A Search for Gold in Indonesian New Guinea
M R Thirnbeck1
ABSTRACT
The Indonesian province of Papua is a remote jungle-clad region covering
the western half of the mountainous island of New Guinea. Despite being
relatively under-explored to this day, Papua is home to the greatest
mineral success story of the 20th century. The Grasberg/Ertsberg minerals
district atop the central dividing range contains the world’s largest reserve
of both copper and gold (Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold, 2002).
With large mines at Ok Tedi, Porgera and Lihir, and many
well-delineated resources such as Frieda River, Wafi and Hidden Valley,
neighbouring Papua New Guinea, the eastern half of New Guinea has
enjoyed sustained exploration campaigns for gold and copper since the
mid 1960s. The combined Grasberg and PNG exploration successes can
be measured in terms of ounces of gold produced over the last decade
versus available landmass, confirming the island of New Guinea and
surrounding islands as a world-class destination for gold explorers.
Yet despite this obvious regional prospectivity and the profitability of
the Grasberg operation, a sustained exploration effort in the Papua
province in Indonesia has not been achieved. Periodic political
constraints, poor infrastructure, high costs, operational challenges, social
and environmental concerns and lack of immediate exploration success
often impact exploration investment decisions. Accordingly a lesser
number of mineral occurrences have been documented in Papua
compared to those seen along tectonic strike in geologically similar
Papua New Guinea.
In seeking to remedy this geological disparity, Mutiara Resources
Corporation in 1994 embarked on acquiring large tracts of mostly
unexplored areas in Papua province to the north of the central range. A
total of 19 blocks consisting of 12 projects were acquired, covering an
area of 82 736 square kilometres. Joint Ventures were formed over
11 projects and generally exploration activities were funded by the major
partner. Between 1994 and 1998 more than $US 15 million were spent
conducting regional reconnaissance exploration primarily for gold and
copper over most of these areas.
Exploration involved maintaining numerous base-camps to aid
helicopter-supported regional stream sampling of approximately 6500
sites. Interpretation of Landsat imagery assisted in constructing regional
geological maps and identified areas warranting closer inspection.
Airborne magnetic surveys, totalling more than 85 000 line km, were
flown over selected areas totalling 41 400 square km or 50 per cent of the
combined project area.
Fallout from the Busang fraud of 1997, coupled with economic and
political turmoil that beset Indonesia shortly thereafter, curtailed
grass-roots exploration activities throughout much of Indonesia.
Increasing land-holding costs and drastically reduced exploration budgets
led to selected project terminations, major relinquishments and the
withdrawal of all original Joint Venture partners by 1999.
Many gold stream anomalies generated during the 1994 - 1998 period
were never investigated. Hard-rock gold occurrences discovered at
Kwatisore, Wasewa, Supiori, Kuiri, Biber and Waena were all
relinquished prior to complete evaluation. Only the 108 600 hectare
Idenburg project, less than 1.5 per cent of the original area, has been
retained into late 2004. Exploration at Idenburg has identified lode type
gold mineralisation of mesothermal origin.
This paper presents an exploration case history, describing the
exploration work undertaken, and the principal findings of this decade-long
campaign.
INTRODUCTION
The island of New Guinea beckons exploration and discovery. At
hotels and airport lounges throughout the Indonesian province of
1. MAusIMM, President Director, PT Iriana Mining Services, Gedung
Graha Simatupang, Tower I, Block D, 8th Floor, Jl TB Simatupang
Kav 38, Jakarta 12540, Indonesia. E-mail: thirnbeck@cbn.net.id
PACRIM 2004 Adelaide, SA, 19 - 22 September 2004
Papua (formerly Irian Jaya) you often bump into geologists,
botanists, zoologists or anthropologists willing to talk about their
experiences in this frontier land. However for the first time since
exposure of the Busang fraud in 1997 we are starting to see
increasing numbers of geologists sniffing around in Papua –
always a reliable indicator that any exploration upswing has
teeth. Like many high-cost frontier areas, Papua province only
sees upsurges in mineral exploration activity during the peak of
any exploration investment cycle.
