Norcangeo Ltd stands as a trailblazer in the mineral exploration field, where access to remote and challenging terrains often limits discovery. Founded and led by Garry Thorne, P. Geo, the company has not only identified but effectively bridged a long-standing gap in exploration efficiency, environmental responsibility, and technological advancement.
With its patented Geologic All-Terrain (GAT) Drill, Norcangeo is enabling geologists and prospectors to access and explore regions once deemed unreachable, from swamps to soft soil and lake-covered areas of the Canadian Shield, while maintaining a light environmental footprint.
The Vision Behind Norcangeo Ltd
The inception of Norcangeo was driven by a mix of practical experience and strategic insight.
While attending mineral exploration conferences and trade shows, Garry Thorne realized that potential clients preferred to engage with incorporated companies rather than individual prospectors. Establishing Norcangeo Ltd provided not only professional credibility and tax advantages but also a stronger platform for innovation.
Norcangeo Ltd redefines mineral exploration with decades of Thorne’s geological experience. Thorne has hands-on experience with various drilling systems, which provided the foundation for a truly unique innovation, the Geologic All-Terrain (GAT) Drill.
“After years of working with multiple drilling systems, I understood both their capabilities and limitations,” says Thorne. “That experience directly inspired the development of the GAT Drill, a solution built for real field conditions.”
The GAT Drill Advantage
The GAT Drill represents a game-changing development in mineral exploration. Engineered from lightweight aluminum and weighing just 500 kg (1,100 lbs), it is equipped with low-pressure all-terrain tires for summer and aluminum runners (skis) for winter use. This flexibility allows seamless operation across swamps, soft soils, and rugged terrain typical of the Canadian Shield.
Where traditional rigs require bulldozers or heavy skidders, often causing deep ruts and long-term ecological damage, Norcangeo’s design ensures minimal environmental disturbance. This is especially significant in tundra and Indigenous regions, where preserving the natural landscape and travel routes is critical.
Integrating Advanced Data and Fieldwork
Norcangeo’s approach merges cutting-edge data analysis with practical field operations by creating a comprehensive and efficient exploration model.
The company integrates multiple data layers, including:
- Review of historical geologic data sets.
- Airborne and ground geophysical surveys (electromagnetic and magnetic) to identify conductor zones and highly conductive anomalies within the major conductors.
- Topography and hydrology mapping to assess exploration travel, swamp and water coverage.
- Till geochemistry sampling, using augured boreholes to refusal (bedrock) to gather indicator mineral data for minerals such as Ni, Cr, and Co. Most often using wider spaced borehole grids for initial testing, followed up (based on assay results) with a denser network of boreholes.
- High-quality laboratory Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) assays for major elements and minerals concentrations.
- Detailed mineral concentration (Contour) mapping to identify mineralized trends and guide hard-rock drilling locations.
- Statistical analysis for an exploration area to determine overburden and till depths, areal distribution and background element and mineral concentration values.
This layered method dramatically increases exploration precision, reducing time and cost while improving success rates.
Commitment to Environmental and Indigenous Stewardship
Environmental care and Indigenous respect are central to Norcangeo’s operations. The GAT Drill’s light footprint allows for exploration in environmentally sensitive regions without causing soil damage or habitat disruption.
Thorne notes, “Heavy equipment such as bulldozers or skidders used for moving larger drills can leave large ruts in fragile terrain. For indigenous communities, and especially in tundra regions, these depressions can pond water and grow in size, creating more difficult travel conditions for regular users of the land.”
Such sensitivity not only protects ecosystems but also fosters positive relationships with Indigenous partners who rely on these lands for traditional activities.
Recognition and Industry Validation
In 2025, Norcangeo was honored with the title of “Mineral Exploration Company of the Year in Canada.”
This recognition reflects the company’s relentless drive for innovation and sustainability, and signals a broader industry shift toward lighter, smarter, and cleaner exploration technologies.
Feedback from industry conventions like PDAC has confirmed the growing demand for tools like the GAT Drill, which is compact, efficient, and environmentally conscious. As regulations tighten and ecological accountability becomes mandatory, Norcangeo is already years ahead of the curve.
Overcoming Challenges in Harsh Terrains
Scaling innovation in one of the world’s most unforgiving geological landscapes, the Canadian Shield, comes with unique challenges.
The GAT Drill has been rigorously tested in extreme temperatures ranging from -35°C in winter to +35°C in summer, operating flawlessly across rough terrain, soft soils, organic deposits, and deep swamps.
Thorne says, “A true test of whether equipment will operate efficiently in the field is to conduct mineral exploration in the Canadian Shield (CS) of Northern Manitoba.”
“Our drill has proven its worth where conventional rigs fail,” he notes.
