Mines and Wines 2010 - a great success
The third Mines and Wines 2010 conference held at the sprawling Parklands centre in Mudgee, 23 -24 September, brought together over 200 mineral explorers and industry experts to focus on developing mineral projects in eastern Australia. The event was co-sponsored by the Geological Survey of NSW (GSNSW), the Sydney Mineral Exploration Discussion Group (SMEDG) and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG).
The metallogenesis and tectonics of eastern Australia were covered in presentations by Phil Blevin and Bob Musgrave, both research scientists with GSNSW. Industry talks included the exceptional developments at Cadia, where the largest underground mine in Australia is being developed, and Northparkes, where major new developments are extending the mine life. Presentations on NSW exploration projects included Hera, Wonawinta, McPhillamys, Cobar, Hill End, Hargraves, Mineral Hill, Temora, Dargues Reef, Trundle, Webbs Silver, Wild Cattle Creek and Attunga along with coverage of developments along the Peel Fault and in the Thomson Orogen.
The conference saw the launching of the South Eastern Lachlan geophysical survey which covers 24,000 square kilometres and is expected to attract further private-sector exploration investment to the southeast of the state. This new survey brings the total coverage of the state by high-resolution geophysics (magnetic and radioelement data) to 84%. More information is available here.
A pre-conference excursion visited the historic Hargraves, Hill End and Gulgong goldfields and examined some of the key rock units in the region. The trip was co-ordinated and run by the GSNSW with assistance from Hill End Gold Ltd. John Watkins, Manager, Regional Mapping and Exploration Geoscience, GSNSW, gave a valedictory presentation on the geology of the Gulgong goldfield just a week prior to his retirement from the GSNSW.
Departmental displays of information and services attracted continual attention at the booths and industry feedback from the conference continues to roll in.
Copies of presentations will be made available from the SMEDG website at www.smedg.org.au