Mineral Resources Authority
Papua New Guinea
EXPLORATION AND
PROSPECTIVITY IN PNG
144°
142°
148°
146°
152°
150°
154°
156°
1778
1774
P AP UA NE W GUINE A
E xp l o r ati o n L i cen ces to Ju l y, 2010
1818
NEW IRELAND
1663
1473
2°
1776
1326
WEST SEPIK
EAST SEPIK
1775
1624 1574
1636
1708
1436
1559
1659
1821
1682
1658
1391
1657
1441
1501
1694
1695
1573
1693
1561
1570
1766
1446
1691
1428
1856
1758
1638
1566
1662
1500
1383
1502
1820
1560
1744
1745
1212
1746
1386
1777
1398
1656
1743
1655
1698
MANUS
1482
1647
1692
1484
1485
1490
1486
1542
1488
1487
1422
1690
1847
1588
1483
1489
1740
609
1170
1492
1491
WEST NEW BRITAIN
1493
1541 1571
1495
1496
1470
1469 1477
1497 1741
1742
1451
1848
485
1650 1737
16891476 1738
1196 1475
1736
1374
1452
1688
1564
1739 1474
1639
1791
1479
1480
1592
1562
1430
1429
1727 1665
1140
1351
1702
1453
58
1781
1604 MADANG
1646
1603
1755
1481
1432
1654 1543
1506
1304
1312
1478
1782
1701
1809
1444
1460
1700 1583
1504
1392
1770
1670
1431
1507
1798
1664 1641
1677
1601 1545
1420
1513
1786
1503
1640
1337
1810
1853
1578
1633
1671
1438
1505
1335
1669
1854
581
1730
1345
193 1771
454
1178
1595
1043
1676
1724
1807
18511709
1508
858
1796
1596
1780
1679
1322
1546
1395
1093 17951797
1723
WESTERN
1785
ENGA 1824
1416 1827 1615
1802 1445
1648
HIG HLANDS
1725
1762
1401
1077 1462
1613
1277
1731
EAST NEW BRITAIN
1805
SOUTHERN
693
1803
1806
1772 1400 1049
HIGHLANDS
1598
1817
1726
470
1617
1722
1611
1850
1399
1728
1720
1456
1800
1687
1626
1605
1813
1610
1855
1384 1765
1426
1828
1721
CHIMBU
1642
1678
1342 1341 1703 1705 1608 1814
1763
EASTERN
1748 440
1590
HIG HLANDS
1369
1752
1115 1353 1704 1105
1812 1773
1609
MOROBE
1612 1377
1751
1706
1103 1707
1674 1811
1316
1815
1589
1340
1750
1548
1193 1305
1616
1435
1675 677
WESTERN
1370 1816
497
1754 16661365
1380
1568
1614
1371
1849 1585 1403
1754 1710
1764
1668 1667 1852
1718
1732
1717
1716
1271
1714
1366
1683
1734 16311630
1784
1297
1715
1629 1409 1696
1783
1756
GULF
1264
1327
1713
1661 1440
1352
ORO
1733
1577
1712
580
1753
1465
1711
1379
1390
1757
894
1279
1581
683
1547
1172
1632
1025
1826
1607 1165
1819
1324
1070
1579
1544
1424
1649
1673
1292
1625 1651
1572 1526
1749 1672
1528
1576
Licences Key
1463
1388
1606 1767
1761
1619
1637
1628
1091
1825
1569
Exploration Licence
1623
1069
1681
Under Application
1389
1530
1618
1396
1643
1760
Exploration Licence
CENTRAL
Under Renewal
1323
1599
1747
1597 1468
1235
1768
4°
1799
1645
1801 1808
NORTH
SOLOMONS
6°
7a 5
6
7b
4
32 1
8°
1769
1759
1539
10°
1516
1387
1531
1532
1519
Current Exploration Licence
MILNE BAY
Ministerial
Reserve
0
100
200 km
1594
12°
142°
144°
146°
148°
150°
152°
154°
156°
EU Collaborative Projects
with Geological Survey
Division in 2010
• Regional geological mapping survey 2010 with
GMME & EU GEOMAP - map/publication series
compilation
• Regional drainage geochemical survey
• Training of PNG geologists (GSD and UPNG )
WBTA 2 and MRA Projects
proposed for funding
• PNG Stratigraphic Lexicon / seamless 250K map
• Cartography – GSQ & Geodatabase map
production in ArcInfo
• Geotechnical operations review
• Geothermal sites inventory and description
WBTA 2 and MRA Projects
• Updating open file geochemistry data from
company reports
• Work on developing an integrated Geological
and tenure database
• Scanning of all geoscience data in the library
system and list of all open file reports
• Core library plans and construction
Collaborative Geophysics
training & projects
• Delft University airborne geophysics / remote
sensing interpretation courses
• Earthquake survey of the SE Papua (Eastern
Papua Peninsula and Milne Bay Province) with
Colombia University, USA.
