New Partnership With Rio Tinto and Founders Factory Aims to Improve Mineral Exploration Through Biological Sensors and Faster Ore Analysis
Perth, Australia, 14 October 2026 – Mining companies are looking for faster and more accurate ways to identify valuable minerals beneath the Earth’s surface. A new development in mining technology could help address this challenge by allowing exploration teams to understand the composition of rock samples more quickly. Fieldstone Bio, a synthetic biology company, has been selected for the Mining Tech Accelerator, a four-month programme operated by Founders Factory in partnership with global mining company Rio Tinto. The initiative will help the company refine its technology and explore how it can be used in real mining operations.
The accelerator supports emerging businesses developing technologies that could improve mineral exploration, extraction, and recovery. Selected companies receive investment, technical guidance, and opportunities to work with Rio Tinto’s experts. They can also access facilities in Western Australia to test and adapt their solutions to the practical demands of mining.
Fieldstone Bio is developing a new approach to mineral analysis using synthetic biology, hyperspectral imaging, and data analysis. Its technology is designed to detect specific elements in geological samples and provide detailed information about their distribution.
This capability could help mining teams make better-informed decisions during exploration. Traditionally, drill core samples are sent to laboratories for testing, and results can take several weeks to arrive. During this waiting period, exploration teams may have to plan additional drilling without having a complete understanding of the mineral deposit.
Faster analysis could reduce this uncertainty. By receiving more detailed information while drilling programmes are still underway, geologists may be able to identify promising sections of rock, adjust drilling plans, and avoid spending resources on less valuable areas.
The technology could also support grade control at operating mines. Grade control involves measuring the concentration of valuable minerals in mined material to determine which areas are worth processing. More detailed measurements could help mining operators separate valuable ore from waste rock more effectively.
The need for improved mineral exploration is becoming increasingly important as industries seek materials such as copper, lithium, and other critical minerals. These resources are essential for electricity networks, batteries, renewable energy systems, and other technologies supporting the transition to more electrified economies.
Fieldstone Bio will work with Rio Tinto’s geologists, exploration specialists, and technical teams during the accelerator programme. Their feedback will help the company adapt its measurement systems to existing mining processes, field conditions, and data requirements.
The company has also received support through a separate research initiative. In June 2026, the US Department of Energy awarded $2 million to Fieldstone Bio, TerraCore, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop a system for rapidly characterising critical minerals in drill cores without damaging the samples. The project combines biological sensors with advanced imaging techniques and samples from active exploration sites.
For the mining industry, the development highlights the growing role of biotechnology and data-driven tools in exploration. However, technologies must demonstrate reliable results under real operating conditions before their benefits can be fully realised.
Through the accelerator, Fieldstone Bio will have an opportunity to test its approach alongside industry professionals and improve its readiness for wider use. If successful, faster mineral analysis could help exploration teams make more informed decisions, reduce delays, and improve the efficiency of critical mineral discovery.
