Mining has been a long-established system since the beginning of time. We have used it to uncover valuable natural materials.

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Advancements over time have switched mining technology from pick to explosives, then more recently satellites, and now mining companies are utilizing AI. The utilization of A.I. in mining is driven by new companies and old mining operations looking for better ways to find new projects. Geologists out of "the University of Sydney have started using A.I. and machine learning to search for topographic and geological maps on the web" (Machine Learning [H.H.:MM: S.S.]). With AI being utilized, maps can be taken from other companies that have them from previous reports. This powerful utilization of the search of datasets with A.I. can create maps to understand a mining location fully.

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ALS Earthlabs works on geological data mining out of Vancouver, Canada.

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ALS Earthlabs has developed a fully functional service that can be applied to 3 continents to solve data sets producing deep information on mining in the area. The company had participated in a $1 million Canadian challenge run by Integra Resources called the Gold Rush Challenge.

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The Gold Rush challenge consisted of numerous crowdsourcing analytical mining companies. The companies were judged by Integra, who selected the company that had produced the best analytics that could be used for a significant gold discovery. ALS Earth Labs participated in 2016 and placed second place. This defiant performance at the competition helped the company to put its name out and gain more client exposure in A.I. geological exploration.

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Since then, the company has concurrent and completed consulting with numerous customers, including Sterling Metals, Blue Star Gold Corp, and Orogen Royalties INC. Sterling Metals "...is a mineral exploration company focused on large-scale and high-grade Canadian exploration opportunities (Sterling Metals)." They have found great use of the Earth Labs technology with their sail pond project, and the company mentioned that "over the last three years there has been nearly $1.5 million spent on this project but never has there been a concentrated effort to put the data together (CBInsights)."

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Sterling Metals will incorporate ALS Earthlabs A.I. by "interpreting and processing multiple data sets to generate the best of several drill prospects (CBInsights)." Sterling has recently uncovered and started drilling silver and copper minerals in the area.

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A.I. in geology can be accessed through 3D visual open-source websites, including Leapfrog by Seequent, Blender, Micromine, or Rockware.

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Each platform currently requires a paid membership, but Blender, a video game app for developers, allows functionality through their GLS system for free. Blender uses an open-source system in which you can upload APIs. With these APIs, you can get 3D topographic visuals of landscapes. Blender is a great free functional tool but lacks mining industry adaptation as it was created for video game developers. Leapfrog has more advanced developer-oriented software by leading the initiative on infrastructure on a global scale from anywhere in the world.

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A.I. will continue being utilized in the mining and geological exploration of hops to understand our natural life better. The advancements in APIs and machine learning will create a new energy revolution that can lead us to a cleaner earth as the demand for diverse metals increases.

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Works Cited

CBInsights. www.cbinsights.com/company/goldspot-discoveries/customers. Accessed 16 Sept. 2023.

Machine Learning for Mineral Exploration: A Data Odyssey. Youtube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhXuPQy7mk8. Accessed 16 Sept. 2023.

Sterling Metals. www.sterlingmetals.ca/. Accessed 16 Sept. 2023.

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