ABSTRACT
Nuggety veins are characterized by localized, erratic, high-grades and coarse-free gold. Core drilling is generally an effective measure of geological continuity, however grade data can only be reliably obtained from underground development. In general terms it is only likely that an inferred resource can be estimated from drill data alone. Underground development with closely-spaced in-fill drilling and bulk sampling will be required to delineate indicated and measured resources. Further closely-spaced development and trial mining is likely to be the best way to determine reserves. Thus a key part of the evaluation process will involve exploratory underground development which will often occur prior to formalization of a mine production plan. Resource tonnages can generally be calculated from diamond drill and development information with a reasonable degree of confidence. However, grade is much more difficult to define with confidence because of its erratic and discontinuous nature. Bulk sampling will be required to assess likely resource grades.
