Ann: LiDAR Survey further enhances Equador Niobium Project, page-246

That was how mining began, long before the use of fancy modern drills.
The bronze age didnt come about because of access to diamond and tungsten drillbits.
Heres 5 deposits that were mined with no initial drilling;
Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa (Gold)
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland (Copper)
Piedmont, Italy (Asbestos)
California Gold Rush (1848-1855)
Erzgebirge, Germany (Tin and Silver)

I'm not saying that it is probable that sum will commence ore extraction without an intensive drill programme, but its not outside the bounds of possibility.