Coffee with Samso Episode 113: A Samso Exploration Discovery Series
This is the first of the Samso Exploration Discovery Series that shares great discovery stories. The series shares the thoughts that made the discoveries and the stories that followed.
In this first of the series, we have Jon Hronsky OAM, of Western Mining Services telling us about the discovery of the West Musgrave nickel-copper-PGE district.
The West Musgrave nickel-copper-PGE district is more than a discovery as Jon Hronsky OAM puts it, this is a shift in understanding. A paradigm shift in the understanding of mineral exploration.
This is a great story of how thinking outside the box brought about a change in looking at discoveries. I loved the idea that it was during this significant time that culminated in a whole new way of finding major deposits.
Western Mining was and is still the only company that was a world-class explorer who dared to look for the Tier 1 deposits. Funding was not for mining the market but rather for the discoveries that were to be delivered by the geoscientists who were valued and cherished.
Another takeaway from this episode is that the release of geophysical data had helped in the discovery. The whole concept of understanding deep-seated structures being a source of mineralisation was only possible with the availability of government released datasets.
Jon shared a lot of compelling thoughts on the subject and I got a lot more out of this conversation than I had first thought.
One of the most impactful comments was that this discovery was really about creating a paradigm shift in how we look at finding deposits. The shift in world affairs and the major development in Mabo was the catalyst that had sifted how geoscientists were allowed to think far and wide and were the beginning of how we currently work in mineral exploration.
I have included timestamps for the video below:
Chapters:
00:00 Start
01:06 The story begins.
01:23 What the discovery meant for mineral exploration.
02:10 Setting the scene for the story.
03:32 A shift in thinking about Nickel Exploration.
04:19 The start of exploring for a Norilsk type deposit.
05:27 The discovery of Voisey Bay Nickel deposit.
06:00 The birth of the new concept of Exploration Exploration.
08:50 The changing of old to new exploration thinking.
11:21 Why the Musgrave was still available.
13:24 The moment West Musgrave became live.
15:05 Was this a Nickel or an Exploration moment.
16:29 What we know now was not in the old days...
17:27 The emergence of digital geophysical database.
19:30 Missing out on Tropicana.
20:36 Exploration activities at the West Musgraves.
21:54 The Rob Waugh Story.
23:17 West Musgrave discovery was the beginning of more discoveries.
25:03 The reasons why good meticulous mineral exploration is valuable.
26:29 Julimar is a product of this early thinking process.
27:55 Where is the next frontier in Australia?
28:24 The greater McArthur Basin, Northern Territory.
30:11 Discovery is all about applying data knowledge.
31:46 The South Australian potential.
33:09 Potential elephants still available.
33:38 Early work is important but commonly not funded.
33:58 The Encounter Story.
34:43 The long gestation period of exploration.
37:28 Conclusion
PODCAST
About Jon Hronsky
Jon Hronsky OAM (BAppSci, PhD)
Chairman of the Board of the Centre for Exploration Targeting in Western Australia
Chairman of the Australian Geoscience Council (the peak body for geoscience organisations in Australia)
Adjunct Professor at both the University of WA and Macquarie University.
Jon Hronsky has more than 35 years of experience in the global mineral exploration industry, primarily focusing on project generation, technical innovation and exploration strategy development. He has worked across a diverse range of commodities and geographies and has particular expertise in targeting nickel sulphide and gold deposits.
His targeting work led to the discovery of the West Musgrave nickel sulphide province in Western Australia. His experience includes leadership roles in both major mining and junior mining companies, and he has consulted globally for the last 12 years. In January 2019 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the mining industry.
Jon is currently chairman of the board of the Centre for Exploration Targeting in Western Australia, chairman of the Australian Geoscience Council (the peak body for geoscience organisations in Australia) and an Adjunct Professor at both the University of WA and Macquarie University. He was the 2009 Society of Economic Geology Distinguished Lecturer. Jon joined WMS in 2007. Prior to that, he was Manager-Strategy & Generative Services for BHP Billiton Mineral Exploration and Global Geoscience Leader for WMC Resources Ltd.
About Western Mining Services
Western Mining Services (WMS) provides the best in geoscientific and risk management advice and services to mineral explorers globally.
WMS offers a range of essential services:
- Advice on exploration strategy development both brownfield and greenfield
- Review and critique of mineral exploration strategies, plans and programs
- Assistance with the organisational structures
- Metallogenic framework and mineral targeting studies that deliver viable greenfield targets
- Brownfield and near-mine studies and target generation
- Support for target validation at all scales
- Technical due diligence and new opportunity analysis
- Deal terms review and evaluation
- Commercial risk analysis
WMS' proven track record:
- Over the last 12 years, WMS helped more than 60 companies pursue exploration programs and opportunities globally.
- The resulting rewards include the largest gold-copper skarn discovery in the Americas and major nickel and gold discoveries in Australia.
- Over 600 students attended their popular Senior Exploration Management (SEM) Course which, by many accounts, ranks as “one of the best”.
- WMS offers the SEM Course annually in Perth WA and Denver CO, and also offers the course in-house for clients who want a course tailored to their strategy and exploration program.
- WMS developed an on-line Senior Exploration Management (SEM) course that tracks in-person SEM Course and that will make excellent, experienced training services more available to exploration groups worldwide.
WMS team is experienced, focused and eager to help achieve the mineral exploration mission. Please contact us, and let’s discuss how we can help.
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About Samso
Samso is a renowned resource among the investment community for keen market analysis and insights into the companies and business trends that matter.
Investors seek out Samso for knowledgeable evaluations of current industry developments across a variety of business sectors and considered forecasts of future performances.
With a compelling format of relaxed online video interviews, Samso provides clear answers to questions they may not have the opportunity to ask and lays out the big picture to help them complete their investment research.
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Headed by industry veteran Noel Ong and based in Perth, Western Australia, Samso’s Coffee with Samso and Rooster Talk interviews both feature friendly conversations with business figures that give insights into Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) companies, related concepts and industry trends.
Noel Ong is a geologist with nearly 30 years of industry experience and a strong background in capital markets, corporate finance and the mineral resource sector. He was founder and managing director of ASX-listed company Siburan Resources Limited (ASX:SBU) from 2009-2017 and has also been involved in several other ASX listings, providing advice, procuring projects and helping to raise capital.
He brings all this experience and expertise to the Samso interviews, where his engaging conversation style creates a relaxed dialogue, revealing insights that can pique investor interest.
Noel Ong travels across Australia to record the interviews, only requiring a coffee shop environment where they can be set up. The interviews are posted on Samso’s website and podcasts, YouTube and other relevant online environments where they can be shared among investment communities.
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Disclaimer
The information contained in this article is the writer’s personal opinion and is provided for information only and is not intended to or nor will it create/induce the creation of any binding legal relations. Read full disclaimer.