A major hurdle has also been educating clients about the benefits of till geochemistry exploration. It is a technique often underutilized by traditional operators. Norcangeo bridges this knowledge gap through field demonstrations, visual documentation, and direct engagement with potential clients.
Teamwork, Partnerships, and Global Collaboration
Despite being a lean operation, Norcangeo thrives through strong collaboration.
Thorne credits his network of field partners, friends, and international collaborators for contributing to the company’s success, from providing logistical support to helping at major conventions.
One standout partnership is with VBKOM, a South African mining consultancy now expanding into Canada. Their support has included:
- Producing videos of Norcangeo’s fieldwork and claims in the Thompson Nickel Belt.
- Designing custom marketing materials for PDAC and investor forums.
- Analyzing and visualizing geochemistry data.
- Developing presentations for clients and conferences.
“Innovation isn’t just about technology; it’s also about relationships,” Thorne emphasizes. “Our partners’ belief in our mission fuels our growth.”
A Major Find in the Thompson Nickel Belt
One of Norcangeo’s most remarkable success stories took place in Bryce Bay, just north of the Thompson Nickel Belt.
After identifying the area through historical magnetic data, Thorne and his team conducted over 80 boreholes using the GAT Drill. The assays revealed arsenic concentrations 100 times above background levels (505 ppm vs. 5 ppm), a clear indicator of massive sulphide mineralization.
Further excavation exposed a sulphide vein rich in Copper (8,500 ppm) and Cobalt (1,600 ppm), and the high Arsenic concentrations signaling the potential for gold (Au) as well.
“Traditional methods would have missed it,” Thorne reflects. “Our integrated approach and specialized equipment made that discovery possible.”
Critical Minerals and Global Demand
As nations race to secure critical minerals like nickel, cobalt, and PGEs for clean energy technologies, Norcangeo is positioning itself at the forefront of this next exploration frontier.
The company’s future roadmap includes:
- Continued innovation in drill design using cost-effective aluminum moldings to reduce drill fabrication costs.
- Expanding operations into deeper and more remote terrains, e.g.,( mountainous)
- Strengthening strategic partnerships for global exploration support.
- Showcasing at major international conventions like PDAC in Toronto, March 1-4, 2026, where Norcangeo will host two booths and potentially present at the Investors Forum.
Throne says, “I welcome all visitors and can explain the drill operation and discuss options for exploration support and mineral claim options, continued drill development or customization for specific requirements to strategic partnerships.”
A Vision for Sustainable Discovery
For Garry Thorne, leadership means perseverance, practical innovation, and community collaboration.
“We’re not just drilling holes; we’re opening new doors for responsible resource development,” he says.
With its pioneering technology, light environmental footprint, and scientific precision, Norcangeo Ltd is redefining what’s possible in mineral exploration, proving that progress and preservation can coexist beneath the same soil.
About Norcangeo Ltd
Norcangeo Ltd is a Canadian mineral exploration company revolutionizing the field through innovation, sustainability, and advanced geoscientific methods. With its patented Geologic All-Terrain (GAT) Drill, the company enables efficient and environmentally conscious exploration in challenging terrains, unlocking new potential in the search for critical minerals and the future of resource discovery.
Company Details
- Company Name: Norcangeo Ltd.
- Founding Year: 2009
- Office Locations: 792 Applecross Dr. East St. Paul, MB, Canada, R2E 0G5
- Official Website: norcangeo.com
- Industry/ Sector: Exploration, Critical Minerals
Leader’s Profile
- Name of the Featured Leader: Garry Thorne P. Geo
- Designation: President Norcangeo
- Brief Background & Experience:
With over 33 years of experience in geoscience, research, and development, Garry Thorne has served with distinction at Atomic Energy of Canada and Environment Canada. Following an early retirement, he transitioned into mineral prospecting and exploration, where he currently holds critical mineral claims, including Nickel, Cobalt, Copper, and PGEs, in Northern Manitoba, Canada.
Garry is the inventor and developer of a highly portable, efficient drill designed for both soil augering and BQ-size wireline hard rock coring. This innovative equipment, utilized to advance exploration on his claims, is protected by patents in both Canada and the United States. His ongoing innovations include features such as all-aluminum construction, integrated load cells for monitoring downhole drill bit pressure, and the development of large-diameter (23–30 cm) soil augering and till sampling techniques, significantly enhancing field efficiency and exploration accuracy.
Company Highlights
- Key Services/Offerings: Mineral exploration drills and mineral exploration services, such as till sampling and hard rock exploration services such as till sampling and rock coring.
- Achievements or Recognitions:
- Successful research and development and field testing of an efficient and portable multi-purpose geological drill in the USA and Canadian drill patents, Front cover feature (story).
- Norcangeo was named Mineral Exploration Company of the year in Canada for 2025 by Metals and Mining Review.