Squadrone Infra &Mining has adopted drone-based Airborne Magnetometer, known as "Magarrow", for geophysical research for mineral prospecting and exploration. The company deployed the technology at Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC), Ambaji, Gujarat. This technology revolutionizes mineral exploration and mineral discovery, particularly in the prospecting of copper, lithium, gold, lead zinc, cobalt, nickel, manganese, REE mineral, etc.

Magarrow is a UAV-enabled drone based technology equipped with non-radioactive laser-pumped cesium vapour with total field scalar magnetometer that enables mapping of shallow and deep-seated virgin mineral deposits ranging up to 600-800m below from the ground level. Therefore it enables geologists, geophysicists, and researchers, to conduct studies of the earth’s strata for new and greenfield mineral discoveries with much more ease, particularly the inaccessible areas.

Cyriac Joseph, founder and CEO, Squadrone Infra and Mining, said: "We can locate mineral deposits faster and more accurately in many inaccessible areas, rough terrains, forests, deserts, farmland, etc., without physical human access to these areas. Because it is a drone-based technology, there is no need to build access roads or disrupt the ecology and environment of the mineral prospecting areas. In addition, mineral prospecting projects that traditionally take 3 to 4 years can be completed within 5 to 6 months, with greater efficiency and accuracy, using this technology. We thank GMDC and Datacode, Nagpur, for facilitating this futuristic step in our country."

Piyush Shah, GM, GMDC, said: "Through this initiative, we have demonstrated that mineral prospecting and exploration can greatly benefit from this new technology, especially when conducting geophysical research in hilly areas and other areas that are inaccessible. It will greatly benefit the mining sector, as it takes the use of drones to the next level. Although the geological studies in Ambaji are still ongoing, we are sure that it will add enormous value not only to the procedure of geophysical research, but also in terms of safety and security, as it reduces physical human intervention."

Recent data suggest that India 5.71 lakh sq. km (57.1 million Ha.) has identified as the obvious geological potential (OGP) area, but only 10 percent of it has been surveyed with 1.5 percent being mined. This makes India one of the few countries in the world with a high potential for green field exploration, given its very underexposed mineral deposits and mining potential.