Neighbouring Papua New Guinea has enjoyed more consistent
exploration efforts since the mid 1960s, partly fueled by regular
exploration and mine development successes. Sustained
geological investigations culminated in major copper and/or gold
mine developments at Bougainville, Porgera, Ok Tedi, Lihir and
Misima along with the delineation of significant deposits at
Frieda River, Wafi and Hidden Valley.
Exploration successes on the Indonesian half of the island of
New Guinea have been more sporadic but nevertheless
momentous. PT Freeport Indonesia commenced production of
copper and gold at Ertsberg in 1972, some 36 years after the
mountain of ore was first described by Dutch explorers. A few
nickel laterite deposits were also delineated around Jayapura and
on Gag and Waigeo islands in the early 1970s. But there was
little else to talk about until Freeport’s 1988 discovery of the
world-class Grasberg porphyry (Potter, 1996) just 3 km
northwest of the Ertsberg mine. The development of the
Grasberg mine coincided with the evolution of the Indonesian
Contract of Work tenure system and over two decades of relative
political and fiscal stability under President Soeharto. The
impressive ability to ramp copper and gold production at
Grasberg ensured that by the mid 1990s all major global gold
and copper miners had raised their in-house knowledge of the
Papua province and its mineral investment opportunities. A
notable success story from the Grasberg-triggered 1990s
exploration upsurge in Papua was the discovery and delineation
of the more than ten million ounce Wabu Ridge gold deposit by
PT Freeport Indonesia (O’Connor et al, 1999).
In the early 1990s Mutiara Resources Corporation (MRC) was
engaged in the timber industry with logging concessions inland
from the Papua north coast feeding a plywood factory on Biak
Island. A chance meeting in a Nabire hotel between a timber
tycoon and a freelance geologist quickly converted opportunity
into reality as MRC embarked on a wave of mineral project area
applications throughout Indonesia, with a primary focus in Papua
province.
By 1996 MRC had assembled project areas covering more
than 80 000 square kilometres within northern Papua and had
facilitated the entry of major mining companies into the
Indonesian mining sector via Joint Venture agreements. MRC
took its Papuan mining project interests to the Canadian market
and in late 1996 listed on the Toronto and Vancouver Stock
Exchanges as Iriana Resources Corporation (IRC). Exposure of
the Busang scam in early 1997 badly affected the venture and the
ensuing inability to raise finance for an Indonesian gold play
listed on Canadian exchanges ensured only limited piecemeal
exploration was possible in the following years until IRC
suspended trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange in April 2002.
The remaining projects were re-organised back into an MRC
affiliate in lieu of the MRC-provided shareholder loan that
sustained IRC from early 1999.
391
M R THIRNBECK

REGIONAL GEOLOGY
The island of New Guinea is the product of interaction between
the northward moving Australian continental plate and oceanic
plates related to the general southwest drift of the Pacific Plate
(Figure 1). Understanding of the evolution of Australia’s
northern and eastern margin has been hampered by incomplete
regional mapping in north central New Guinea, however new
isotopic and age data support evidence for an Early to Late
Triassic volcanic arc in northern New Guinea (Crowhurst et al,
2004). Generally, rocks with oceanic affinities predominate in
the north of the island and incorporate more Australian
continental material southwards towards the Central Range. Dow
et al (1988) describe rock types of the Pacific Plate category to
include upfaulted mantle material of presumed Mesozoic age,
Jurassic oceanic crust and Palaeogene island arc volcanics and
subordinate oceanic crust. These Pacific Plate rocks north of the
Central Range are mostly covered by an uplifted and folded,
mid-Tertiary to Quaternary flysch sequence. All of MRC’s
projects were north of the Central dividing mountain range
which spines Papua.
THE PROJECTS
The project area blocks (Table 1) are shown in Figure 2 and are
described generally from west to east.

FIG 1 - Structural elements of Papua province, Indonesia.

TABLE 1
Project details and JV partners.
