Use Gadget Before Drilling

Gadget makes search for minerals a drag
By Brandon Walker

Hermann Daxl wants mining companies to be aware of what can be done without drilling.

The contractor with GDD Instrumentation said companies should use a beep mat to find precious metal then test a sample to determine if it's worth something, before starting to drill.

"Companies should use it to find the outcrop, send a sample to a lab, then you get a drill."

Daxl said the machine is $100 to rent per day or $10,000 to buy.

Mining companies "used to use them," he said.

The instrument can detect conductive or magnetic rock up to three metres in all directions.

"It was first created as beep boots, but that didn't really catch on."

Now you wear a belt with the digital reader on it and pull a light piece of plastic behind you that detects certain types of conductive rock.

The beep mat is one of the items and services on display at the Northeastern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium at the McIntyre Arena. The symposium ends today.

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