Gold exploration has never looked better, particularly in North-East Tasmania. Golden Ridge, a high-grade gold deposit, recently reported an incredible discovery that further emphasizes the region’s potential as a gold production hub. The discovery was marked by impressive-grading gold samples, with some reaching as high as 99.4g/t gold.
Previously, Golden Ridge was mainly known for its low-grade, bulk tonnage deposit. However, the recent discovery surpassed the expectations, highlighting the exploration’s high degrees of virgin gold mineralisation. The peak value of 99.4g/t gold puts Golden Ridge amongst the league of upper-echelon deposits globally, considering that a good quality underground mine typically presents with grades of 5-10g/t gold.
The outcome of this exploration was a result of the company’s latest soil sampling campaign and involved the application of modern, cutting-edge exploration techniques. The strategy involved a multidimensional approach that combined innovative geophysics, LiDAR data, and drone imagery to pinpoint the anomalous areas with potential gold deposits.
In this exploration, GIS maps played a pivotal role. The significant color anomalies identified on the maps guided the geological team in their efforts. These pseudo gold-in-soil maps served as a scientific prophecy, enlightening the exploration team.
The samples extracted during the soil sampling portrayed a highly diverse range of gold grades. The sequence commenced with a low-grade threshold of about 5g/t gold and extended to the staggering peak of 99.4g/t gold. This marked variety confirms the deposit’s unique geology and high-grade characteristics.
Consequently, these results provide a promising foundation for follow-up drill testing. The high-grade nature of the deposit indicates that even a relatively small gold system could lead to a robust financial model due to the potential for increased mining productivity and lower capital and operational costs.
Moreover, the area’s geology seems to align largely with that of Tasmania’s Stavely Arc region, known for its rich deposits of copper-gold. Given that both regions share the same geological timeline, the high-grade nature of Golden Ridge might also imply a higher prospect for other valuable minerals such as copper.
Overall, the high-quality gold findings in Golden Ridge add to the growth of North-East Tasmania’s mining industry. This exploration will not only stimulate local economic development but also attract more interest and investment into Australia’s mining sector. Moving forward, more fieldwork and drilling are required to confirm these results and expand the resource estimate in Golden Range to establish its economic viability.
The gold segment always presents a world of opportunity, and Golden Ridge’s discovery could reframe gold exploration strategies. By blending traditional techniques with innovative technology and software applications, companies can better predict the regions likely to harbor mineral wealth. And as shown in this case, these cutting-edge techniques can launch a new era of discovery, revealing the golden treasures hidden beneath the Earth.