Abstract
Ideon Technologies Inc. is a spin-off from TRIUMF (Canada’s national particle accelerator laboratory) and a world pioneer in the application of cosmic-ray muon tomography. We have developed a discovery platform that integrates proprietary detectors, inversion technologies, and artificial intelligence to provide x-ray-like visibility up to 1 km beneath the Earth’s surface – much like medical tomography images the interior of the body using x-rays. We use this platform to map the intensity of cosmic-ray muons underground and construct detailed 3D density profiles of subsurface anomalies, identifying and imaging mineral deposits, air voids, caves, and other structures with density properties that contrast with the surrounding earth.
Global demand for metals and minerals is doubling every 20-30 years, as the world transitions to clean energy. Production of minerals needs to increase by nearly 500% over the next 30 years, with more than 3 billion tons required to deploy technologies such as wind, solar, geothermal power, and electrification. With most near-surface deposits already discovered, the mining industry is searching deeper underground at both new and existing mine sites. Without suitable tools available, discovery rates have fallen sharply while exploration costs continue to skyrocket.
Muon tomography can fundamentally transform subsurface exploration, reducing exploration drilling activity – and related carbon emissions – by 10x while identifying exploration targets with 95% or higher certainty. Users will be able to drill less and discover more – reducing cost and risk, saving time, and minimizing environmental impact.
This breakthrough Canadian innovation has the potential to generate significant value for the global mineral exploration market, among others, while dramatically reducing environmental impact. We see Canada taking a leading role in helping industry change the economics of exploration and make much-needed headway against increasingly stringent Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments.