Yukon and B.C. miners looking for ways to cut exploration costs are turning to an innovative new tool: unmanned aerial drones.
Prospector Tao Henderson, a partner in Ground Truth Exploration of Dawson City, Yukon says the small drones allow the early exploration of huge areas at very low cost.
The drones, which weigh about 22 ounces (650 grams), carry a 16-megapixel camera. The unit flies over remote terrain, snapping photos, which can then be used to generate 3-D elevations that could help mining companies, decide if a site has potential.
“The drones can’t go out and find a mine, but they are a powerful new tool,” Henderson said.
The drones reduce the cost of initial exploration to about one-fifth of what it was before, according to Ground Truth. And the drones are improving —recent innovations include drones that allow for better mapping and a machine that lets crews take samples in the field much faster.
Lee Pigage, the head of the Yukon Geological Survey says the government is also interested in what Ground Truth is working on.” I think it's got great potential," he said. "Every exploration company, every exploration geologist, every prospector wants to have a toolbox, a set of different types of tools that they can do things with."
Yukon mining has not been immune to the downturn in mineral prices this year, with reports of cutbacks and a slowdown in traditional exploration.
Yukon Zinc, for example, has cut production and laid off workers at its Wolverine Mine due to falling zinc and silver prices.
Alexco Resource Corp. has also announced layoffs at its Bellekeno mine in response to low prices for silver, zinc and lead. “While there are some that believe precious metals prices will rebound in the near term, we believe it is only prudent to do what we can to weather this period of lower prices,” said Clynt Nauman, Alexco’s president and CEO.
Michael Kokiw, executive director of the Yukon Chamber of Mines, said the situation across the Yukon could get worse, especially over the short term, due to falling prices, particularly for gold.
For a full report on the Yukon, see the October issue of Western Investor.
