About Us
Digital Lithics was founded in 2025 as a unique geoscience consultancy specializing in initiating, managing, and transforming core digitization and technology projects in the mining, petroleum, and geotechnical industries.
We partner with geological surveys, governments, mining, petroleum, and geotechnical companies to navigate the rapidly evolving world of digitisation in geoscience and turn physical cores in valuable and accessible digital data.
There are over 30 different core scanning providers in the market and selecting the right technology, service provider, and workflow can be time consuming and without a solid implementation plan can undermine the value of the data entirely. That’s where we come in.
We provide independent, expert-led consultancy to:
- Identify the best core scanning technology and workflow for your specific geological problem.
- Streamline service provider selection and project execution, saving you time and money.
- Utilise you core scanning data from the outset and translating these increasingly complex datasets into actionable insights.
- Communicate the value of the data to bridge the gap between the technology and the business impact, making sure your investment in digitisation answers your geological problem and generate real value.
Digital Lithics have expertise spanning core scanning, geophysics, petrophysics, geology, project and business management. Utilising these experiences we excel at identifying the right technologies, managing service providers, and unlocking the full potential of core scanning data.
So, whether you’re considering XRF scanning, handheld technology, hyperspectral imaging, LIBS scanning, X-ray CT, or other sensor technology, we help you make informed strategic decisions where the geology leads the technology.
Expertise
Digital Lithics is composed of a team of highly skilled geoscience professionals, each bringing their unique expertise to the consultancy. These professionals are adept at identifying and implementing the right technologies to drive client success. Their collective experience in core scanning, geophysics, petrophysics, machine learning, and geology ensures that Digital Lithics remains at the forefront of innovation in the mining, petroleum, and geotechnical industries. CV’s for each of the people referenced here are provided in Appendix A of this document.
James Shreeve – Founder
James Shreeve is the founder of Digital Lithics and has a wealth of experience as a geologist. With 16 years of experience, James has specialized in technology implementation, with a particular focus on core scanning technology. His expertise spans the minerals, oil and gas, and geotechnical industries, where he has successfully managed the implementation, management, and utilization of core scanning data. Throughout his career, James has held several leadership roles, including overseeing global operations, managing core scanner production facilities, and developing strategies to optimize instrument sales and service revenue. As an advocate for technology and integrated AI, James is dedicated to enhancing the understanding of resources and ground engineering from geological, geotechnical, and geometallurgical perspectives. He excels at guiding technical teams to effectively leverage data for maximum impact.
Chris Yeomans, PHD
Chris Yeomans has over a decade of experience in data, mineral exploration & technology innovation. Chris did a PhD in machine learning applied to mineral exploration and he now specializes in advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to improve efficiency and sustainability across the minerals value chain. He is also a leading expert in critical minerals and current co-chair of the UK Critical Minerals Association’s Domestic Working Group. Chris brings a diverse experience base to Digital Lithics through his management of industrial innovation programs that have included data digitisation, GIS data management, data science, airborne geophysical surveys and mineral prospectivity mapping.
Axel Sjöqvist, PHD
Axel has over a decade of professional experience working with geochemical data from global mineral exploration and mining projects. His work experience spans from the field to the clean lab, from district-scale petrology to microgeochemistry, from boots-on-the-ground geology to policymaking and geoscience communication. Axel is an expert in core scanning technology, with seven years of technical development and operational experience across a wide range of commodities and applications. His appetite for innovation and method development perpetually nudges him to ask: “How can we do this better?”
Alan Koenig, PHD
Alan has deep foundation in geochemistry, critical metals, and atomic spectroscopy, particularly laser ablation ICP-MS. As a recognized global leader in instrumentation design, calibration strategies, and methods development, he bring decades of experience across academic, industrial, and governmental sectors. Alan’s work spans the full lifecycle of critical metals—from exploration through to final product quality control—enabling practical, data-driven solutions for a broad range of clients. Alan has worked in both public and private sectors, and understands their distinct strengths and limitations and actively collaborates across both. He offers project-based support to instrument companies and expert guidance for scientists seeking to improve workflows and results. Alan is known for fostering collaboration and clear communication and is committed to helping organizations innovate, solve complex problems, and build stronger scientific infrastructure.
