Gold

Opportunities in New South Wales, Australia

Au
D E CE MBER 2 02 1

QUEENSLAND LISMORE
Drake/Mt Carrington Ballina

Tibooburra Lightning Ridge Moree

Thomson Cangai Yamba
Orogen Inverell Grafton
SOUTH

Bourke Walgett

Curnamona Delamerian Orogen Narrabri COFFS HARBOUR

Province Hillgrove
Lachlan Orogen
AU S T R A L I A

Coonamble
TAMWORTH
Kempsey
Tritton
Cobar Nyngan PORT MACQUARIE
Peak Gold Mines Mt Boppy New England Orogen
Broken Hill
DUBBO
To Adelaide Federation Taree
Muswellbrook
Wagga Tank Mineral Hill Tomingley
Peak Hill Commonwealth
Southern Nights
Sorpresa
Murray Basin Copper Hill NEWCASTLE
Northparkes
Lewis Ponds
Stawell Cowal Cadia BATHURST
McPhillamys
Zone Discovery
Marsden Ridge SYDNEY REFERENCE
Wentworth
Gidginbung Temora Au occurrence
Griffith
WOLLONGONG 0.5 to 10 t Au*
Balranald Goulburn
10 to 50 t Au*
NOWRA
WAGGA
Woodlawn
>50 t Au*
WAGGA CANBERRA
Mt Adrah Cadia Operating mine
Deniliquin A.C.T.
Temora Project
Dargues
Reef Batemans Bay Export port
N
Bendigo Railway
ALBURY Cooma
Zone VICTORIA
Narooma Major road, sealed
200 km Major road, unsealed
Bega
Gas pipeline
Eden * Total contained commodity

Overview These gold-rich systems include:

• Porphyry Cu–Au (Cadia, Northparkes, Copper Hill, Temora
• New South Wales (NSW) has a gold endowment (past
district) and granite-related gold (GRG) deposits (Mt Adrah
production and identified resources) exceeding 3,347 t
and Dargues Reef)
(107.6 Moz).
• ‘Cobar-type’ (distal intrusion-related Cu–Au) deposits (Peak
• Gold production is sourced from a variety of mineral
Gold Mines and CSA) which also may have associated skarn
deposit types.
mineralisation (e.g. Hera)
• The state remains under-explored, with a range of
• Orogenic Au (McPhillamys, Hillgrove, Tomingley)
opportunities for new discoveries.
• High, intermediate and low sulfidation epithermal Au
systems (Gidginbung, Mineral Hill, Cowal)
Deposit types
• Gold-rich volcanic associated massive sulfide (VAMS)
New South Wales is host to a diverse range of gold deposit deposits such as Woodlawn and Lewis Ponds
types, with gold being produced as either the principal • Significant gold as a by-product in some Broken Hill-type
commodity (e.g. Cadia, Cowal) or as a by-product (e.g. (BHT) base metal systems within the Curnamona Craton.
Broken Hill).
Gold has also been mined from a diverse range of modern
and ancient placer, eluvial and beach deposits and a host of
other deposit types where it occurs as a minor commodity.

regional.nsw.gov.au/meg
Prospective terranes Gold endowment (past production + resources)
for NSW, classified by deposit type
Lachlan Orogen Total endowment >3,347 t (107.6 Moz)
The mainly Ordovician to Carboniferous Lachlan Orogen is Current resources >2,188 t (70.3 Moz)
generally poorly explored for gold. Recent discoveries
(McPhillamys, Boda, Tomingley and Hera) highlight the 5.0% 0.2%
prospectivity of this orogen. Important areas include: 15.7%
8.8%
• The Macquarie Arc — several belts of volcanic-dominated
rocks of Ordovician to Early Silurian which host
approximately 59 Moz of gold including the world class 1.9%
Cadia deposits 1.8%
• Silurian to Early Devonian rift basins (Hill End Trough, 1.4%
Goulburn Basin, Cobar Basin)
• The Gilmore Fault Zone (a major crustal structure)
• The Early Devonian Braidwood Granodiorite.
12.7%
New England Orogen
The Devonian to Triassic New England Orogen is under-
explored by Australian standards. The orogen is host to the
Hillgrove orogenic Au–Sb deposit, the Drake epithermal 0.8%
system and the Timbarra and Uralla GRG goldfields.

