Cutting Edge Helicopter Tech in Lucapa Exploration
November 28, 24
(IDEX Online) - Lucapa is using a new generation of helicopter-borne technology in its exploration of the Merlin Diamond Project, in Australia's Northern Territory, as it aims to revive the mothballed deposit.
The new electromagnetic (EM) system, developed by South Africa-based New Resolution Geophysics, should locate targets missed by previous operators, the miner said this week.
"It is considerably more advanced than the previous airborne system applied at Merlin which was limited to a maximum investigation depth of approximately 100 metres."
By comparison, the new system allows for near-continuous depth investigations down to 500 metres below surface. The survey results are anticipated in Q1 2025.
On Monday (25 November) Lucapa announced details of what it said was a "small-scale, low-cost development," at Merlin, costing $16m, which should produce its first diamonds produced next year.
The Perth-based miner bought Merlin for $6m in December 2021. At the time it estimated annual production at 153,000 carats, generating a total projected revenue of $1.14bn over 14 years
Merlin was opened in 1999 by Ashton Mining, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto, but closed in 2003 after producing 500,000 carats. The site was then sold to Striker Resources (which became North Australian Diamonds and subsequently Merlin Diamonds).
Pic of the helicopter EM survey courtesy Lucapa.