Didn't see the presentation but caught Allan Kneeshaw (AK) in a quiet period and had a great chat.
Pre-discovery - discovery at Aquilla/Brolga - exploration practices and hints of the future.plus a wide range of other topics folks interested in exploration meander through.
I did mention to AK I post on HC but didn't ask permission though hope it will be OK. Just touched briefly on many topics with little detail. Fluttering like a butterfly.
He has family history in the first phase of the emergence of the Pilbara as a power house in iron ore. Now a descendant has played a role in changing the perception of "only minor gold" in the Pilbara to an emerging gold province. [Yes there is Lithium as well and perhaps some others]
Didn't go into how AK joined the DEG team but working with Phil Tornatora at Sunrise Dam in a previous role may have been an influence.
The development of the model that led to DEG's success is way beyond me to describe. Some aspects: include updated Government Mapping showing the presence of deep seated intrusives coinciding with the drilling of Toweranna leading to a model that they went out to test with Aircore.
There is a story behind the discussions of how to drill the initial A and B anomalies from aircore. Some differences of opinions as to which would be best to test. A broad low grade (Brolga) Vs a higher grade (Aquila). Ultimately it didn't matter as both were winners but sometimes with exploration that choice can be the difference between success and failure where a property is dropped and some other company comes in and claims the prize.
Initial drilling at Aquila had the geos scratching their heads a little. The grade material was considered to be sediment, a concept overturned by deeper drilling and lithogeochemistry.
Another yarn deals with the choice of what assays to do on the drill samples. Exactly why it was chosen is another story, but basically from day one DEG have run a suite of 53? elements along with other assays. In the early drilling this did not appear to be of much use but now with 1 million metres of drilling and a huge lithogeochem data base available the value is immense. There is proprietary information attached to such data. I doubt (hope) AK didn't let anything slip. IMO what is mentioned below is just the tip of what could come out of a large data base on an area.
From memory with some unchecked comments below. Treat with care.
- being able to tell a good intrusive from an exceptional one
- vectoring in on areas - arm waving by AK the gap from Crow to Duicon is liable to be filled with some mineralisation.
- Beyond exploration they are able to predict what can happen to mine waste and tailings from an environmental perspective.
- Potential ore blending
- A real great one is being able to pick the sedimentary stratigraphy along the entire extent of their property. This is something the iron ore geos have had in the Hammersly for a long time I believe. At Mallina there has always been a problem with stratigraphy in the shales from visual logging so having a tool like this may be a real benefit. [Rio use a similar process at Winu where the sandstones are very monotonous but subtly variable.
- Probably more but all I recall.
Future?
Andy B shocked the crew at an early presentation by mentioning a 30M oz gold target.
AK now does not consider this inconceivable for the entire DEG holdings.
@Netraam used 20M? back in the early days when I did hold.
Some specific areas mentioned where additional potential could exist.
Charity Well and Antwerp seemed to be targets that excited AK. CW is in the process of getting heritage clearance.
Toweranna deeps is being tested with mineralisation continuing.
Scooby has been on the back burner but AK suggested it may be better than my poor view of it.
North of Eagle giving some interesting results.
An abundance of opportunities exist. Not all will be winners but some will on the intrusive side.
The shear hosted deposits have been poor cousins but will likely get attention once studies go through on A B C D E F...etc Is there a bird with a Z name - Zebra Finch?
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Thanks Allan. I hope I can be forgiven for paraphrasing a fascinating discussion. Like most companies announcements, presentations and even one on one chats can only give a hint of the vast amount of thought and work that goes into looking for a mineral deposit.
The strength of the team is important. BOD supporting the technical crew came through loud and clear.
(20min delay)