CSIRO to investigate Pilbara gold

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation will work with local explorer Artemis Resources to investigate the conglomerate hosted gold recently discovered at the company’s tenements in the Pilbara.

The Pilbara region has attracted exploration interest in recent times with a number of discoveries of uniquely shaped gold nuggets near surface level over extensive strike lengths.

The CSIRO study will focus on the location and origin of the gold deposits, with an aim of better understanding its geological background and the formation mechanism of the gold nuggets.

Artemis managing director Ed Mead said the study would provide better insight into the recent discoveries,

“The CSIRO is the pre-eminent research organisation in Australia and it is important that Artemis engage with independent leading industry specialists to seek a deeper understanding as to why the gold exists in the conglomerates south of Karratha and indeed how these unique 'watermelon' seed nuggets were formed,” he said

“Artemis has a significant land holding in the area and we are actively seeking to understand the genesis of this unusual type of gold.

“Gaining a better understanding of these key questions will enable refinement of our exploration and evaluation methods going forward.”

Artemis said it had chosen to initially focus on the ‘47 Patch’ area located five kilometres from the Radio Hill processing plant, with further research to expand into the Mt OscarWits area.

The existing work at Purdy’s Reward will also be incorporated into the research as further information becomes available.

From the CSIRO research team, Mark Pearce, Alistair White, Carsten Laukamp and Sam Spinks will lead the investigation with other support staff available as required.

Shares in Artemis finished down 2.8 per cent at 17 cents each.