Marut Drones transforms mineral exploration in India
Hyderabad: Marut Drones has partnered with the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) to launch drone-based mineral exploration in India. This innovative approach promises to transform traditional mineral surveying methods, making them faster, more precise, and significantly more cost-effective.
Historically, mineral exploration has been hindered by cumbersome equipment and challenging terrains. However, the introduction of drones equipped with advanced sensors is set to change the landscape. Marut Drones has delivered two customised Octacopter drones featuring cutting-edge technologies such as Magnetometer, Hyperspectral, and Lidar sensors, marking a historic first for the country.
The drones are designed to fly closer to the ground, enhancing data collection with higher resolution. This not only speeds up the magnetic survey process by five times but also reduces costs by tenfold, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable mining practices.
Every aspect of these drones, including the motors and propeller systems, is manufactured in India, showcasing the capabilities of indigenous technology. Marut Drones' commitment to Research and Development within state-of-the-art infrastructure highlights its pivotal role in revolutionising the sector. The company believes this initiative is one of the biggest breakthroughs in mining and exploration, aiming to transform approaches to prospecting critical minerals like lithium, copper, gold, diamonds, rare earth elements, and other essential resources.
NMDC is taking the lead in employing drone-based hyperspectral magnetic exploration for the first time in India. Mission planning involves careful determination of flight spacing and altitude, ensuring a 30% overlap of the captured land during surveys. The collected data is processed using sophisticated software, including Hyperspec III and ENVI for hyperspectral data, and Geosoft Oasis Montage for magnetic data analysis.
This collaborative effort is expected to revitalise mineral discoveries in India, particularly in greenfield deposits. The integration of advanced drones and locally produced components highlights India's potential in technological innovation and shows a commitment to sustainable mining practices.