Singaporean company Atomionics has set up an office in Australia to offer the use of its quantum sensors to help miners prospect for critical minerals.

Atomionics’ Gravio quantum gravimetry sensor is a portable, basketball-sized device that works like a ‘virtual X-ray’ to identify what might lie beneath the ground surface, without the need for emitting electromagnetic radiation or drilling.

The company says its technology enables high-resolution subsurface mapping at speeds up to 10 times faster than conventional methods by combining ultra-sensitive quantum sensors with AI-driven interpretation.

The young, high-tech firm has attracted some serious investment in recent times, including raising $19 million in September last year in a Pre-Series A round that was led by Paspalis and includes BHP Ventures, IQT, Wavemaker, VU Venture Partners, SG Growth Capital, Alex Turnbull, and others.

Earlier, it took home the $500,000 grand prize at the 2022 Croc Pitch event held at the Darwin Innovation Hub. The prize money helped the company set up its Northern Territory office.

“The strategic capital from investors with an interest in both Australia and North America gives us a way to accelerate the deployment of our quantum gravity sensors,” said Sahil Tapiawala, the company’s CEO and Co-Founder.

“We will further use this capital to use quantum sensors to help find copper, lithium and other critical minerals, providing the mining and energy industries with an unprecedented ability to locate and assess resources sustainably.

“High-quality data is the foundation for AI-powered decision-making, and our sensors have the potential to acquire the most detailed gravity datasets ever collected.”

Early deployments and test-bedding opportunities are already underway in the Northern Territory on behalf of Paspalis.

‍”Supporting Atomionics aligns with our vision of fostering technological innovation in the Northern Territory,” said Harley Paroulakis, CEO of Paspalis.

“Their quantum technology is set to revolutionise mineral exploration and strengthen Australia’s role in securing global critical mineral supply chains.”

“Atomionics’ portable, high-resolution gravimetric sensor could unlock the ability to explore large areas of subsurface terrain quicker and more accurately than previously possible,” added Laurel Buckner, Vice President Ventures at BHP.

“Our investment in Atomionics supports BHP’s goal of producing metals and minerals that are essential to the global economy, increasing the world’s long-term supply of the essential resources needed to support global megatrends.”