Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has introduced the latest capability of its iSURE drill and blast software: iSURE Geo for development drilling. This optional toolset enables miners to optimize the excavation process through geological data.
Designed to be used with Sandvik i-series development and tunneling drills, iSURE Geo delivers real-time onboard analysis of the rock mass using information gathered from the drilling data. It can assist to identify weakness zones requiring rock reinforcement, optimize the use of explosives, plan the optimal location for stope openings, reduce over- and underbreak, and provide comprehensive reporting.
During field testing at Agnico Eagle’s Kittilä mine in northern Finland, iSURE Geo was used to validate the existing rock mass condition data and take the precision of geological information to the next level by creating detailed three-dimensional imagery of the rock conditions and geological properties of the area.
“Sandvik iSURE Geo provided us with valuable additional information on the mine geology; the precision was astonishing,” said Alexandra Heller, structural geologist, Agnico Eagle, adding that the information was also essential for mine infrastructure development.
iSURE Geo is available now.