A recent discovery in Nadi has con­firmed the potential for a deep-rooted gold bearing alkaline gold system, similar to that of the Vatukoula gold system.

The announcement by Lion One Metals Limited, the parent body of Fiji’s second gold mine operator, followed ongoing drilling, said chairman and chief execu­tive officer, Walter Berukoff.

This, as work at Tuvatu extended the drill-confirmed vertical extent with 11 drill holes to depths of as much as 9113.4 metres, he said.

The discovery marks the deepest docu­mented mineralised intercept to date at Tuvatu.

Part of the discovery at Lion One Fiji’s Tuvatu alkaline gold project site in Sabeto, Nadi, on March 18, 2022. Photo: Leon Lord

The latest drilling at Tuvatu extended approximately 300 meters below the base of the current resource, Mr Berukoff said.

“It is where historical gold production exceeds seven million ounces and explo­ration – and gold production – is on-going.”

Six hundred and fifty metres below the base of the current resource, new results were found, said Lion One’s senior vice president exploration, Sergio Cattalani.

“While the upper 300-metre portion of the feeder zone alone should add signifi­cantly to the overall resource at Tuvatu, the lower 350 metres remains essentially undrilled,” Lion One said.

“Where feasible, re-entry of pre-existing drill holes allowed for testing of the struc­ture while saving on total drill meterage.”

But while observations are still very pre­liminary, Lion One has likened the new findings to that of Newcrest’s Ridgeway gold and copper deposit in the Cadia In­trusive Complex, New South Wales, Aus­tralia, and Centerra’s Mt. Milligan gold and copper deposit, BC, Canada.

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