Other areas
The Stawell and Bendigo zones, which host major gold vein 51.7%
systems in Victoria, are interpreted to extend into
southwestern NSW. Similarly, the poorly exposed and
understood Thomson Orogen, which extends southwards Epithermal Porphyry
from Queensland into northwestern NSW, has been little
explored.
Skarn Granite-related
Other areas where little exploration has been done include
the Neoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic Koonenberry Belt, VAMS Alluvial/eluvial
which is now interpreted to be a Cambrian arc built on the
rifted margin of Gondwana and the northern extension of the
Orogenic Au Distal intrusion-related Cu–Au
Lachlan Orogen, where it is covered by younger sequences.

BHT Orogenic base metal

Gold production in New South Wales (1999–2021)

50

40

30
Tonnes

20

10

0
1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Financial year (ending 30 June)

 Summary of significant gold resources within NSW
Mine name Contained Contained
Deposit type Current resources and reserves (JORC) gold (kg) gold (Koz)
Cadia Valley Operations Cadia East: (indicated) 2,900 Mt @ 0.35 g/t Au, 0.26% Cu, 64 ppm Mo, 0.67 g/t Ag 1,015,000 32,633
Porphyry Cu–Au Cadia East: (probable) 1,300 Mt @ 0.44 g/t Au, 0.29 % Cu
Cowal (total resources) 290.24 Mt @ 1.04 g/t Au 300,580 9,664
Epithermal (total reserves) 142.18 Mt @ 0.97 g/t Au
Dargues Reef (total resources) 2.1 Mt @ 5.1 g/t Au 10,947 352
Granite-related (total reserves) 0.77 Mt @ 5 g/t Au
Hera (total resources) 1.7 Mt @ 1.8 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu, 2.3% Pb, 3.5% Zn, 25 g/t Ag 3,060 98
Skarn (total reserves) 0.94 Mt @ 1.4 g/t Au, 2.6% Pb, 4.1% Zn, 32 g/t Ag
M I N E S

Mt Boppy Open pit: (total resources) 0.339 Mt @ 4.58 g/t Au 882 28

Orogenic Au
Northparkes (total resources) 481.52 Mt @ 0.56% Cu, 0.18 g/t Au 86,674 2,787
Porphyry Cu–Au (total reserves) 121.17 Mt @ 0.58% Cu, 0.22 g/t Au
Peak Gold Mines (total copper resources) 14 Mt @ 1.2 g/t Au, 1.8% Cu, 0.1% Pb, 0.1% Zn, 7 g/t Ag 16,800 540
Distal intrusion-related (total lead zinc resources) 2.9 Mt @ 1.8 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu, 5.3% Pb, 6.9% Zn,
Cu–Au 29 g/t Ag
(total copper reserves) 1.7 Mt @ 2.1 g/t Au, 1.2% Cu, 0.2% Pb, 0.1% Zn, 5 g/t Ag
(total lead zinc reserves) 1 Mt @ 2.7 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu, 5.4% Pb, 6.5% Zn, 23 g/t Ag
Tomingley Open pit: (total resources) 4.667 Mt @ 1.5 g/t Au 17,262 555
Orogenic Au Open pit: (total reserves) 0.548 Mt @ 1.6 g/t Au
Underground: (total resources) 3.947 Mt @ 2.6 g/t Au
Underground: (total reserves) 1.825 Mt @ 2 g/t Au

