Where conventional magnetometry stops working
Hard-rock mining sites present four compounding measurement challenges. Each one alone can push conventional sensors to their noise floor. Together, they make classical ground magnetic survey unreliable.
Diesel generators, variable-speed drives, and haul trucks generate broadband electromagnetic interference from DC to tens of kilohertz, directly overlapping geological signal frequencies.
Mafic and ultramafic host rocks carry strong natural remanence. The background field anomaly from the host masks the weaker signatures from economic mineral concentrations below.
Diurnal temperature swings of 30 degrees or more in Australian mining regions cause measurement drift in fluxgate and Hall-effect sensors that exceeds the target anomaly amplitude.
Quantum sensing characteristics that address each challenge
Noise floor below the interference band
The NV-center ODMR measurement is an optical readout of a quantum spin state. It does not couple inductively to the EMI environment the way Hall and fluxgate sensors do. The noise floor is set by photon shot noise and spin-echo coherence time, not by the electromagnetic background.
- ODMR-based absolute measurement: no inductive coupling to EMI sources
- Differential measurement geometry cancels common-mode background field
- In-situ temperature calibration maintains accuracy across 30 C ambient swing
- 3-axis vector output for full anomaly characterisation
Specific measurement scenarios
Station spacing as tight as 5 m for detailed anomaly delineation in areas where airborne survey resolution is insufficient for target definition. Portable sensor head suitable for backpack and UAV-mount configurations.
The compact chip format is compatible with slim downhole probe configurations for magnetic susceptibility logging in existing drill holes, providing stratigraphic control on the surface survey interpretation.
Fixed sensor arrays can monitor subtle field changes over time associated with fluid movement, stress changes, and progressive mineralisation front migration during active extraction.
The 2.8 W power budget and compact module volume are compatible with fixed-wing UAV integration for coverage-efficient regional magnetic survey over access-restricted terrain.
Pilot deployment structure
From evaluation kit to field-integrated sensor in 90 days
The mining evaluation program begins with a pre-configured sensor module and integration documentation. DeteQt engineers support the initial field setup and noise characterisation at your specific site. The first three months typically cover site baseline measurement, equipment EMI profiling, and the first traverses over a target area selected in consultation with your exploration team.
Evaluate quantum sensing at your mine site
Contact the DeteQt team to discuss your survey environment and confirm whether the current sensor specification addresses your target anomaly characteristics.
Start a Pilot Program