• Ontong Java Plateau – LIP - JAMSTEC Seismic
refraction, Seismic reflection, Marine gravity,
Geomagnetics, Sea floor topography (side scan
sonar)
Collaborative projects /
training
Geophysics
• Ontong Java Plateau – Large Igneous Province JAMSTEC Seismic refraction, Seismic reflection,
Marine gravity, Geomagnetics, Sea floor
topography (side scan sonar)
Wafi-Golpu Cu-Au Porphyry
Wafi
Wafi - Golpu Resource
• Pre feasibility study
• Large multiple lodes high sulphidation
system
• Drilling to 1800m
• Resource is open to the north
• Au resource – Wafi - 8.8Moz
• Porphyry Cu - Golpu - 4.8Mt Cu
Deliverables from Project E
MSSP and GEOMAP
• Fugro Highlands airborne Survey - final data world’s largest heliborne magnetic/radiometric
survey (PROJECT E)
• Multielement geochemistry - 48 element stream
sediment survey of 14 map sheets of Area 1
(database and maps)
• Geological Map Publication series
• Metallogenic maps
GEOMAP Partners
• British Geological
Survey (BGS)
• Deutsche Montan
Technologie (DMT)
• Council for
Geoscience (RSA)
• Mineral Resources
Authority (MRA)
FUGRO GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Magnetic and Radiometric helicopter survey
Line spacing 4-500m - terrain clearance c.100m
Area 1: c. 62,000km2. Area 2: 29,400km2
TMI magnetic of Area 1
BOSAVI
GILUWE
Mount Hagen
EU- funded GEOMAP Project
Prospects for the discovery of
new mineral deposits
• Prospectivity in PNG is very high with large
underexplored regions
• Geochemistry shows potential in areas not
previously explored
• Large numbers of streams contain alluvial gold
with no known hard rock source
• The development of pre-competitive geoscience
data is bringing major companies to explore in
PNG
• THE POTENTIAL FOR NEW DISCOVERIES
IS VERY HIGH
Communication strategy
• Long term 5 year targeted, global effort.
• Participation in industry conferences and trade
fairs.
• Webpage - all information on the internet.
• Industry reviews – published regularly.
• Articles planted in leading industry publications.
• Cooperation with other stakeholders (Chamber of
Mines & Petroleum).
Conferences & trade fairs
• Articles published pre-conference.
• Attractive booth, location/lay out:
PNG exotic country with extraordinary geology.
• Oral presentation.
• Latest exploration results presented.
• Special seminars organised.
• Private meetings with targeted companies.
• All material simultaneoulsy on webpage.
Focus countries
•
•
•
•
•
Canada – global mining junior finance centre.
South Africa – important investor into PNG.
London – global mining majors’ finance centre.
Asia – emerging mining interests.
China – global mining boom engine and latest
investor into PNG.
PNG Facts & Figures at a
Glance…
• Mineral dependant economy (65% total export
receipts 2009).
• 2.2 million Oz Au, 13.3 tonnes Ag, 200,000 tonnes
Cu produced in 2009.
• Contribution from 3x large mines, 2x medium
mines, 2x small mines and 80,000 artisanal miners.
• 3x large land base mines, i.e. Yandera, Wafi, Frieda
and one offshore mine, i.e. Solwara 1, to
commence production in the next 5-8 years.
• Diversification of mineral base (Co, Ni & Mo).
Government Policies &
Legislations - Mining Act 1992
• Principal legislation that regulates exploration &
mining in PNG
- first come first serve basis
- EL up to 2,250 sq.km
- unlimited renewals provided.
• Also allows
- right in priority for mining lease
- ML granted for 20 years (and renewable)
• License Types
- EL, ML, SML, AML, Lease for mining purpose &
mining easement
Exploration Licences
2006-2009
Active Exploration Licences 2006-2010
350
300
No Of ELs
250
200
150
100
50
0
2006
2007
2008
Year
2009
2010
Exploration Licence Applications
2008-2009
160
140
EL Applications
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2006
2007
2008
Year
2009
2010
Exploration Expenditure
2006-2009
EXPENDITURE (USD millions)
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
-
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Year
Grassroots
Advance (Scoping To Feasibility)
Total
Thank you for listening
PNG - a dynamic developing
minerals industry
•
•
•
•
•
Mineral Exploration in PNG
Geological Mapping
Geophysics
Geochemistry
Prospects for the discovery of new mineral
Resources
Functions of the Mineral
Resources Authority
• Advise Minister on matters relating to management, exploitation,
and development of PNG mineral resources
• Promote orderly exploration and development of PNG mineral
resources
• Oversee administration and enforcement of Mining Act 1992,
Mining Safety Act (chapter 195A), Mining Development Act,
Ok Tedi Acts and Bougainville Copper Agreement Act
• Negotiate mining development contracts and MOAs
• Conduct geoscientific investigations into PNG geological
resources
• Provide small scale mining services
• Collect, analyse, store, archive and disseminate and publish
geoscientific information