Drone-Deployed Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) System for Exploration and Mining Applications

The Challenge

Loupe Geophysics has developed a backpack-mounted transient electromagnetic (TEM) system for near‑surface electrical conductivity mapping. While its portability enables surveys wherever operators can walk, it cannot access areas with limited ground access, such as tailings facilities, mine benches, dense vegetation, culturally sensitive sites, or waterlogged terrain.

Proposed Solution

Reconfiguring the TEM sensor for drone deployment will overcome current access limitations, enabling rapid, high‑resolution mapping of near‑surface electrical conductivity in a wider range of environments, such as open‑cut mines, tailings facilities, rugged terrain, and environmentally or culturally-sensitive areas. Modern drones can fly close to the ground and efficiently deliver surveys of small areas, offering the potential of major cost and operational advantages over existing helicopter‑mounted TEM systems.

Proposed Benefits to WA

The drone-mounted TEM system to be delivered through this work will be designed and built in Western Australia, advancing the already strong manufacturing base for electromagnetic systems in Western Australia.

The system also offers to improve near-surface sensing capability in a range of applications with value to the WA mining industry, including:

• Direct detection of electrically-conductive minerals such as metal sulphides and graphite
• Detection of seepage from tailings storage facilities
• Mapping within active open cut mine environments
• Mapping moisture and grain size within tailings facilities and heap leach operations
• Groundwater studies
• Dryland salinity studies

Funding DOI

10.71342/410960561130