AI Exploration: Cartier Resources takes the hint
Artificial Intelligence is much in the news with Large Language Models able to produce document summaries and college essays in the blink of a prompt. Which is all very gee whiz, but does it translate to tangible results?
Philippe Cloutier, CEO of Cartier Resources (ECR.V), thinks it just might. In a July 10 press release Cloutier says,
We are very impressed by the results generated from DORA, VRIFY’s AI-Assisted Mineral Discovery Platform. (click the link for the presentation) These results reveal potential extensions of known mineralization laterally and at depth, and more significantly, map out new subsurface zones of high prospectivity. We’re particularly excited by the discovery of multiple areas that showed high prospective scores where little to no drilling or modern exploration efforts exist.
VRIFY started as a communications/graphics company in 2017. Its 3D modelling took drilling data and created “flyable” 3D presentations which gave geos, executives and investors a very compelling visualisation of mineral deposits. To build those 3D models, VRIFY had to assimilate large quantities of data. Essentially, the assay results of every meter of core a company has drilled. In Cartier’s case, just the drilling data amounted to “158,000 drill hole assays from ~ 544,000 m of drilling contained in ~ 4,500 holes”.
The original VRIFY 3D models would stop there. That was more than enough. You can see the basic VRIFY 3D model used effectively in Eloro Resources’ (ELO.T) Iska Iska presentation.
But exploration is about more than just drill holes and assays:
Surficial geochemistry including rocks, soils, glacial till, bark, and stream and lake sediments totalling over 8,500 individual assays;
Over 15,000 individual structural data points from regional and local bedrock mapping and down hole measurements;
Regional geophysics including magnetics, EM, and gravity providing continuous coverage over the entire Cadillac Property;
Several local high-resolution geophysical surveys including IP, ground and helicopter magnetics, and VLF data.
Digitalising that data and putting it into a workable database is not simple, but it creates a holistic view of the Cadillac property, and the data can be used to “train” an AI.
The “intelligence” in AI comes from an ability to probabilistically see what likely comes next. The more data an AI has, the better it will be able to model a property. In an AI designed for exploration, prospective scores will be determined across the property, taking into account drill results and the other data available from mapping, IP, regional geophysics and surface sampling. The higher the prospective score, the more likely it is that drilling will be rewarded.
VRIFY adds its own “secret sauce” to the mix. Over the years, VRIFY has amassed an enormous database from the projects it has undertaken. Which means it is able to train its AI on real data from exploration projects from around the world.
Cartier’s Cadillac project is 14,000 ha. While Cartier spent the last drilling season qualifying targets across the property, VRIFY’s AI has assigned prospective scores across the entire property, including targets Cartier had not identified. Cartier is getting ready to launch its 100,000-meter, 600-hole, drill program in August. Cloutier will have a chance to test VRIFY’s predictions.
Approximately 25% of the 100,000m is going to be dedicated to exploring targets generated by DORA, VRIFY’s AI-Assisted Mineral Discovery Platform
I interviewed Cloutier for motherlodetv.net back in April when he had obtained funding for his ambitious 100,000m program.
“Our plan is to drill short holes, 150 to 300 meters,” said Cloutier. “We want to get a handle on how large each of the deposits can be and the overall center of gravity of the system out there.
With Agnico Eagle as a strategic investor and 10 million dollars in the bank and AI in his hip pocket, Cloutier is ready to take the Cadillac project to the next level. The current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) totaling 7,128,000 tonnes at an average grade of 3.14 g/t Au for a total of 720,000 ounces of gold in the Indicated category and 18,475,000 tonnes at an average grade of 2.75 g/t Au for a total of 1,633,000 ounces of gold in the Inferred category is going to grow. A lot.
As it grows the current PEA will have to be revised and during the course of that revision the current PEA’s long term gold price of $1750 an ounce will be revised to more current levels, call it $3000 an ounce.
The 600 short hole program will be generating news pretty much every two weeks once it is underway. Cloutier has his ducks lined up and the market is beginning to take note.
(Disclaimer: I hold shares in both Cartier and Eloro. I may buy or sell at any time. This is not investment advice. Do your own due diligence. Call the CEO.)