Other projects in PNG | Exploration map
Wau Block
The Manga EL lies to the north of Wau and is contiguous with the west with the Wafi licence. The area was previously explored by CRA and RGC in the 1980s. A number of strong target areas were identified with potential for epithermal mineralisation similar to the primary gold deposits in the well-known Morobe Goldfields, which were the source of extensive alluvial deposits. In total, approximately 2.35 Moz of gold were extracted from alluvial deposits at Bulolo, Watut and Edie Creek and lode mineralisation at Edie and Wau.
Exploration focus shifted to the Wafi area at an early stage of the CRA exploration and the majority of targets were only explored superficially. In addition, the geochemical thresholds used to define anomalous zones were rather high and a number of significant subtle anomalies were not followed up.
The Sela EL is contiguous with the east of Hidden Valley . The area was explored by CRA and RGC in the 1980's. Several geochemical anomalies were identified and partially explored, though emphasis rapidly shifted to the Hidden Valley area and a number remain unresolved. Once again anomaly thresholds and metal detection limits were high, so anomalies below threshold were ignored or not identified due to the assay limits and therefore much of the property remains under explored. Major structures extend southeast across the tenement from the Morobe Goldfields and intersect northeast-trending fractures in proximity to several geochemical highs.
The Heiweni EL 1370 extends west from Wau, encloses Edie EL 1365 and is contiguous with the north and western parts of the Hidden Valley groups of tenements. Tekadu EL 1370 is contiguous to the south of Heiweni, surrounds the southern part of the Hidden Valley licence group and adjoins the southern boundary of Sela ELA. Heiweni and Takadu ELAs surround Maya Gold Limited's EL 1363. The major northeast-trending structures that bound the Morobe Goldfields traverse the area and several young porphyries, known to be related to the mineralisation are known in the TPJ ELs.
The area was previously explored on a regional scale by CRA in the 1980s and more detailed work was conducted in the 1990s. Large areas of Heiweni ELA were surveyed using a high geochemical detection limit so subtle anomalies were not detected except in a few limited areas where more sensitive methods were subsequently applied. Anomaly thresholds were initially very high and it was not until the later years that more subtle features were recognised as significant, though few of the latter were followed up.
A few areas were explored in detail before attention was shifted to the Hidden Valley area. A zone of quartz-gold veins, now recognised to be porphyry related, was located at Hides Creek, currently within the Maya ELA, and a zone of skarn gold mineralisation was located close to the Maya/Tekadu boundary. Numerous other anomalies were located without follow-up and many remain valid exploration targets. Large areas were relinquished by CRA before the significance of more subtle geochemical anomalies was realised; these also form attractive targets and are contained within the TPJ ELs.
TPJ is in the process of compiling all the data into a GIS database, which will allow target selection and prioritisation.
