Gold production from The Granites - Tanami Goldfield during 1993 is
expected to exceed 8 t, eclipsing that of the traditional Northern Territory
gold mining districts of Tennant Creek and Pine Creek. This is the result
of dedicated and successful exploration, and the consequent discovery of
new orebodies such as those at Dead Bullock Soak.
Following granting of access to regional exploration areas in 1988 and
identification of favourable host rocks in the Schist Hills area, North
Flinders Mines (NFM) began a methodical exploration program of
detailed geological mapping, rock chip sampling, costeaning and various
types of drilling. The first resource of 600 000 t of 3.3 g/t gold was
announced in mid-1989. This has grown progressively with systematic
exploration to the currently published resource inventory of 6.6 mT @ 5.4
g/t, (as at 31.12.92) contained in six separate orebodies within the Dead
Bullock Soak Mineral Lease at Schist Hills.