Project Area (km2) COW company name Major partner Status
Ransiki 9550 PT Barrick Mutiara Ransiki Barrick Gold (1996 - 1997) COW terminated in 1997
Kwatisore 3254 COW not formed Aurora Gold (1994 - 1996), IRC (1996 - 1997) COW application returned in 1997
Supiori 563 COW not formed IRC (1998 - 2000) COW application returned in 2000
Waropen 10 003 COW not formed Barrick Gold (1995 - 1997) COW application returned in 1997
Zeiwa 418 COW not formed Barrick Gold (1996 - 1997), IRC (1997 - 1999) COW application returned in 1999
Iriana 16 109 PT Iriana Mutiara Mining Battle Mountain (1994 - 1999), Applied for termination in 2004
IRC (1999 - 2002)
Van Daalen 5177 PT Iriana Mutiara Van Daalen Barrick Gold (1995 - 1997), IRC (1997 - 1999) COW terminated in 1999
Van Daalen North 302 COW not formed Barrick Gold (1996 - 1997), IRC (1997 - 1999) COW application returned in 1999
Mamberamo 8434 COW not formed Battle Mountain (1995 - 1997) COW application returned in 1997
Sentani 146 PT Iriana Sentani Western Mining Corp (1995 - 1997), COW terminated in 2003
IRC (1997 - 2002)
Senggeh 14 330 PT Iriana Senggeh Morrison Knudsen (1994 - 1995) Cyprus Amax COW terminated in 2003
(1995 - 1998), IRC (1998 - 2002)
Idenburg 14 450 PT Iriana Mutiara Idenburg Barrick Gold (1994 - 1997), IRC (1997 - 2002) Year II of Exploration Period

392 Adelaide, SA, 19 - 22 September 2004 PACRIM 2004


FIG 2 - Location of MRC/IRC project areas in Papua province, Indonesia.
RANSIKI PROJECT
The Ransiki project covered 955 000 hectares of the coastal strip
along the western shores of Cendrawasih Bay, and evolved into a
sixth generation contract of work signed on 28 April 1997 by PT
Barrick Mutiara Ransiki. Barrick Gold Corporation held an
85 per cent interest in the project and under the terms of the JV
funded and conducted all exploration. Barrick withdrew from the
Ransiki JV in 1997 and the project was terminated shortly
thereafter.
Photogeological interpretation from Landsat imagery assisted
in identifying four lithotectonic domains based on regional
differences in structural style and litho-unit content, from north
to south, the Arfak, Kemum and Birds Neck Domains and the
Lengguru Fold Belt (Barrick Mutiara Ransiki, 1997). The Arfak
Domain is dominated by island arc volcanics at the southern
margin of the Pacific Plate and is separated from the Kemum
domain by the Ransiki Fault System. The Kemum Domain is an
elevated block of metamorphic basement of the northern margin
of the Australian Plate. The Birds Neck Domain and Lengguru
Fold Belt are folded and thrusted Mesozoic and Tertiary cover
sequences of the Australian Plate and are differentiated from
each other on the basis of structural style. This region represents
a product of escape tectonics resulting from the collision
between the Australian plate and the remnants of volcanic belts
carried by the Pacific plate (Pubellier and Ego, 2002).
Exploration completed by the JV consisted of a single program
of boat and vehicle supported drainage sampling from 84 sites
and reconnaissance geological mapping. At each drainage
sample site -40# BLEG, -60# stream sediment and panned
concentrate samples were collected. Stream sediment samples
were assayed for gold, silver, arsenic, copper, lead, zinc,
molybdenum, bismuth, antimony, mercury, nickel, cobalt and
chromium. Sampling was concentrated along the Ransiki and
Seiy rivers and along all rivers draining into Cendrawasih Bay.
PACRIM 2004 Adelaide, SA, 19 - 22 September 2004
A SEARCH FOR GOLD IN INDONESIAN NEW GUINEA
Twelve stream sediment samples and five BLEG samples
returned slightly gold anomalous results. No panned concentrates
and none of the rock samples gave anomalous (>0.1 ppm Au)
gold assays. No further follow-up investigations were undertaken
before the project termination in 1997 due to lack of immediate
exploration success, coupled with the inability to attract a new
investor after the withdrawal of Barrick Gold from the JV.
Boulders containing alunite were recorded in a creek with
anomalous copper (124 ppm) and gold (0.18 ppm) stream
sediment geochemistry draining volcanic rocks of the Arfak
Domain. The reported occurrence of alunite-bearing tuffaceous
floats at 134°12.47’E and 1°23.91’S have yet to be investigated.
