Geological maps, data, and prospectivity analysis relevant to mineral
exploration in New Zealand have recently been released. Regional-scale
geological mapping is increasingly available for the country through the QMAP
1:250 000 Geological Map of New Zealand programme. Published QMAP sheets
Greymouth, Wakatipu, Waitaki and Dunedin cover large areas of interest for
mineral exploration companies. The QMAP geological data are also available in
digital form for use with other digital datasets using GIS software.
Crown Minerals, in cooperation with GNS, have completed two gold
prospectivity studies; the first covering mesothermal gold in the South Island,
and the second encompassing epithermal gold in northern New Zealand. These
studies have defined areas of interest for these two mineralisation types and
assembled geological, mineral occurrence and production, geochemical,
geophysical, topographic and cultural data into projects for use with GIS
software. Included are the results of prospectivity modeling for gold using
these data and specific mineralisation models. The prospectivity studies and
relevant data are freely available on CD through Crown Minerals and are intended
to encourage mineral exploration in New Zealand.