Download Evolution expands Northland gold play

Evolution expands Northland gold play
Matt Freeman - Thu, 12 Nov 2015
This image (click to enlarge) shows the Te Mata permit (top-left) in
relation to Puhipuhi (bottom-right)
Evolution Mining has applied for a 4393-hectare minerals
exploration permit – MEP 60116 - in Northland covering the Te
Mata epithermal gold-silver prospect, acreage previously held by
Tai Tokerau Minerals.
Evolution is presently advancing the nearby Puhipuhi gold project
30 kilometres north of Whangarei where CSAMT surveys are being conducted ahead of a
diamond drilling campaign.
Tai Tokerau exit left acreage available
Exploration acreage over Te Mata was most recently held by Tai Tokerau Minerals, an
exploration company part-owned by flamboyant former Far North Mayor Wayne Brown.
The company surrendered the permit in August this year and retains a single exploration
permit - MEP 55052 ‘Hazelbrook’ – which lies to the north of Te Mata. Hazelbrook, is a
4877-hectare permit covering the Pupuke gold deposit. It expires on 17 July 2018.
Tai Tokerau, Waimatenui Exploration and De Grey Mining were awarded gold-focused
exploration permits in Northland in July 2013, following a competitive Government block
offer. Waimatenui Exploration was struck off the Companies Register in January this year,
and De Grey sold its interests to Evolution.
Inside Resourcesreported earlier this year that little progress had been made by Tai Tokerau
with either of its permits at the time.
Various exploration activities at Te Mata over the years
The Te Mata prospect lies north-west of Kerikeri and immediately west of Lake Manuwai.
Research undertaken by Tony Christie from GNS Science amongst others, identifies Te Mata
as being part of the northern Kaikohe-Bay of Islands Volcanic Field which includes several
alkaline and peralkaline rhyolite domes including those at Putahi, Maungaparerua, Pungaere,
Te Mahimahi, Te Pene and Te Mata.
The Te Mata rhyolite dome is bounded by the Te Mata Fault, which cuts through an
associated area of siliceous sinters, mineralised lake sediments, explosion breccias, argillic
alteration and quartz veining. Native arsenic, realgar, orpiment and arsenopyrite occur in
association with pyrite, marcasite and cinnabar.
It was discovered during reconnaissance exploration by Australian Marine Resources and
Element Research in a joint venture with Homestake New Zealand Exploration. The area was
subsequently explored by BP in a joint venture with Australian Marine Resources and
Element Research. Their exploration programme included stream sediment, soil and rock
geochemistry, air photo geology and structural interpretation.
University of Auckland third year students under the supervision of C. Locke carried out
reconnaissance geophysical surveys over the lake sediments using E-W traverse lines. Work
included a seismic survey, an EM survey and several resistivity soundings.
Kiwi International Resources and Kaeo Prospecting Group reviewed previous exploration,
but did not report any new exploration.
Te Mata was also part of Aurora Minerals’ Hazelbrook project. Aurora Minerals contracted
Wellington-based Kenex to compile previous exploration data in a GIS and carry out a
prospectivity assessment for the Hazelbrook project. Aurora carried out an aeromagnetic
survey and soil sampling, describing a discontinuous arsenic anomaly extending over 1.6 km
in a NW-SE direction, defined by the 120 ppm As contour. The anomalous gold values, up to
24 ppb, are concentrated in the central portion of the anomalous arsenic geochemistry
(2586940 mE, 6670160 mN).
About Evolution
Evolution is an impressive Australian-based mid-tier gold producer with annual gold
production of over 430,000 ounces.