EQ Resources Adapts Plotlogic Technology in Tungsten Mining

The Australian sole operating primary tungsten producer, Queensland-based EQ Resources seals deal with Brisbane-based mining technology company, Plotlogic to apply its Plotlogic technology to tungsten mining.

According to data from the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, total combined exports of tungsten products fell by a full third between January and October last year. For now, consumption outside of China remains under significant pressure.

In a most recent report on mineral commodities, the USGS said, "The Beijing government has regulated its tungsten industry by limiting the number of mining and export licenses, imposing quotas on concentrate production, and imposing restrictions on mining and processing."

Tungsten and its alloys are essential to people's lives; for example, these alloys are relevant to the transportation, aircraft, mining, or automobile manufacturing. Approximately 100,000 tons of pure tungsten are consumed by humans worldwide, and China currently controls more than 80% of global production.

Other countries are also actively involved in the production of this metal. Australia has hardly mined tungsten since around 1990. This is not only because of the high costs involved but also because of the cumbersome tungsten mining process.

But all that could now be changed as Dr. Andrew Job, founder, and CEO of Plotlogic, says the technology could revolutionize the industry and ensure Australia's position at the forefront.

Dr. Job founded Plotlogic in 2018 with the aim of developing a more advanced mining technology. EQ Resources' Carbine project near Cairns was the first tungsten mine to partner with Plotlogic.

In this case, Plotlogic technology will combine advanced imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) to characterize the ore in real-time. It creates and analyzes huge streams of data that can provide reliable real-time decisions.

So instead of drilling a million different holes in a mine and then manually testing, redrilling, and roughly mapping the deposit, Plotlogic Technology can scan an area, decipher the different elements and produce a map of the deposit almost immediately - a technology that makes mines much more efficient.

For tungsten, this technology addresses the key issues facing the industry here, namely how to clean up old mines, reduce onerous environmental and cost burdens, and meet the needs of customers.

With the eager help of the federal government's Advanced Manufacturing Growth Center, EQ was able to deploy the technology while the company's growth is gaining global attention.

Besides tungsten mining, Plotlogic Technology can also be used in the broader mining industry, for example, gold and iron ore can be identified.

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