Mining More Efficiently At Glencore Kidd Operations With Elios 3

Learn how Elios 3 transformed mining operations by navigating some of the most challenging environments, reaching depths of 10,000 feet below sea level.

Key Benefits At A Glance

Mining at the World’s Deepest Base Metal Mine

Based in Timmins, Ontario, Glencore Kidd Operations comprises the Kidd Concentrator and the Kidd Mine, renowned as the world’s deepest base-metal mine. Annually producing approximately 40,000 tons of copper and 70,000 tons of zinc, the mine extends 10,000 feet beneath sea level and features the longest surface-to-bottom ramp globally. Recognized for its innovative spirit and commitment to worker safety, Glencore Kidd Operations has consistently sought ways to enhance operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Collaboration among Unmanned Aerial Services Inc., Glencore Kidd Operations, and Flyability enabled the Elios 3 to successfully explore the deepest sections of the mine, retrieving crucial data that would otherwise have been inaccessible.

Challenges in Surveying Underground Mines

Data plays a pivotal role in ensuring both safety and efficiency in mining operations. At Glencore Kidd Operations, engineers conduct regular surveys across horizontal and vertical spaces within the mine. These surveys help mining experts identify ore pass hang-ups, evaluate stope conditions, measure blast effectiveness, and monitor cross-cuts, among other tasks, ensuring smooth operations throughout the facility.

Traditional methods, such as walking through the site or using ground-based tools, are labor-intensive and inefficient. James Comeau, Long Range Planning Lead, notes, “Given our depth, the conditions here are far more demanding than those in other operations.”

Underground areas lack GPS signals, are dusty, and often poorly lit. In accessible zones, engineers manually cover expansive regions with ground survey tools or cameras, collecting limited data. In hazardous zones, they remove production loaders from other duties, affix scanners, and attempt to gather information—often resulting in incomplete datasets.

Vertical spaces pose particular challenges. Workers typically rely on guesswork, using drills to access confined areas and inserting sensors to pinpoint problems. This process is slow, costly, and demands significant manpower. Furthermore, interpreting data collected on-site can be challenging, especially when multiple teams must collaborate.

Revolutionizing Surveys with Drones

Glencore Kidd Operations has embraced the Elios 3 drone for conducting surveys and LiDAR scans in underground areas. Designed for GPS-deprived and dimly lit settings, the Elios 3 excels in confined spaces. It enables engineers to examine risky zones remotely, reducing exposure to danger. Enhanced data collection occurs when operators broadcast live streams for collaborative analysis during scans. For example, cross-cut surveys can now cover more ground in less time.

Megan Gidden, Ground Control Engineer, remarks, “You cover much more terrain flying with a drone than walking.”

In vertical spaces, the Elios 3 directly enters elevated bores, capturing comprehensive imagery and eliminating uncertainty. Its collision-resistant design permits access to tight quarters, yielding precise data that was previously unattainable without invasive drilling. Gidden adds, “It’s incredible to access spots other drones can’t fit into.”

James Comeau envisions Elios 3 as “a true replacement for human eyes underground.”

By utilizing the Elios 3, Glencore Kidd Operations achieves faster inspections, lower costs, and improved safety. When combined with post-scan data processing, this technology provides deeper insights for decision-making.

Gidden explains, “After collecting data, we move above ground and transfer everything to PCs. That’s when the real work begins.”

Unlike its predecessor, the Elios 2, which provided visual data, the LiDAR-equipped Elios 3 combines point clouds with visuals, elevating indoor inspections. Data is analyzed via Flyability Inspector software, displaying LiDAR scans alongside video footage. Gidden emphasizes, “The ability to juxtapose scans with videos is remarkable—it helps everyone truly grasp the situation.”

According to Comeau, this visualization offers all stakeholders a fresh perspective on underground conditions. “In meetings, we gather representatives from various departments. Each views the data through their lens—operations focus on logistics, ground control examines stability, geologists study structural faults. Everyone contributes their expertise,” says Comeau.