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Partner technology · Solid mineralsMap mineral targets in detail, from the air.
Magnetic Aerotomography uses drone-based magnetic surveys to narrow the exploration area and show where target bodies sit in 3D, so drilling goes to the right spot sooner.
What it is
Drone efficiency, aiming at ground-survey accuracy.
Airborne magnetic surveys cover ground quickly, but noise from the platform hides small anomalies. Ground surveys are the most accurate, and the most costly.
Magnetic Aerotomography flies highly sensitive magnetometers on drones and records not just the strength of the magnetic field but its direction. MicMak states that this direction data points to the body itself, helps estimate its depth, size and magnetic susceptibility, and can shrink the search area several times.
Applications: metals (gold, silver, copper, zinc, molybdenum, tungsten) and critical minerals (rare earths, uranium, thorium, iron, diamonds). For solid minerals only; not used for oil, gas or water.
What it delivers
A smaller target area, in 3D.
Narrow the search
Direction data points to the body, so the area to explore shrinks before ground work starts.
Drill the right spot
MicMak states that deliverables include a 3D magnetic susceptibility model, the depth and size of bodies, and anomalies ranked by size and shape.
No separate gradient survey
Gradients come from the same flights, with no separate gradiometric survey needed. MicMak states the aim is a narrower exploration area at lower cost.
Any terrain
According to MicMak's published specifications, the system reaches targets 500 m deep and more, over any terrain.
How it works, in plain terms
From flight plan to 3D model.
- 1
Plan
An aerial survey builds the elevation map and the drone routes.
- 2
Fly
Survey lines flown at two altitudes. MicMak states the system takes 1,500–3,000 readings per second, over 100× faster sampling than conventional systems, so small anomalies are less likely to be missed.
- 3
Verify
Field data is quality-checked, including on crossing lines.
- 4
Process
Proprietary software builds a 3D magnetic model from the direction data.
- 5
Report
Maps, the 3D model, faults and a ranked list of anomalies.
Deliverables
The full data set, not just a map.
Data is kept in vector form, so your geologists get the full volume to test against their own knowledge of the area.
- Magnetic field and vector maps
- Gradient and dispersion maps
- 3D magnetic susceptibility model
- Depth and size of magnetic bodies
- Faults and rock-age vector analysis
- Anomalies ranked by size and shape
Key figures
All figures as stated in MicMak's published specifications. Solid minerals only.
Where it fits
Screen wide, then zoom in.
Satellite remote sensing screens a very large area. Drone magnetic aerotomography then zooms in on the best zones with a much finer grid. Magnetic Aerotomography is for solid minerals only.
MicMak reports: in 2024, on a porphyry copper-molybdenum site, the drone survey was compared with a ground survey. The induction vectors did not line up with the existing geological map; after verification work, the map was corrected.
Getting started
Start with a pilot over ground you know.
Start small: fly a pilot over one block, compare, then decide.
Next step
Tell us the mineral and the area.
We'll tell you whether a drone survey is the right next step, and how it fits with what you already have.