Rio Tinto tests “virtual X-ray” technology for mineral exploration

Rio Tinto Exploration (RTX) has partnered with deep-tech startup Atomionics to test a quantum gravity sensor in mineral exploration for the first time.

Atomionics said the portable sensor (called Gravio), when installed on a moving vehicle, can map underground resources like a “virtual X-ray,” enabling exploration to be 10 times faster and more precise — without having to send anything underground.

The device miniaturizes technology typically found only in atomic physics laboratories into a portable, basketball-sized sensor, it added.

Field tests in Arizona and Australia

A recent field test in Arizona demonstrated the Gravio quantum sensor’s capabilities in a rugged environment. Mounted on a moving vehicle, the sensor captured gravity data, enabling a higher density of measurements.

Previously, Atomionics conducted another commercial surveying expedition for Bridgeport Energy in Western Queensland, Australia. The survey covered a remote area of approximately 200 square kilometers.

How it works

Inside Gravio, atoms are cooled to extremely low temperatures and then released to fall. At such temperatures, atoms exhibit wave-like behavior rather than behaving strictly as particles. This wave-like nature enables the high-precision measurements that make the experiment possible.

The sensor then measures the rate at which the atoms fall, which is influenced by the gravitational pull of underground formations. Gravio detects minute variations in this gravitational force to generate detailed 2D and 3D maps. These maps reveal anomalies, which are then analyzed to identify underground resources.

“This technology could enable new approaches to mineral exploration, particularly in challenging environments. For example, it may allow surveying large areas with higher resolution, offering greater insights into resource definition,” said James Alderman, technology partner, Rio Tinto Exploration.