detect anomaly in real time – A live prospecting tool.
Extremely Cost Efficient
• Outperforms traditional trenching >2:1 in production (175m/day)
• No return trip for sampling, no return trip for reclamation
• End cost is 1/3 of traditional heliportable trenching.
Low Environmental impact
Tracked GTprobe manoeuvers around obstacles, Low ground pressure
rubber tracks leaves moss intact, no ground disturbance.
GTProbe Sampling Method:
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Separate Rock and Soil samples are collected at interface, XRF analyzed and photographed
Sample descriptions are recorded in Field handheld with barcode scanner
Representative Rock for Geologist logging kept in Chip Tray
Each Sample Location is DGPS surveyed
GTProbe Sampling Evolution:
Bigger Sample
2013 Sample Size with original 1.5”
sampling (~0.5kg bedrock interface)
2014 Sample Size with new 3” I.D.
Sampling (~4kg bedrock interface)
More Samples per day
2012 – average 12 samples/day
2013 – average 20-25 samples/day
2014 – average 35-40 samples day
max 57 samples in a day
• XRF strip log from GTProbe survey identifying 2 distinct mineralized
intersections in the field, data was used to position followup line on next day.
• GTProbe Line positioned adjacent to Trench, showing repeatable anomaly
2015
Our Mission
Soil Sampling
Generate High Quality Targets – Golden Saddle, Coffee, QV, Betty
UAV Drone
Project Blueprint – Ultra High Resolution Imagery and Elevation
DC Resistivity/IP
Efficiently Focus Broad Soil Anomalies to Key Structural Targets
GTProbe
RAB Drilling
Low Impact/Cost Verification of Bedrock Interface Mineralization
Lightweight, Heliportable, Track Mounted Drilling Rig
GT RAB Drill
RAB Drill:
Lightweight Track Mounted Drill
Tactical Drilling
• GroundTruth’s RAB Drill is a Rotary Air Blast, down the hole hammer
drill. It is mounted on low ground pressure rubber tracks.
• High Production: Up to 100m in 12 hour shift
• Angled holes: up to -45 in competent ground, -60 in challenging rock
• Fast Setup: No pad, No water required, ground mobile
• Live Data: Onsite XRF available to guide drilling program
RAB Drill
Two Operating Modes:
1. Light RAB
Using onboard VMAC compressor
Multiple Short Holes per day
Up to 30m depth in multiple
close proximity holes
2. Deep RAB
w/ additional 300/200 compressor
1 Hole per day
Up to 100m hole
RAB Drill
Two Operating Modes:
1. Light RAB
Using onboard VMAC compressor
Multiple Short Holes per day
Up to 30m depth in multiple
close proximity holes
2. Deep RAB
w/ additional 300/200 compressor
1 Hole per day
Up to 100m hole
RAB Drilling
RAB Drill
Demonstration of Efficiency:
Lira Target, September 2014
• 8 holes drilled, totaling 612m
• 9 Days to complete program
• Holes spread over a distance of 250m
• No helicopter for drill moves
• Lira is 50km by helicopter from
Dawson YT, total Astar use for
mobe/demobe: 6.9 hours
All in cost for Drill program(Drilling/Helicopter/Assay):
$118/meter
Open Hole RAB Drilling
No significant cross contamination
Integrating All data for the Full Picture:
• GroundTruth plots all in 3D to analyze the relationships among all available data
Soil – Drone – DC Resistivity/IP – GT Probe – RAB Drilling