High-tech mining
Putting new mines into operation is no small deal. From the moment a deposit is discovered, it can easily take 10 years and millions of dollars of investment before production on the mine can actually get under way. In Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec’s mining region par excellence, developing new mining exploration tools for deeper and deeper deposits has become the name of the game.
Detecting deep deposits
Instruments Terrascope has understood the challenge. This Val-d’Or SME manufactures geophysical equipment that uses electromagnetic (EM) waves to detect electrically-conductive minerals and metal deposits located as far down as a kilometre below the earth’s surface. This is a major technological breakthrough considering that, until now, EM exploration techniques have only been able to accurately detect deposits to a maximum depth of 200 metres.
Canada Economic Development played an assisting role in the startup of Instruments Terrascope. In 2004, the NRC and the Agency provided support to a related company, Abitibi Géophysique, for the development of the now patented InfiniTEM® technology, which allows for the three-dimensional surveying of underground metal sources up to a depth of 500 metres.
“What we now have is one-of-a-kind technology that will help position Abitibi-Témiscamingue at an international leader in the field of geophysics,”
In 2008, Instruments Terrascope took up production and commercialization of a more accurate and powerful instrument that will enable InfiniTEM® to reach a depth of 1,000 metres. This new equipment will be marketed in Canada and other major mining countries like Australia.
Canada Economic Development was able to support the startup of Instruments Terrascope by providing seed capital to the firm, thereby giving it leverage with other financial backers like the Business Development Bank of Canada. Coming up with an idea is certainly no small feat, but when that idea can be transformed into something concrete, it has the potential to generate employment. The startup of Instruments Terrascope resulted not only in the creation of seven direct jobs, it also led to an additional 24 indirect jobs within Abitibi Géophysique.
“Canada Economic Development proved to be an indispensable partner to our firm during the critical phases of development and commercialization,”
noted the President of Instruments Terrascope and Abitibi Géophysique, Pierre Bérubé. “What we now have is one-of-a-kind technology that will help position Abitibi-Témiscamingue at an international leader in the field of geophysics,”
he concluded.
