Earth AI Discovers Critical Minerals - New Exploration Tech

A New Approach to Mineral Discovery

During the previous summer, the mining startup KoBold garnered significant attention with its announcement of discovering a substantial copper deposit in Zambia – one of the largest found globally in over ten years.

Now, Earth AI, another emerging company, has exclusively revealed to TechCrunch its own promising find: potentially valuable deposits of critical minerals located in areas of Australia previously disregarded by other mining operations for decades. While the scale of these deposits remains to be confirmed against KoBold’s discovery, this news indicates that future critical mineral supplies will likely be identified through a synergy of on-the-ground data and artificial intelligence analysis.

The Technological Frontier in Mining

“The true leading edge in the mining sector isn’t geographical; it’s fundamentally technological,” stated Roman Teslyuk, founder and CEO of Earth AI, in an interview with TechCrunch.

Earth AI has pinpointed deposits of copper, cobalt, and gold within the Northern Territory, alongside silver, molybdenum, and tin at a separate location in New South Wales, situated 500 kilometers (310 miles) northwest of Sydney.

Origins and Data Utilization

Earth AI originated from the graduate research of Teslyuk. A Ukrainian native, Teslyuk pursued a doctoral degree at the University of Sydney, becoming well-versed in the Australian mining industry. A key aspect of this industry is the government’s ownership of mineral rights, which are then leased out in six-year periods.

Since the 1970s, exploration companies have been mandated to submit their data to a national archive. Teslyuk observed a significant gap: “For some reason, this data wasn’t being utilized.” He envisioned an algorithm capable of processing this wealth of knowledge, learning from past geological successes and failures, and ultimately improving the accuracy of future mineral predictions.

From Prediction to Proof

Initially, Earth AI functioned as a software company, generating predictions about potential deposits and then seeking clients to further explore these sites. However, potential investors were reluctant to commit substantial funds based solely on the predictions of a novel technology.

“The mining industry is inherently cautious,” Teslyuk explained. “Ideas that deviate from established practices are often met with skepticism.”

Consequently, Earth AI shifted its strategy to developing its own drilling equipment to validate the promise of its software-identified locations. Acceptance into Y Combinator’s spring 2019 cohort facilitated the refinement of both hardware and software. In January, the company successfully secured a $20 million Series B funding round.

A Distinct AI Approach

While Earth AI, like KoBold, employs AI in its mineral search, Teslyuk emphasizes a different methodology. He asserts that Earth AI’s algorithms are designed for rapid and efficient scanning of broad areas, specifically targeting deposits that might be overlooked by conventional methods.

“Traditional metal exploration in the 20^th century was a lengthy process, often taking decades to yield results,” Teslyuk noted. “Given the current pace of global development, such extended timelines are simply unsustainable.”