Recently listed Tolu Minerals (ASX: TOK) has commenced an airborne MT geophysical survey over the historic Tolukuma mining area in Papua New Guinea.
The company has contracted Expert Geophysics Limited (EG) to cover the Tolukuma Mining Lease and surrounding tenements, Ipi River EL2780 to the Northwest of Tolukuma and the Mt Penck EL2662 tenement area on New Britain Island over the next three months.
Managing Director and CEO, Iain Macpherson, said it expected the results will enhance the existing extensive database of technical information including airborne and ground geophysics, geochemistry, historical drilling results and geology. New targets are expected to be interpreted that will require an on-going field exploration program of geological mapping, sampling and drill testing following on from our current drill programme at the Taula prospect.
Airborne MT resistivity data will be modelled to help provide a more accurate guide to depth and location of drill targets.
The technique has already been used with good success at K92 in PNG. The MT survey will greatly help in identifying a new generation of geophysical targets to complement historical work related to gold and copper- lead-zinc mineralisation for ground follow-up and drill testing.
Mobile MT utilises naturally occurring electromagnetic fields from three orthogonal induction coils, which is contained within an aerodynamic shaped capsule towed by helicopter 60m to 70m above the ground. In addition, magnetic data will be collected to assist in mapping sub-surface geology.
“It is pleasing that we have commenced the Airborne MT geophysical survey over our portfolio of gold, silver and base metal mineralised projects, initially centred around the Tolukuma Gold Mine,” Mr Macpherson said.
“The survey will not only help define a new generation of gold and copper targets related to both existing and new structures including deeper porphyry copper-gold systems in the region, but will also inform on an evolving exploration strategy. We look forward to providing further updates as preliminary data becomes available.”
