Avoca's numbers tell a storyMichael QuinnTuesday, August 09,...

Avoca's numbers tell a story


Michael Quinn


Tuesday, August 09, 2005
GETTING an idea as to why Avoca Resources managing director Rohan Williams is excited by the company's emerging Higginsville gold project can be explained by a simple set of statistics.

Williams told Diggers & Dealers that 10,306 holes have been drilled into the Higginsville project over the years, suggesting the field has been reasonably well probed.

However only 5% of the holes go beyond 100m depth, and of those, a mere 91 holes, or less than 1%, have been drilled deeper than 250m. Further, only 44 holes have drilled beyond 400m, of which 41 were from Avoca rigs.

This in a field with geology similar to the Norseman field to the south – an old stamping ground of Williams – where around 75% of the five million ounces or so mined have come from underground. To date, the Higginsville area has yielded a little less than 110,000oz – 25,000oz some 200m from Trident, and around 82,000oz from the nearby Two Boys mine.

From the Avoca holes have come the 485,000 ounce Trident discovery – of which 450,000oz is indicated – that's targeted to be developed next year. Williams believes it'll be a "cracking mine" and that there'll be plenty more gold found in the area given the historical drilling stats, the discoveries made in quick time by Avoca, the history of Norseman to the south and the 15 million Norseman field to the north.

Ore may be toll treated at St Ives – discussions have begun – or a standalone plant may be constructed. Williams believes reserves of around 500,000oz would underpin the latter. A decision is due in mid-2006, with production expected to be at least 60,000oz per annum.