PNG has highest grades of gold, copper in the world
By Harlyne Joku
Papua New Guinea’s Central Highlands has the highest and most attractive grades of gold, copper and nickel compared to the rest of the world according to Dr John Aspden, the chief geologist of MRA (Mineral Resources Authority).
Dr Aspden revealed this in a power point presentation at the MRA headquarters last Friday evening.
Dr Aspden heads the geological survey sponsored by the European Union (EU)’s Mining Sector Support Program GEOMAP.
He said data collected in the past three years in the Central Highlands had shown incredibly rich and highly elevated deposits of gold, copper and nickel.
Eight of the world’s leading mining companies including the British mining giant CRA’s Rio Tinto who still own the mining prospecting licences for the Bougainville copper mine and Barrick Gold , have purchased the data from MRA, Dr Aspden said.
The data costs K5000.
“It has been an extremely successful exercise,” Dr Aspden said.
The exercise involved an aerial geophysical and geological mapping surveys and collection of samples from 5000 sites.
“Their values are remarkably high. It’s quite incredible, almost all of Central Highlands samples collected show that the region is sitting on elevated deposits of gold and copper,” Dr Aspden said.
MRA’s managing director Kepas Wali added that the minerals industry would continue to make a huge contribution to PNG’s economy. He said the data produced by EU’s Geomap project will attract investors and also provide the type of information they require for further mineral exploration and mining operations.
According to the third quarter of the 2009 Bank of PNG Economic Bulletin, total mineral exports in that quarter amounted to K2,344.7 million which is 61.2 per cent of the total merchandise exports.
Mr Wali said the mineral industry would continue to generate revenue for PNG from its mineral exports and more new mines would open up.
The Geomap project comes from a grant from EU worth about K50 million.
By Harlyne Joku
Papua New Guinea’s Central Highlands has the highest and most attractive grades of gold, copper and nickel compared to the rest of the world according to Dr John Aspden, the chief geologist of MRA (Mineral Resources Authority).
Dr Aspden revealed this in a power point presentation at the MRA headquarters last Friday evening.
Dr Aspden heads the geological survey sponsored by the European Union (EU)’s Mining Sector Support Program GEOMAP.
He said data collected in the past three years in the Central Highlands had shown incredibly rich and highly elevated deposits of gold, copper and nickel.
Eight of the world’s leading mining companies including the British mining giant CRA’s Rio Tinto who still own the mining prospecting licences for the Bougainville copper mine and Barrick Gold , have purchased the data from MRA, Dr Aspden said.
The data costs K5000.
“It has been an extremely successful exercise,” Dr Aspden said.
The exercise involved an aerial geophysical and geological mapping surveys and collection of samples from 5000 sites.
“Their values are remarkably high. It’s quite incredible, almost all of Central Highlands samples collected show that the region is sitting on elevated deposits of gold and copper,” Dr Aspden said.
MRA’s managing director Kepas Wali added that the minerals industry would continue to make a huge contribution to PNG’s economy. He said the data produced by EU’s Geomap project will attract investors and also provide the type of information they require for further mineral exploration and mining operations.
According to the third quarter of the 2009 Bank of PNG Economic Bulletin, total mineral exports in that quarter amounted to K2,344.7 million which is 61.2 per cent of the total merchandise exports.
Mr Wali said the mineral industry would continue to generate revenue for PNG from its mineral exports and more new mines would open up.
The Geomap project comes from a grant from EU worth about K50 million.