Is your exploration data a mess? Here’s how good data can supercharge your next project

The five pillars of good drilling data

It’s Accurate: Accurate data reflects real-world conditions. This means reliable measurements from XRF readings to assay results. Regular calibration and quality checks will ensure your data accurately represents what’s underground.
It’s Precise: Consistency is key here. Think of drilling core samples. Whether navigating steep terrain or targeting diamond deposits, precise data ensures you hit the bullseye. This becomes even more crucial in exploration as you move from broader techniques like aircore drilling to pinpoint methods like diamond drilling.
It’s Complete: The whole picture is worth a thousand fragmented ones. Do you have all the information you need to reinforce your decisions right now? Complete data provides a comprehensive view, encompassing detailed rock descriptions, sample data, and geophysical surveys. Leaving out pieces of the puzzle can lead to blind spots and hinder your ability to make well-rounded decisions.
It’s Consistent: Are you capturing the same type of data? Standardised procedures and definitions are the foundation of consistent data. As a fellow geo collecting field observations, if you use different terminology to describe the same rock type, you’re going to run into trouble at analysis time. Consistency ensures your data points are comparable and interpretations are rock-solid (pun intended!)
It’s Accessible: Data locked away in a dusty notebook is no good to anyone. Why bother capturing your data if you cannot easily access it? Your data needs to be readily accessible, organised, and searchable. As a geologist, your duty is to collect data and curate it effectively to enable informed exploration decisions and contribute to scientific know-how. Consider efficient data management systems and cloud-based platforms to improve collaboration, decision-making, and future research.

The dark side of data (Why bad data can sink your project)

Now, let’s talk about the flip side - the dangers of bad data. Here’s how bad data can wreak havoc on your exploration project.

Inaccurate Resource Estimation: Bad data can lead to an overestimation of the grade or tonnage of a mineral deposit. This can make a resource appear economically viable when it’s not, leading to wasted investment in mine development.
Misunderstanding Geological Factors: Faulty data can lead to a misunderstanding of the continuity, depth, or other geological characteristics of the deposit. This can result in inadequate mine planning and potential safety hazards.
Poor Economic Evaluation: Inaccurate data can skew economic models, making a project appear more profitable than it truly is. This can lead to financial difficulties,
Operationally Challenging Everyone: Poor data on rig moves, downtimes, delays, shift schedules, and consumables hinders optimisation of drilling schedules, identification of bottlenecks, and accurate cost analysis.
Cost Overruns: Inaccurate information on drilling rates, support costs, and service charges can cause cost overruns, incorrect invoicing, and failure to meet performance targets.
Decision-Making Obstacles: Discrepancies between planned and actual drilling progress and timelines, making it difficult to adjust the program, make informed decisions, and meet resource estimation targets.
Missed Hits: Imagine overlooking a subtle geochemical anomaly that could have pointed you towards a significant deposit. Inaccurate or incomplete data can lead to missed opportunities, hindering your exploration success.
Regulatory Non-Compliance: Depending on the jurisdiction, mining companies must adhere to reporting standards like JORC Code. Bad data can result in non-compliance issues and potential penalties.
Introducing Risk and Cost: You think you’ve got all of the necessary data to create your model but you realise you’re missing depth on the geophysics and you’re pretty sure that hole that number was gsdp106 not gsdp109. Sometimes it makes sense to re-drill, some time you just have to pass on a high risk model
Project Delays: Having inaccurate or incomplete data can lead to misinterpretations of the geological setting, resulting in misguided exploration efforts and wasted resources. This can cause significant delays in project timelines, impacting your milestones, budgets, and overall efficiency.

The takeaway? Rigorous data collection and data validation are non-negotiables. By avoiding the pitfalls of bad data, you ensure better outcomes for your role, the project and the wider industry.

Why good data will make you a geological rockstar

Imagine the satisfaction of uncovering your next mineral deposit, not by chance, but through the power of good data. This doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. Good data comes from eliminating manual work which also eliminates the frustration of time wasted deciphering cryptic notes, verifying measurements and correcting errors. You’ll be able to seamlessly analyse trends, confidently pinpoint targets, and make rock-solid decisions based on a reliable information base. No one has time for a data-wrangling slog.

