West Australian gold resources: crisis or hubris?

Abstract

Summary Criticism of the exploration and mining industry for failing to find enough new deposits and open new mines is misplaced. Significant growth in the size of gold Resources on many mines of the Yilgarn Craton has occurred well after the deposit was discovered and after mining had commenced. Brownfields exploration is commonly (but not always) socially, environmentally and politically acceptable. It is easier to add to an operation than it is to permit and fund a new operation. The record of successful brownfield exploration in Western Australia is outstanding with 100% to 1000% additions to endowment recorded at many gold operations in Western Australia in recent years. This success more than covers the perceived, but not proven, short fall from greenfield exploration.