Ivanhoe Electric–SQM Typhoon surveys in Chile: key insights for geophysicists
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
Ivanhoe Electric has signed a definitive collaboration and exploration agreement with Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM) to search for copper across SQM’s extensive northern Chile concessions, where SQM already produces lithium, potassium nitrate and iodine. The programme will deploy Ivanhoe Electric’s proprietary Typhoon geophysical surveying system, designed for deep, high-power induced polarisation and electromagnetic imaging of concealed sulphide mineralisation. For geophysicists and exploration teams, this signals a large-scale application of Typhoon over brownfield brine and nitrate districts that have seen limited deep copper-focused geophysics.
Technical Brief
- The collaboration grants Ivanhoe Electric access to SQM’s extensive northern Chile concession portfolio for copper-focused geophysics.
Our Take
Within our 779 Mining stories, copper–lithium combinations like SQM’s northern Chile portfolio are relatively uncommon, signalling how few operators control assets that straddle both battery metals at scale in the same region.
For Chile, most recent copper-tagged coverage in our database has focused on established porphyry districts and incremental expansions, so SQM’s use of Ivanhoe Electric’s Typhoon system suggests a push to identify deeper or concealed targets beyond the usual near-surface brine and nitrate domains.
SQM’s involvement here contrasts with many lithium-focused pieces in our coverage that centre on junior developers, underlining how incumbents with diversified products such as lithium, potassium nitrate and iodine can afford higher-spec geophysical campaigns to extend mine life and optionality.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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