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New mining exploration licence

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A number of local residents have expressed their concern regarding an application for a new mining exploration licence (as published in the TT on 11 March 2022).

One resident told the Times, “I am concerned about the size of the exploration licence that has been applied for, especially in relation to the historic and scientific significant mining landscape that may be damaged.

“I am also concerned about the connection between Kaiser Reef, Centennial Mining (who went into administration and de-listed from the Australian Stock Exchange only a few years ago) and Maldon Resources and how this affects any bonds required for rehabilitation, not only of the exploration licence currently being applied for, but also the current Mining Leases at Union Hill/Porcupine Flat Treatment Plant and the Nuggetty Ranges.”

The Times spoke with Centennial Mining Ltd Geology Manager Shawn Panton, who said, “I have received a few queries from people wanting to know where their property sits within the licence area, and I have responded with more detailed maps.

“There seems to be an assumption that drilling will start straight away. This is certainly not the case. The work plan is dominated by mostly desktop studies which means reviewing historical data records with a view to generating exploration targets in the future.

“If any drilling were to start within the first year, it would be near the drilling sites within the Maldon Historic Reserve near where we drilled in December 2021 – January 2022.

“Drilling may occur in other areas but not until extensive studies have been completed in one to three years’ time,” said Shawn.

“The purpose of exploration, using existing data supplemented by some low impact fieldwork, is to define potential anomalies that can be related to gold mineralisation. More detailed planning comes about from this process over time.

“(Exploration licence) EL007029 is a relatively under-explored area, with potential exploration targets below sedimentary cover and granodiorite intrusions that have been previously overlooked because there is no, or little, surface expression of mineralised reefs.”

Shawn told the Times that residents are making connections to a previous exploration licence held by Kalamazoo Resources, who conducted drilling quite quickly and are thinking EL7029 will do the same.

“Drilling is an expensive advanced technique for delineating mineral resources and is usually conducted on well understood geological targets. Kalamazoo was probably exploring geologically well-understood areas near historic mining,” said Shawn.

“Most of EL7029 may be considered an overlooked region because it has much less historical mining and exploration activity. The purpose of desktop studies is to better understand and interpret the sub-surface geology before any drilling can be considered. Historical mining centres such as Union Hill were discovered because the quartz reefs had good surface expression and were not overlain by sedimentary sands, clays or obscured by the Harcourt Granodiorite intrusion to the North. EL7029 is exploring areas that have been overlooked for these reasons.

“The only caveat to this process regards the Maldon Historic Reserve that surrounds the MIN5528 (Nuggetty Mine). Some drilling within one to two years is possible to further our understanding from recent drilling done in December 2021 – January 2022 of the Nuggetty Reef at depth.”

Shawn said, “Almost all Central Victoria, beyond just the Maldon goldfield is either under existing exploration licences (by other companies) or mining licences.”

For more information or to lodge an objection or comment visit:

https://earthresources.vic.gov.au/licensing-approvals/have-your-say/notice-of-application-for-an-exploration-licence-el007029.

Tarrangower Times 25 March 2022

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 25 March 2022.

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