I wouldn't doubt that they've developed the ultimate in downhole survey tools. A state-of-the-art mass spectrometer that uses lasers to analyze sample materials.Fantastic!!This knowledge has been employed by astronomers for decades to determine star and planet composition.They can tell you what gases are present in the atmosphere of a planet at great distances.No need to send cores to an expensive lab by expensive air carriers.Drop the specialized tool down the hole and find out what type of minerals are present and in what concentrations at any level of the hole you wish to sample.The computer program can add the resources as you go and BINGO,you have your 43-101 stats.As fast as they can drill,this tool can analyse.Since quartz is semi-transparent or translucent they could shoot the laser thru hundreds of meters of gold bearing veins to the receiver in another hole.Great possibilities for this technology.Maybe it's already being applied somewhere in the ROF.

cs.