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Table 2 : Mineral Resources of Papua New Guinea*
Pangtrna Mine (Bougainville Copper Limited): Initial reserves were 944 million tonnes
averaging 0.48 pereent copper, 0.% grams/tonne gold and ) grams/tonne silver,
Production peaked in 1978 at 199,00 tonnes copper, 2).4 tonnes gold and 52.5 tonnes
silver and haa declined rubsequently due to declining head grades and harder ore.
Curent reserves are about 650 million tonnes averaging about 0.41 percent copper and
0.48 grams/tonne gold.
Ok Tcdi mirrc (mder development; Ok Tedi consortium): Reserves are f5I million tonnes of
0.7 percent copper, 0.6 grams/tonne gold snd 0.011 percent molybdenum, with some
$pergene enrichment; overlain by 14 million tonnes of oxidized ore which carries 2.87
grams/tonne gold; adjacent skarne contain 25 million tonneg of 1.17 percent eopper.
Gold production will start in 1984, and full copper production in 1989.
Frieda River coppcr-gold prorpect: Resource is 780 million
end O.29 grams/tonne gold (ant-off 9.t percent
enrichment, and nearby massive a:lphide with tnore
gram/tonne gold. A dissected volcanic complex.
tonnes of 0.46 percent copper
copper), with some $rpergene
than I percent copper and I
Yandare copper prqect: Resource is l]8 million tonnes of 0.42 percent copper and 0.018
percent molybdenum as porphyry-type mineralizaLion, localized within major balholith.
Porgera gold proqect: Resource of 100 million tonnes of 2.3 grams/tonne gold. Gold and
associated base-metal sulphides are in veins in high-level intrusive complex and
adjacent Mesozoic sediments. Figures from Mount Isa Mines Ltd. Annual Report I982.
Ramu prorpect: Residual soil over ultramafic rock includes 78 million tonnes of 0.85 percent
nickel, 0.09 percent cobalt and l.l percent chromium; 50 million tonnes of 1.14 percent
nickel, 0.15 percent cobalt and 1.2 percent chromiuml and 25 million lonnes of 1.46
percent nickel and 0.06 percent eobalt (from Mount Isa Mines Ltd, Annual Report for
r982).
Morobe chrornite prolpect: Coastal alluvium includes Fesources of l0 million cubic meLres
averaging 2 percent chromile, and 5 million cubic rnetres of 2.5 percent chromite, fon
eslimated tolal recoverable 1.5 million tonnes chromite.
Miaima gold-eilver proeect: Resource of l0 million tonnes of l.) grarns/tonne gold and 18.5
grams/tonne silver (from Placer Development Ltd Annual Report 1982).
Waul Current reeerves at Golden Ridges mine are 9601000 tonnes averaging 2.4 grams/tonne
gold, with probable reserves of 670,000 tonnes of 2.I grams/tonne gold (Australian
Financial Review, 2l October, l98l).
Laloki: Resource of )151000 tonnes of 4.J percent copper, 6.4 grams/tonne silver and 1.5
grams/tonne gold.
Arie proepcet: Resource of 165 million tonnes of O.)Z percent copper (Mining Journal, 7
July, 1978).
Hydrocarbon dircoveries: Significant volurnes of gas and gas condensates were intersected in
Juha, Pasca, Uramu and Bwata wells. Attempted development of the Pasca field in 1981
has resulted in an uncontrolled blowout. Gas was also encountered in Barikewa, Iehi
and Kuru wells, and gas, gas condensate and oil in Puri well.
*Based m Doble (1981), up-dated by A. Williamson, personal communication, 1983.