Project name
Deposit type
Cadia Valley Operations Ridgeway Underground: (indicated) 110 Mt @ 0.57 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu, 0.74 g/t Ag 123,580 3,973
Porphyry Cu–Au Ridgeway Underground: (inferred) 41 Mt @ 0.38 g/t Au, 0.4% Cu, 0.43 g/t Ag
Cadia extended underground: (indicated) 80 Mt @ 0.35 g/t Au, 0.19% Cu
Big Cadia: (inferred) 11 Mt @ 0.7 g/t Au, 0.52% Cu
Cadia Hill Stockpiles: (measured) 32 Mt @ 0.3 g/t Au, 0.13% Cu
Ridgeway Underground: (probable) 80 Mt @ 0.54 g/t Au, 0.23% Cu
Cangai (inferred): 3.2 Mt @ 3.35% Cu, 0.8 g/t Au, 20.17 g/t Ag, 0.37% Zn, 0.005% Co 2,560 82
Granite-related Au
Commonwealth (inferred) 0.912 Mt @ 2.4 g/t Au, 44 g/t Ag, 1.2% Zn, 0.5% Pb, 0.08% Cu 2,757 89
VAMS Silica Hill North & Silica Hill South (inferred) 0.71 Mt @ 88 g/t Ag, 0.8 g/t Au
Copper Hill (indicated & inferred) 87 Mt @ 0.36% Cu, 0.32 g/t Au 27,840 895
Porphyry Cu–Au
Discovery Ridge (total resources) 10 Mt @ 1.2 g/t Au 12,000 386
Orogenic Au (proved & probable) 1.17 Mt @ 5.73.8 g/t Au
Drake/Mt Carrington Strauss: (indicated & inferred) 2.661 Mt @ 1.52 g/t Au, 1.89 g/t Ag 9,032 290
P R O J E C T S

Epithermal Kylo West: (indicated & inferred) 0.557 Mt @ 1.44 g/t Au, 1.12 g/t Ag
Kylo North: (indicated & inferred) 1.741 Mt @ 1.17 g/t Au, 1.43 g/t Ag
Red Rock & Guy Bell: (indicated & inferred) 1.79 Mt @ 1.2 g/t Au, 3.6 g/t Ag
(gold-rich zones)
Federation (indicated & inferred) 5.1 Mt @ 0.9 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu, 5.5% Pb, 9.3% Zn, 7 g/t Ag 4,590 148
Distal intrusion-related
Cu–Au
Gidginbung Gidginbung: (inferred) 8 Mt @ 1.5 g/t Au, 0.09% Cu 12,000 386
Epithermal
Hillgrove (total resources) including stockpile 7.266 Mt @ 4.5 g/t Au, 1.2% Sb 32,697 1,051
Orogenic Au (proved & probable) 2.195 Mt @ 3.8 g/t Au, 2.1% Sb
Lewis Ponds (inferred) 6.2 Mt @ 2 g/t Au, 80 g/t Ag, 2.7% Zn, 1.6% Pb, 0.2% Cu 12,400 399
VAMS
McPhillamys (indicated & inferred) 70 Mt @ 1 g/t Au 70,000 2,251
Orogenic Au (probable) 61 Mt @ 1 g/t Au
Mallee Bull (indicated & inferred) 6.76 Mt @ 1.3% Cu,0.6% Pb, 0.6% Zn, 31 g/t Ag, 0.4 g/t Au 2,704 87
Distal intrusion-related
Cu–Au
Marsden (indicated & inferred) 122.97 Mt @ 0.27 g/t Au, 0.46% Cu 33,202 1,067
Porphyry Cu–Au (probable) 65.17 Mt @ 0.39 g/t Au, 0.57% Cu
Table continued on back.

