The economics
The value of flying first
Targeting improvement to break even
7.1%
A $100K survey package on a $1.5M / 5,000 m program costs just 300 metres, roughly 2 holes. You need a 7.1% lift in hit rate to fully recover it.
Same budget. Fewer holes. More intersections.
Drill targeting without geophysics
Drill targeting guided by drone geophysical surveying
Break-even takes 2–3 additional intersections. Holes aimed with the data add 8 hits.
Supporting evidence
- 2–3×Drill hit rate improvement from magnetics-led targeting.Dentith & Mudge (2014), Mira Geoscience industry benchmarks
- ↑34%First-pass drill success uplift where integrated geophysics preceded collar selection.SEG exploration case study database
These are typical industry figures, not a quote. The board is a model of the relationship between a drilling budget and the cost of aiming it; your actual numbers are priced in the consult.
FAQ
Straight answers
01Why are there two percentages?
Because they are the same money measured against two things. A $100,000 survey is 6.7% of a $1,500,000 total budget, and it is 7.1% of the $1,400,000 you have left to drill with. The second figure is the one that matters, because it is exactly how much better your targeting has to be to recover what the survey cost.
02Where does the $300 per metre figure come from?
From Rosor's own model, built on all-in diamond drilling costs including the rig, crew, consumables, standby and moves. It is a typical mid-range figure, and the board starts from ours rather than making you guess. The field is editable, so if you hold a contract rate you can type it in and every figure derives from it. Remote ground, helicopter support and deep holes push it higher, and the consult runs your actual contract rate.
03Does this hold for electromagnetic (EM) programs?
The 6.7% figure reflects a magnetics + LiDAR program on a $1.5M drill budget. EM programs run closer to ~15% of the same budget, and they tend to sit on more advanced projects with larger budgets, where that higher share still makes sense. The breakeven logic is identical, and the consult runs your actual method mix.
04Is this a quote?
No. It shows the relationship between a drilling budget and the cost of aiming it, using our verified model, and the figures it starts from are typical industry ones rather than a quote for your ground. For your actual numbers, send us a shapefile and we'll come back with a preliminary read, a coverage plan and a budget range.
Talk to an expert
Bring these numbers to a consultation.
Send the ground and the program you're planning. We'll come back with a preliminary read, a coverage plan and a budget range.
Send us your shapefile. We'll come back with a preliminary read, a coverage plan and a budget range.