22. Ore Body Knowledge

What does better ore body knowledge do for mining? Consistency in our data collection, ore sorting at the mine face and detailed characterization of mine waste, can all lead to value creation coupled with more responsible mining. This episode looks at all aspects of the mining value chain, learning where new technology, data analysis and approaches are already having an impact.Datarock is a Melbourne, Australia company working to extract high quality data from images. They analyze images and are creating expert in loop systems to augment what the geoscientist can do.  Brenton Crawford, Chief Operations Officer and founder, lays out why the type of work they do is important for our industry. Mine resource models are constrained by spacing of data collection.  To solve this problem, MineSense Technologies developed ShovelSense.  Maarten Haest, VP Geoscience explains the technology and the value created by having a system that sorts ore from waste at the mine face.The legacy of mining includes tailings storage facilities. Anita Parbhakar-Fox is at the Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland specializing in studying tailings, finding the value left behind and the potential for waste to be a resource. Her work also sheds light on what is in the ore body, possibly leading to extraction of more metal.Theme music is Confluence by Eastwindseastwindsmusic.comCome join us in Salt Lake City, Utah for SEG 2026, September 30th to October 3rd. You can expect world-class technical content, including iconic ore deposits and the geological processes of North American Cordillera. The program balances applied case studies, framework geology, and technological innovation. The conference offers a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and help shape the future of economic geology. See you there.