regional.nsw.gov.au/meg
 Project name Contained Contained
Deposit type Current resources and reserves (JORC) gold (kg) gold (Koz)
May Day Open Pit Oxide (indicated) 0.510 Mt @ 1.0. g/t Au, 20.4 g/t Ag 1,091 35
Distal intrusion-related Open Pit Sulphide (indicated) 0.390 Mt @ 1 g/t Au, 28.2 g/t Ag, 1.31 % Zn, 0.84% Pb
Cu–Au Underground Sulphide (indicated) 0.170 Mt @ 1.03 g/t Au, 39.4 g/t Ag, 1.67% Zn, 1.21
Mineral Hill Pearse (oxide & sulfide): (measured & indicated) 0.298 Mt @ 6.9 g/t Au, 80 g/t Ag 6,761 217
Epithermal Pearse (oxide & sulfide): (proved & probable) 0.235 Mt @ 6.9 g/t Au, 71.7 g/t Ag
Pearse North: (total resources) 0.298 Mt @ 2.7 g/t Au, 26 g/t Ag
Pearse North: (proved & probable) 0.179 Mt @ 2.5 g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag
Southern Ore Zone: (total resources) 1.985 Mt @ 1.2% Cu, 1.4% Pb, 1.1% Zn, 1.8 g/t Au,
19 g/t Ag
Red Terror: (total resources) 0.186 Mt @ 1.7% Cu, 0.1% Pb, 0.3% Zn, 2.2 g/t Ag,
2.4 g/t Au
Mt Adrah (indicated & inferred) 20.5 Mt @ 1.1 g/t Au 22,550 725
Granite-related Au
Peak Hill Proprietary underground: (inferred) 1.02 Mt @ 3.29 g/t Au, 0.15 % Cu 3,356 108
Epithermal
P R O J E C T S

Sorpresa (total resources) 1.519 Mt @ 1.52 g/t Au, 70 g/t Ag 2,309 74

Epithermal
Temora Project Dam: (indicated & inferred) 40 Mt @ 0.30% Cu, 0.41 g/t Au 68,669 2,208
Porphyry Cu–Au Cullingerai: (inferred) 24 Mt @ 0.30 % Cu, 0.31 g/t Au
Estori: (inferred) 14 Mt @ 0.21 % Cu, 0.35 g/t Au
Mandamah: (inferred) 26 Mt @ 0.34 % Cu, 0.38 g/t Au
Yiddah: (inferred) 127 Mt @ 0.32 % Cu, 0.14 g/t Au
Tomingley Roswell (indicated & inferred) 10.059 Mt @ 2.04 g/t Au 18,710 602
Orogenic Au Roswell Open pittable reserves (probable) 3.679 Mt @ 1.7 g/t Au
Roswell Underground reserves (probable) 1.575 Mt @ 2.8 g/t Au
San Antonio (indicated & inferred) 7.319 Mt @ 1.73 g/t Au 11,510 370
San Antonio Open pittable reserves (probable) 4.188 Mt @ 1.6 g/t Au
Wagga Tank/Southern Southern Nights (indicated & inferred) 4.14 Mt @ 5.0% Zn, 2.0% Pb, 77 g/t Ag, 1,647 53
Nights 0.3 g/t Au, 0.2% Cu
VAMS Wagga Tank (indicated & inferred) 0.81 Mt @ 5% Zn, 2.4% Pb, 81 g/t Ag, 0.5 g/t Au,
0.4% Cu
Woodlawn Underground: (total resources) 7.4 Mt @ 6% Zn, 1.9% Cu, 2.2% Pb, 0.5 g/t Au, 6,940 223
VAMS 48 g/t Ag
Underground: (probable) 3.1 Mt @ 5.2% Zn, 1.6% Cu, 1.8% Pb, 0.4 g/t Au, 38 g/t Ag
Reclaimed tailings: (total resources) 10.8 Mt @ 2.2% Zn, 0.5% Cu, 1.3% Pb, 0.3 g/t Au,
31 g/t Ag
Reclaimed tailings: (proved & probable) 9.3 Mt @ 2.2% Zn, 0.5% Cu, 1.3% Pb,
0.3 g/t Au, 31 g/t Ag
Note: Project totals for contained gold are based on combined resources.

Free gold in drillcore from Cadia East. Copper gold ore with quartz veins, chalcopyrite and bornite from
underground at the Ridgeway mine near Cadia.

Contact: mra.info@geoscience.nsw.gov.au | +61 2 4063 6500

© State of New South Wales through Department of Regional NSW 2022. Information presented is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (December 2021)
and may not be accurate, current or complete. This product is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0).