KWATISORE PROJECT
The Kwatisore project evolved into a sixth generation COW
application covering approximately 325 400 hectares on the
southwestern shore of Cendrawasih Bay, centred 80 km west of
Nabire. A northwest trending package of Palaeozoic and Mesozoic
sedimentary, volcanic and metamorphic rocks cover most of the
project area and are thrust southwesterly upon Tertiary rocks of
the Lengguru Fold Belt (Robinson et al, 1990) exposed along the
southwestern project boundary. A large pluton of the Triassic
Kwatisore Granite occurs in the southeastern part of the project
area. Structure is dominated by the Wandamen fault zone, which
trends north-northwest through the centre of the block.
MRC first scouted the area in 1992 (Keleher, 1993a) and
discovered gold mineralisation in narrow quartz sulfide veins
exposed in a road cut at 134°51.8’E and 3°21.34’S along the main
logging access road into the area. A two-metre horizontal channel
rock chip assayed 4.83 g/t Au, 41 g/t Ag and 0.16 per cent Pb. A
nearby interval returned eight metres at 2.40 g/t Au, 46 g/t Ag and
0.52 per cent Pb. The veins were steeply dipping, mostly less than
50 cm thick and hosted in graphitic phyllites near the western
contact of the Kwatisore Granite.
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M R THIRNBECK
A JV was formed with Aurora Gold Ltd who sole funded and
conducted reconnaissance investigations in late 1995 as part of
conditions to earn 85 per cent of the proposed project company
to be formed upon signing the COW. Exploration was helicopter
supported and involved collection of 213 BLEG, 204 stream
sediments and 98 rock chip samples. The BLEG samples were
analysed for gold, silver and copper. Stream sediment samples
were analysed for gold, silver, arsenic, antimony, mercury,
copper, lead, zinc, bismuth, molybdenum, barium and tungsten.
No anomalous results of significance were encountered during
the initial reconnaissance phase and Aurora withdrew from the
project in 1996. MRC’s publicly listed vehicle IRC elected not to
proceed with forming a COW project and returned the
application area back to the Government in late 1997.
SUPIORI PROJECT
The Supiori project was an application for an eighth generation
COW covering 56 320 hectares over Supiori Island to the west of
Biak. IRC applied for the project area after inspecting an alluvial
gold rush that sprung up in late 1998. Hundreds of artisanal gold
miners swamped a number of southerly draining creeks to the
west of Korido where basement volcanic and metamorphic rocks
were first recorded by Visser and Hermes (1962). Most activity
was centred near Maradori village where gold nuggets up to two
centimetres were frequently being won.
Pieters et al (1979) recommended follow-up investigations of
copper mineralisation seen in metamorphic rocks on the
southwest coast of Supiori island, where a rock chip with streaky
pyrite and pyritic quartz bands with specks of bornite assayed
0.87 per cent copper.
IRC collected 37 stream samples and 21 rock chips during
field visits from 1998 to 2000. There were no anomalous results
in the northern half of the island. A regional gold-copper
anomaly draining metamorphic rocks was located immediately
northwest of Korido in the area where the alluvial gold rush
occurred in 1998 - 1999. Best -150# stream sediment results
were 3.12 ppm Au and 159 ppm Cu in the 10 × 5 km anomaly,
centred on 140°30’E and 1°30’S. Gold was pannable in many
creeks in the metamorphic terrain with a highest panned
concentrate result of 235 ppm Au. Volcanic massive sulfide style
mineralisation hosted in sheared spilite was sampled in creeks
near Maradori with the three rock chips collected returning
values of 1.05 g/t Au and 1.88 per cent Cu; 0.59 g/t Au and
2.35 per cent Cu and 2.21 g/t Au and 0.54 per cent Cu. An
intensely altered spilite with native copper in fractures assayed
27.2 g/t Au and 954 ppm Cu. Altered dacite float were seen in
creeks in the southeast of Supiori island.
Despite this encouraging regional anomaly near Korido, IRC
elected not to proceed into full COW status and returned the area
back to the Government in late 2000. A large protected reserve
park in the central part of Supiori Island influenced the decision
not to proceed with further investigations.