Good data management practices are also going to ensure you have efficient data storage, retrieval and analysis, freeing up valuable time for you to focus on interpreting data and strategising your exploration efforts.

Whether you’re identifying potential mineral targets, estimating resources, designing mine layouts, having accurate and comprehensive data is the key to success.

Taming the data beast: Essential tools for data management

Have we convinced you that good data is your secret weapon? Good. Now, we’ll equip you with the tools to manage that data effectively. Here’s your data management toolkit:

Understanding Structured vs Unstructured Data

Structured data has a predefined format (assay results, drill hole data, equipment sensor readings, tenement, and GIS data), making storage, analysis, and retrieval easy. Unstructured data could be geological reports, satellite images, drone photos, and pictures of drill cores. Because unstructured data lacks a rigid format, it requires more effort to organise, process, and understand, but it can hold valuable insights.

Data Storage Methods

Data storage has boomed since floppy disks. USB drives, hard drives (slower but good for data recovery), and SSDs (faster but riskier) offer options. Cloud platforms like OneDrive or SharePoint provide version control, collaboration, and disaster recovery, making them popular choices. Other options include Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, and Box.net. For geological data, relational databases excel. Designed for your workflow, they handle large data volumes and enable fast retrieval.

Key takeaway? Set up a structure early and stick with it.

Importance of Metadata

Metadata provides crucial context about your data, making it easier to find and understand.

Data Interoperability

Imagine a jigsaw puzzle with pieces from different sets - that's data for geologists. Geological maps, drill data, satellite imagery, all in various formats, come from field surveys, labs, databases, and teams. Each piece is valuable, but the full picture requires seamless integration.

This is where data interoperability comes in. It's the magic that allows you to connect the dots between different data formats, creating a unified view of your exploration project. Here’s where our toolbox gets interesting:

CSV Files: Think of CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files as spreadsheets on a diet. They store your data in a single table format but lack built-in smarts, so you’re left to be the data whisperer. Each column in a CSV file represents a specific data point, such as ‘rock type’ or ‘elevation.’ For smooth interoperability, ensure everyone knows the meaning of each data point in your CSV file.
XML Files: XML (Extensible Markup Languages) are more intricate. They use structured tags to define data elements and their relationships. For example, an XML file might describe a drill core sample. It may have tags ‘sample ID,’ ‘depth,’ and ‘mineralogy,’ neatly organised within a hierarchical structure. While powerful, XML files can be complex to work with. Luckily, data interoperability tools can translate XML files into more manageable formats for analysis.
JSON Files: Flexible and adaptable, JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) files use key-value pairs to store data, making them ideal for storing all kinds of information. Need to include details like "sample depth," "mineral composition," and even "geologist notes" for a specific core sample? JSON handles it beautifully. Unlike XML, JSON isn't rigidly structured, making it adaptable to various data types commonly encountered in exploration. Their flexibility makes them a popular choice for data exchange, and data interoperability tools can easily convert JSON files for use within your chosen geological software.
The Power of Automation: Knowing the scope of some of these complex data translation tasks we’ve covered, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed. Thankfully there’s no need to be a data wrangling wizard because there are tools to bridge that gap. Software like Power Automate can orchestrate data movement between systems, while FME/ArcGIS Data Interop acts as a translator, converting files between formats. You’ve also got tools like Zapier (an app connector) and good ol’ Python, scripting your custom data transformations.

CorePlan: Your data management partner

Tired of data silos and manual data entry? Worried about data accuracy and compliance? CorePlan provides a centralised platform that streamlines your data management processes and empowers your team to make data-driven decisions with confidence.

It’s Centralised: Everything together in one user-friendly platform
Keeps Your Sanity: Effortlessly integrate drilling data from your drill contractors, no matter the format.
Reporting Tools: Access detailed reports and seamlessly sync data with your geological database.
Secure and Scalable: CorePlan keeps your data safe and secure in the cloud, with scalability to accommodate your growing projects and datasets.

Let these tools handle the heavy lifting, freeing you to focus on interpreting the data, and making informed exploration decisions. And remember: while Excel is great for number crunching, it's no substitute for a proper database management system.

Ready to unlock the power of your exploration data and achieve greater exploration success? Request a free demo of CorePlan today and discover how our platform can transform your data management practices.

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Is your exploration data a mess? Here’s how good data can supercharge your next project

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