In a groundbreaking development, Earth AI, an innovative mining startup, has identified significant deposits of critical minerals in regions of Australia that have been overlooked for decades. This discovery underscores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in revolutionizing mineral exploration.
Earth AI’s recent findings include deposits of copper, cobalt, and gold in the Northern Territory, as well as silver, molybdenum, and tin in New South Wales, approximately 500 kilometers northwest of Sydney. These discoveries are particularly noteworthy given the global demand for these minerals, which are essential components in various clean energy technologies and electronic devices.
The company’s journey began with its founder and CEO, Roman Teslyuk, who, during his doctoral studies at the University of Sydney, recognized the untapped potential of Australia’s extensive geological data archives. Since the 1970s, exploration companies have been required to submit their data to a national archive, resulting in a vast repository of geological information. Teslyuk envisioned leveraging this data through AI to learn from the successes and failures of past geologists, thereby enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of mineral predictions.
Initially, Earth AI operated as a software company, developing algorithms to predict potential mineral deposits and offering these insights to exploration companies. However, the mining industry’s conservative nature and reluctance to invest in unproven technologies posed significant challenges. To address this, Earth AI expanded its operations to include drilling, allowing the company to validate its AI-driven predictions and demonstrate the efficacy of its technology.
In January 2025, Earth AI secured $20 million in Series B funding, led by Tamarack Global and Cantos Ventures, with participation from Overmatch, Alpaca, Sparkwave Capital, and existing investors such as Y Combinator and Scrum Ventures. This funding is earmarked for advancing AI and drilling technologies, with plans to increase the project pipeline to over 50 sites and boost drilling capacity to 100,000 meters annually at a cost-effective rate of approximately $100 per meter.
Earth AI’s approach combines its AI-powered Mineral Targeting Platform (MTP) with proprietary mobile low-disturbance drilling technology (MLD). This synergy has resulted in an industry-leading discovery success rate of 75%, significantly surpassing the estimated industry average of 0.5%. Moreover, the company’s methods have reduced exploration costs by up to 80%, making mineral exploration more efficient and environmentally friendly.
The global demand for critical minerals is projected to reach $10 trillion by 2050, necessitating a 30-fold increase in current production levels. Traditional mining companies often focus on extraction, outsourcing discovery and exploration to smaller entities whose efficiency has declined by approximately 70% over the past decade. Earth AI’s innovative use of AI positions it as a pivotal player in meeting this escalating demand by providing a steady pipeline of new mining assets.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, Earth AI announced the discovery of one of the largest greenfield palladium mineral systems in Australia, in partnership with Legacy Minerals, and a new gold system in Willow Glen, New South Wales. These discoveries highlight the company’s ability to identify valuable mineral deposits in previously unexplored regions, challenging traditional notions of mineral exploration.
Earth AI’s success story exemplifies the potential of integrating AI with traditional industries to achieve remarkable outcomes. By harnessing vast datasets and applying advanced algorithms, the company has not only enhanced the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of mineral exploration but also contributed to the sustainable sourcing of materials essential for the global transition to clean energy.
