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P934A

Status : Management

West African Exploration Initiative - Stage 2

Sponsors

  • AngloGold Ashanti Limited
  • AusAID
  • First Quantum Minerals Ltd
  • Gold Fields International Services Ltd
  • Golden Star Resources Ltd
  • IAMGOLD Corp.
  • Lihir Gold Limited
  • Ministère des Mines et de L'Industrie Senegal
  • Red Back Mining Inc
  • Resolute Mining Limited
  • SEMAFO Inc
  • VALE

Research Providers

  • Centre for Exploration Targeting - University of Western Australia

    • Professor T. Campbell McCuaig

  • Czech Geological Survey
  • Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)

    • Dr Mark Jessell

  • Nancy Universite
  • Universite de Toulouse

    • Didier Beziat

  • Université d'Orléans

    • Dr Eric Gloaguen

  • Université Montpellier
  • University of Ouagadougou

    • Professor Martin Lompo

  • University of the Witwatersrand

    • Professor Kim A.A Ncube-Hein
Value : USD $2,484,347.00 Duration : 3 years
Commenced : 01 Feb 2010 AMIRA : Mr Joe Cucuzza
Stage 1 of the West Africa Exploration Initiative delivered the following: (1) West African Exploration Reference Database. (2) Integrated West African Exploration GIS (3) Exploration Geoscience Audit and Gaps Analysis (4) Training programs, Symposium and Field excursion This extension project will build on Stage 1 by developing a new geological framework to generate new exploration insights which will assist company sponsors to explore in this region. The principal deliverables of this project will be: (a) A craton-scale GIS product showing the craton-wide geophysical stitches, sample locations, mineral deposits, interpretative layers of structures with fully attributed movement events, and the principal tectonic elements that control and divide domains of distinct mineralisation characteristics. (b) A space-time chart cross linked to the GIS showing all of the existing and newly acquired geochronological data, with summaries of crustal growth, metamorphic, deformation and mineralisation events. (c) An understanding of the landscape evolution and surficial processes characteristic of the particular climatic setting of West Africa over the last 60 Ma that will help to define exploration strategies for a wide variety of deposit types. (d) Training of African Geoscientists in the techniques of exploration geology via a suite of six short courses over the life of the project, an annual symposium and workshops as necessary to facilitate transfer of knowledge of the outcomes of the project to sponsors. (e) Training of young African Geoscientists via a suite of MSc and PhD projects directly funded by this project or in partnership with other funding sources. (f) An improved capacity and confidence in the Geological Surveys and Universities in West Africa to respond to the short and long term requirements of the minerals industry.