Sabeto Gold Project, Fiji
(Golden Rim 75%; Mincor Resources NL 25%)
Golden Rim controls the majority of the under-explored Navilawa Caldera (or Navilawa goldfield) in Fiji. The adjacentnvolcanic centre, the Tavua Caldera, located 35 km to the northeast hosts the giant Vatukoula gold deposit (greater than 10 million ounces of gold), which until recently was operated as a multi-shaft operation by Emperor, with production of some 120,000 ounces of gold per annum. Golden Rim considers the Navilawa Caldera to be just as prospective as the Tavua Caldera.
The Sabeto licence is also prospective for bonanza grade epithermal veining of similar style to the nearby Tuvatu gold deposit (1.64 million tonnes @ 8.5 grams per tonne (g/t) for 450,000 ounces of gold). The Sabeto project is subject to Golden Rim’s farm-in agreement with Mincor Resources NL (“Mincor”). During the year Golden Rim completed spending the A$2 million required to earn a 75% interest from Mincor in the Sabeto project and the Webe Creek and Tafuse projects in Vanuatu.
During the year, data was received for a detailed 1,858 line km helicopter-borne magnetic and radiometric survey completed by Golden Rim at Sabeto. The geophysical survey outlined several exciting new target areas, including a major potassium radiometric anomaly (“Tuvatu North”) which extends north directly along strike from the Tuvatu gold deposit into Golden Rim’s ground. The potassium anomaly is believed to be related to hydrothermal alteration associated with mineralisation.Potassium radiometric anomalies are also found associated with all previously known gold and gold/copper prospects at Sabeto, confirming the importance of this geophysical technique for targeting mineralisation.
Follow-up detailed mapping and rock chip sampling (169 samples) was completed at the Central Ridge, Golden Ridge, Blasting Rock, and Nasiti Ridge prospects. Encouraging results were received from several areas. Additional significant copper and gold mineralisation associated with intrusive dykes was discovered at Central Ridge. New rock chip results include 4.5 m @ 2.1 g/t gold, 0.4% copper; 4.8 m @ 2.9 g/t gold, 0.63% copper; and 1.5 m @ 2.0 g/t gold, 0.5% copper. At Nasiti Ridge (500 m east of Central Ridge), which is historically known for copper mineralisation, random grab rock chip samples taken over an area of 100 m x 150 m, returned results up to 6.2 g/t gold, 5.5 g/t silver, 2.1% copper; and 9.3 g/t gold, 14.4 g/t silver and 4.25% copper. At Blasting Rock (which lies at the northern end of the Tuvatu North potassium anomaly) a grab rock chip sample returned 9.2 g/t gold, 17.7 g/t silver and 4.9% copper from the portal of an old adit. A hydrothermalaltered quartz-carbonate vein which was found at the headwaters of the Nasarangga Creek, 400 m north along strike from the Central Ridge prospect, returned 9.9 g/t gold in a grab sample.
Data from a large Induced Polarisation (IP) geophysical survey conducted by CRA Exploration at Sabeto in 1994 was secured and reprocessed. A strong chargeability high anomaly was located at the Tuvatu North prospect. The anomaly may be related to sulphide alteration and/or mineralisation. The anomaly has not previously been tested by drilling.
A major diamond drilling program was commenced to test the copper-gold mineralisation at Central Ridge and the strikeextensions of the high-grade Tuvatu gold resource at Tuvatu North. By the years’ end a total of 1199.1 metres (4 holes at Central Ridge and 2 holes at Tuvatu North) had been drilled. A summary of the drilling statistics is presented in Table 1.
| Hole ID | Prospect | Easting (m) |
Northing (m) |
Collar RL (m) |
Azimuth (degrees) |
Dip (degrees) |
Total Depth (m) |
| CRDH 001 | Central Ridge |
562700.1 | 8043491 | 264.6 | 270 | -59 | 235.6 |
| CRDH 002 | Central Ridge |
562445.2 | 8043462 | 222.50 | 84 | -60 | 241.9 |
| CRDH 003 | Central Ridge |
562443 | 8043460 | 222.75 | 268 | -70 | 134.6 |
| CRDH 004 | Central Ridge |
562511 | 8043165 | 218.1 | 283 | -51 | 110 |
| TNDH 001 | Tuvatu North |
561927 | 8042278 | 167.3 | 91 | -51 | 226.5 |
| TNDH 002 | Tuvatu North |
562193 | 8042265 | 288 | 270 | -60 | 250.5 |
Four diamond drill holes (CRDH001 to CRDH004) were completed at the Central Ridge Prospect. Significant carbonate / pyrite veining with patchy silicification was intersected in most holes hosted in biotite monzonite. Despite obtaining numerous anomalous gold and copper assays the intercepts are all sub-economic.
Much of the veining and silicification was associated with highly fractured zones within the main monzonite body. The most significant copper and gold mineralisation was intersected in CRDH 001 which was collared near historical workings and drilled towards the old Kingston Mine. Better intercepts from CRDH001 include 1.55 m @ 0.88 g/t gold, 0.18 % copper, 1.09 % zinc; 1 m @ 0.76 g/t gold, 0.72 % copper; and 1.5 m @ 0.8 g/t gold, 1.27 % copper. No further drilling is planned for the Central Ridge area.
Two holes (TNDH001 and TNDH002) were completed at the Tuvatu North Prospect for a total of 477 m. Hole TNDH001 intersected numerous zones of bleaching associated with silica / pyrite veins. The veins are comprised of fine-grained, dark grey pyritic silica which may exhibit rhythmic banding parallel to the vein margins. Individual veins vary from thin (<1cm) structures to over 30cm in thickness. Zones of intense veining reach over 8 metres in thickness. Assays have been received for this hole, but were low, with a best intercept of 0.4 m @ 0.41 g/t gold.
Hole TNDH002 intersected similar, but less intense mineralisation than hole TNDH001. Hole TNDH002 was collared at a significantly higher elevation than TNDH001. Assay results for this hole are awaited. Hole TNDH003 is currently being drilled at Tuvatu North and will test the strong IP chargeability anomaly which extends over the licence boundary to the south to the Tuvatu gold deposit area. One additional hole (TNDH004) is planned and this hole will be drilled to the west beneath the Sabeto River and the centre of the potassium radiometric anomaly.
A strong new shear zone with epithermal veining was discovered at the Tuvatu North Prospect. A rock chip sample from the structure returned 5.5 g/t gold and 4.8 g/t silver. Mineralisation at Tuvatu North is generally covered by scree and soil cover and this is the first outcropping vein to be located in the area which has significant gold mineralisation. The structure is 20 cm wide, strikes east-west, is steeply dipping and is located approximately 200 m north of the current drilling. Surprisingly the mineralisation is parallel to the direction of the current drilling and as such a new drilling orientation may need to be considered to test this mineralisation.