48 | Mine one of world’s richest Jumbo drill at work. Federation Mining: Snowy River Gold Project MINING Managing director of Federation Mining Mark Le Messurier says Blackwater Gold Mine (now known as Snowy River Project) is still considered one of the richest and most consistent gold reefs discovered anywhere in the world. The history of the Blackwater Mine dates back to 1905 when the main ‘Birthday Reef’ was discovered by a small prospecting group. Mining is said to have commenced shortly afterwards in 1906 and the operation continued for 45 years up until 1951. During this period the mine produced about 733,000 ounces or 21 tonnes of gold. It was worked from two shafts – the Blackwater Shaft and Prohibition Shaft – and mined to a depth of 800 metres across 16 levels. The mine was still operating in profitable ore when the collapse of the Blackwater Shaft resulted in the closure of the operation. Gold mineralisation at Blackwater is hosted in narrow quartz veins. Most of the gold-bearing quartz veins in the Reefton Goldfield are arranged along a linear belt that runs north south through the Greenland Group sequence. Mark says this suggests the presence of a deep-seated structure that has tapped a large reservoir of mineralised fluid. All the gold production from the Blackwater Mine came from the Birthday Reef, a single quartz vein that was mined continuously for over 1,000m in strike and over 710m in depth. Federation Mining has signed an agreement with OceanaGold for the future development of the mine with OceanaGold supporting the project’s establishment with seed financing for the construction of the 3.3km twin decline tunnels to the base of the historic workings to provide a site for underground drilling to build more geological confidence in the existing gold resource. Under the terms of the agreement, Federation Mining has the exclusive right to purchase Blackwater (Snowy River Project) from OceanaGold upon Federation Mining deciding to develop the mine. Federation Mining is an Australian incorporated company established by Mark Le Messurier and Jim Askew to build a new gold mining company. The Snowy River Mine has a Mining Permit (60473) in place from New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals. The approval grants the right to mine gold and silver from the site for a 20- year period. T T Karen Phelps Phone: 03 983 5500 waterfordpress.co.nz Your Business, Your Industry, Your News. DO OUR READERS KNOW YOU EXIST? Radiators, Intercoolers, Oil Coolers, Condensors, EGR & DPF Specialists 401 Blenheim Road, Christchurch 8041 | (03) 338 8016 jimmy@industrialradiators.co.nz | industrialradiators.co.nz LTD SINCE 1989 • Import/Export Air Freight • Import/Export Ocean Freight • Customs Brokerage • Third Party Logistics (3PL) • Event Logistics Our Services: Proudly supporting Federation Mining www.gvi.co.nz | 0800 888 087 | Auckland & Christchurch Communications Commercial 2 way radio solutions GPS + PLBs Event hire comms Lone worker safety 0508 274539 | www.ashcoms.co.nz
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