Peak Gold Mines (PGM) was last week named ‘Explorer of the Year’ by the NSW Minerals Council collecting the award for their Great Cobar project.
PGM’s senior geologist John Heavey, who has worked on the Great Cobar project over the past three years, was on hand to accept the award at Sydney Parliament House.
The ‘Explorer of the Year’ award aims to recognise outstanding exploration achievements and developments within NSW over the past 12-18 months.
The award also highlighted the project’s journey and its significance, its achievements and challenges and the company’s innovation and leadership.
PGM’s acting general manager Doug Price said winning the award is a reflection of the positive culture and policies at PGM where all departments work together for the betterment of the company and community.
PGM took a renewed interest in the Great Cobar project in 2013, following a significant gold drill intersection by former PGM geologist Barry Taylor.
Further drilling was conducted leading to the discovery of a new southern lens, separate from historic workings, which was included in the company’s inferred mineral resource/reserve estimate in 2016.
At present the full potential of the project is unknown. An exploration drive to allow underground drilling is planned for 2018.
“Peak is aware that with the deposit lying so close to town, there will be challenges to be faced but there is a strong culture within the company to be socially, environmentally and ethically upstanding,” Mr Price said.
“This project is very significant for Cobar as it will help ensure its future.
“It may also create interest in further exploration by mineral explorers in the wider Cobar district.”
Great Cobar was a part of the original copper discoveries in the district and the township of Cobar grew up around the mine.
After its closure in 1919, the general consensus from the community and mineral explorers alike was that the deposit was “all mined out”.
Little did anyone know, that for 84 years, another orebody was waiting to be discovered a short distance south of the historic workings.
The story of mining in Cobar is now heading back to the Great Cobar deposit, 145 years after its initial discovery.
“The PGM exploration team are proud to work on a project with such an interesting history and which we believe will bring many benefits to Cobar,” Mr Price said.
