At Nuvau Minerals, every field day in the vast forests of Matagami starts with the same question: where do we enter?
Swamps, obstacles, dense canopy, uncertain access routes… before even taking a step, we need to understand what lies ahead.
Last year, we added a new ally to our team: our drone, piloted by our certified operator, Denis, who is trained to fly both with and without a line of sight.
A mechanical bird, yes, but a true companion in the field.
Planning the Approach Before Setting Foot in the Forest
The drone now allows us to perform a pre-entry flyover before each prospecting activity:
- Confirming the presence of outcrops identified by LiDAR (see Edition #3),
- Spotting wetlands and impassable areas,
- Visualizing obstacles, natural corridors, and workable routes,
- Assessing terrain compatibility for drilling or geophysical targets.
In just a few minutes, the team gets a clear picture of the terrain — completely transforming how a field day is organized.
Direct Support to Prospectors in the Bush
Last summer, we brought the drone along on our prospecting rounds. It served as our first-line aerial support, helping the teams choose the safest access routes, avoid traps, validate isolated outcrops, and confirm field observations in real time.
Whenever the team hesitated on which direction to take, the drone climbed above the canopy, like a northern raven, offering an objective, quick, and reassuring answer.
The drone also helped us locate old drill pads that are still faintly visible through vegetation, and survey new sectors planned for geophysical work.
Tasks that were once long and uncertain have now become faster and much safer.
A Partner in Safety
The drone has become an essential scout in our exploration approach, providing both operational and mental support to the crews working deep in the forest.
It reduces risks, limits wasted time, prevents equipment damage, and enables a more proactive and better-planned prospecting strategy.
In a territory as vast as ours, seeing above the treetops makes all the difference.
For discussion or collaboration: bfresia@nuvauminerals.com / groy@nuvauminerals.com
