MRA to gather geological data

Business, Normal
Source:

The National, Monday October 12th, 2015

 THE Mineral Resources Authority plans to gather more geological data on alluvial gold occurrence in the country next year and make the data available to alluvial miners.

Geological mapping and exploration branch manager Dulcie Saroa said during the alluvial mining convention and trade show in Lae, that there was currently insufficient data on alluvial gold occurrences/deposits resulting in missed income earning opportunities for small scale miners, and also in terms of export revenues.

The authority expects to make available sufficient data to empower miners to earn more, and ultimately increase export revenues for the country through export receipts.

Last year Papua New Guinea’s alluvial gold sector produced 119,000 ounces, which generated export revenue of K373 million.

It is expected that the sector would produce similar results this year.

Saroa said the authority embarked on a number of initiatives to identify alluvial gold prospective areas in the country.

The initiatives include :

  • Research into gold depositional environments where the primary source of gold has not been clearly identified to provide new geological models;
  • once these models have been proven, new highly prospective geological environments for gold would be identified that would possibly lead to new discoveries simultaneously increasing gold production;
  • continue to acquire geo-scientific information from alluvial gold occurrences;
  • carry out resource estimation work for non-mechanised alluvial miners to build resource confidence;
  • Sample all alluvial gold specimens (nuggets and refractory) with record in the Mineral Resources Authority’s geo-scientific (alluvial gold) database and to be available to all stakeholders.