Characterisation of gold from Fiji

This is a study of the variation in chemistry and inclusion mineralogy of bedrock and placer gold from Fiji. It forms part of a large project, undertaking gold characterisation from a wide range of geological environments in Ecuador, Zimbabwe, Malaysia and Fiji. The work was carried out under the Overseas Development AdministratiodBritish Geological Survey Technology Development and Research programme (Project R5549) as part of the British Government’s provision of technical assistance to developing countries. For the Fijian component of the project, samples were collected from river gravels, primary ore, and table concentrates. In total thirty-five samples from five localities were examined. Data collected from these samples are represented by over 100 point analyses of gold, identification of associated minerals, and microgeochemical maps of gold-mineral intergrowths. A framework for identifying possible sources of alluvial gold is given. This was achieved by characterising bedrock gold mineralisation from a variety of epithermal and porphyry environments. The environments studied included alkali (the Emperor Gold Mine), high-sulphidation (the Mount Kasi prospect) and telescoped (the Tuvatu prospect) systems. A study of placer gold from the Waimanu alluvial deposit, the only alluvial gold deposit in Fiji, showed two distinct sources of gold: one, a low-silver type, associated with Cu-Fe sulphides, can be related to the nearby Namosi porphyry copper deposit. The other source, a high-silver type with abundant tellurides, indicates an alkali epithermal association, suggesting a source similar in style to the mineralisation observed at Emperor Gold Mine. The identification of two bedrock sources for the Waimanu alluvials clearly shows that there must be a, yet unknown, alkali epithermal (Emperor) source within the Waimanu catchment. This demonstrates the power of alluvial gold characterisation and its role in gold exploration. An important implication of these results is that future exploration within the area should be focussed on locating this “Emperor type” source

Mineral resource information in support of national, regional and local planning : Suffolk

This report is one of a series prepared by the British Geological Survey for various administrative areas in England for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's research project Mineral Resource Information in Support of National, Regional and Local Planning. The accompanying map relates to the county of Suffolk and delineates the mineral resources of current, or potential, economic interest in the area and the sites where minerals are or have been worked. It also relates these to national planning designations, which may represent constraints on the extraction of minerals. Three major elements of information are presented: • the geological distribution and importance of mineral resources; • the extent of mineral planning permissions and the location of current mineral workings, and • the extent of selected, nationally-designated planning constraints. This wide range of information, much of which is scattered and not always available in a consistent and convenient form, is presented on a digitally-generated summary map on the scale of 1:100 000. This scale is convenient for the overall display of the data and allows for a legible topographic base on which to depict the information. However, all the data are held digitally at larger scales using a Geographical Information System (GIS), which allows easy revision, updating and customisation of the information together with its possible integration with other datasets. The information will form part of a Summary of the Mineral Resources of the East of England Region. The purpose of the work is to assist all interested parties involved in the preparation and review of development plans, both in relation to the extraction of minerals and the protection of mineral resources from sterilisation. It provides a knowledge base, in a consistent format, on the nature and extent of mineral resources and the environmental constraints, which may affect their extraction. An important objective is to provide baseline data for the long term. The results may also provide a starting point for discussions on specific planning proposals for mineral extraction or on proposals, which may sterilise resources. It is anticipated that the maps and report will also provide valuable background data for a much wider audience, including the different sectors of the minerals industry, other agencies and authorities (e.g. The Planning Inspectorate Agency, the Environment Agency, the Countryside Agency and English Nature), environmental interests and the general public. Basic mineral resource information is essential to support mineral exploration and development activities, for resource management and land-use planning, and to establish baseline data for environmental impact studies and environmental guidelines. It also enables a more sustainable pattern and standard of development to be achieved by valuing mineral resources as national assets. The mineral resources covered are sand and gravel, brick clay, hydrocarbons, building stone, chalk and peat

Implications of CAA birdstrike safeguard zones for river sand and gravel resources in the Trent Valley

The British Geological Survey (BGS) was commissioned by the CBI Minerals Committee and the Quarry Products Association (QPA) to study the impact of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) safeguard zones upon the river sand and gravel resources of the Trent Valley Gravel Resource Zone. The results indicate that safeguard zones cover nearly 76% of the potentially workable sand and gravel resources in the Trent Valley, with 66% of allocated sites and 42% of sites with planning permission also covered by safeguard zones. The CAA safeguard zones in the Trent Valley would therefore have a significant impact on sand and gravel operations in this area, with up to three quarters of all sand and gravel resources being potentially sterilised by these zones

Mineral resource information for development plans : Lincolnshire

This report is one of a series prepared by the British Geological Survey for various administrative areas in England for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s research project Mineral Resource Information in Support of National, Regional and Local Planning. The accompanying map relates to the county of Lincolnshire and delineates the mineral resources of current, or potential, economic interest in the area and the sites where minerals are or have been worked. It also relates these to national planning designations, which may represent constraints on the extraction of minerals. Three major elements of information are presented: • the geological distribution and importance of mineral resources; • the extent of mineral planning permissions and the location of current mineral workings, and • the extent of selected, nationally-designated planning constraints. This wide range of information, much of which is scattered and not always available in a consistent and convenient form, is presented on two digitally-generated summary maps on the scale of 1:100 000. This scale is convenient for the overall display of the data and allows for a legible topographic base on which to depict the information. However, all the data are held digitally at larger scales using a Geographical Information System (GIS), which allows easy revision, updating and customisation of the information together with its possible integration with other datasets. The information will form part of a Summary of the Mineral Resources of the East Midlands Region. The purpose of the work is to assist all interested parties involved in the preparation and review of development plans, both in relation to the extraction of minerals and the protection of mineral resources from sterilisation. It provides a knowledge base, in a consistent format, on the nature and extent of mineral resources and the environmental constraints, which may affect their extraction. An important objective is to provide baseline data for the long term. The results may also provide a starting point for discussions on specific planning proposals for mineral extraction or on proposals, which may sterilise resources. It is anticipated that the maps and report will also provide valuable background data for a much wider audience, including the different sectors of the minerals industry, other agencies and authorities (e.g. The Planning Inspectorate Agency, the Environment Agency, the Countryside Agency and English Nature), environmental interests and the general public. Basic mineral resource information is essential to support mineral exploration and development activities, for resource management and land-use planning, and to establish baseline data for environmental impact studies and environmental guidelines. It also enables a more sustainable pattern and standard of development to be achieved by valuing mineral resources as national assets. The mineral resources covered are sand and gravel, coal, hydrocarbons, building stone, limestone, chalk and ironstone

Mineral resource information for development plans : Cambridgeshire (comprising Cambridgeshire and the City of Peterborough)

This report is one of a series prepared by the British Geological Survey for various administrative areas in England for the Office of the Deputy Prime Ministers’ research project Mineral Resource Information in Support of National, Regional and Local Planning. The accompanying map relates to the county of Cambridgeshire, together with the City of Peterborough, and delineates the mineral resources of current, or potential, economic interest in the area and the sites where minerals are or have been worked. It also relates these to national planning designations, which may represent constraints on the extraction of minerals. Three major elements of information are presented: the geological distribution and importance of mineral resources; the extent of mineral planning permissions and the location of current mineral workings, and the extent of selected, nationally-designated planning constraints. This wide range of information, much of which is scattered and not always available in a consistent and convenient form, is presented on two digitally-generated summary maps on the scale of 1:100 000. This scale is convenient for the overall display of the data and allows for a legible topographic base on which to depict the information. However, all the data are held digitally at larger scales using a Geographical Information System (GIS), which allows easy revision, updating and customisation of the information together with its possible integration with other datasets. The information will form part of a Summary of the Mineral Resources of the East of England Region. The purpose of the work is to assist all interested parties involved in the preparation and review of development plans, both in relation to the extraction of minerals and the protection of mineral resources from sterilisation. It provides a knowledge base, in a consistent format, on the nature and extent of mineral resources and the environmental constraints, which may affect their extraction. An important objective is to provide baseline data for the long term. The results may also provide a starting point for discussions on specific planning proposals for mineral extraction or on proposals, which may sterilise resources. It is anticipated that the maps and report will also provide valuable background data for a much wider audience, including the different sectors of the minerals industry, other agencies and authorities (e.g. The Planning Inspectorate Agency, the Environment Agency, the Countryside Agency and English Nature), environmental interests and the general public. Basic mineral resource information is essential to support mineral exploration and development activities, for resource management and land-use planning, and to establish baseline data for environmental impact studies and environmental guidelines. It also enables a more sustainable pattern and standard of development to be achieved by valuing mineral resources as national assets. The mineral resources covered are sand and gravel, brick clay, crushed rock aggregate, peat, hydrocarbons, building stone, limestone and chalk