WAROPEN AND ZEIWA PROJECTS
A JV was formed between an MRC affiliate (PT Mutiara Iriana
Utama) and Barrick Gold Corporation with the latter sole
funding all expenditures through commencement of commercial
production for an 85 per cent shareholding in the future COW
company. MRC first scouted the Wapoga River basin in 1993
(Keleher, 1993b). Reconnaissance exploration was undertaken by
PT Mutiara Iriana Utama in late 1995, over two blocks covering
1 000 300 hectares on the southeastern shore of Cendrawasih
Bay, along the Wapoga coastline east of Nabire. Exploration in
this initial phase collected BLEG, -60# stream sediment and
panned concentrates from 94 sites. Best geology was seen in
Paleogene volcanic rocks in the southeast of the project area
within the headwaters of the Katehawa River. Gold was panned
in almost all creeks in the headwaters of the Katehawa river
394 Adelaide, SA, 19 - 22 September 2004
where mineralised and altered volcanic float were noted,
including a quartz vein float rock chip assaying 7.5 g/t Au.
The project evolved into two seventh generation COW
applications; the Waropen project covering 403 560 hectares in
three blocks and the Zeiwa project of one block covering 41 780
hectares. The Zeiwa project area was adjacent to the southern
boundary of the Waropen project area and covered parts of the
Katehawa River headwaters.
Exploration completed by the JV included production of a
1:250 000 lithostructural summary map interpreted mainly from
Landsat TM imagery. Five litho-tectonic domains were
interpreted for this western part of the North Coast Basin of
Papua; Neogene marine clastic sediments of the Wapoga
Domain, the Waropen Fault System, the Chaotic Rock Domain,
clastic-dominated assemblages of the Rouffaer Mountain
Domain and the Paleogene Volcanic Arc (Barrick Indonesia (F)
Ltd and Multi Gemilang Abadi, PT, 1997). The main structural
feature is the major E-W oriented Rombak Fault Zone which
defines the boundary between the Rouffaer Mountain and
Chaotic Rock/Waropen Fault System Domain.
Helicopter-supported drainage sampling was undertaken in the
two COW application areas in early 1997. BLEG, -60# stream
sediment and panned concentrate samples were collected from
292 sites covering most of the southern two Waropen blocks and
the Zeiwa block. BLEG samples were analysed for Au, Ag and
Cu, whilst stream sediment samples were assayed for Au, Ag,
Cu, Pb, Zn, Mo, Bi and As.
More than a dozen multi-element stream geochemical
anomalies, scattered throughout the northern clastic-dominated
assemblages were attributed to interbedded conglomerate
sources with notable ultramafic detritus.
Within the Zeiwa COW application block, weak porphyry
copper mineralisation was identified at the Wasewa prospect in
the headwaters of the Katehawa River where potassic altered
diorite porphyries intrude strongly hornfelsed sediments. Copper
mineralisation occurs as veining in overprinting zones of phyllic
alteration within the diorite porphyries. The prospect area,
covering approximately 10 km2 is defined by five adjacent creeks
displaying anomalous drainage geochemistry, centred on
136°32.8’E and 2°59.8’S. Values up to 340 ppm Cu, 21 ppm Mo
and 0.21 ppm Au were returned from stream sediment sampling.
The maximum BLEG gold value was 145 ppb Au. Gold was
panned in four of the five creeks.
Field observations indicated the mineralisation vectoring
stronger to the south into a COW block held by PT Irja Eastern
Minerals Corporation, a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoran Copper
and Gold. Within this block, surface sampling of a 200 m by
500 m mineralised intrusive at Katehawa East associated with a
magnetic high returned anomalous values ranging between
1.0 - 4.5 per cent Cu and 0.75 - 4.0 g/t Au (Freeport-McMoRan
Copper and Gold, 1997). Porphyry style mineralisation was also
reported in the Haiura area, some 35 km southwest of Wasewa,
where grades from surface samples range between 1.0 - 1.25 per
cent Cu and 0.75 - 2.5 g/t Au and a 1997 drill intersection at
Haiura returned 228 m @ 2.08 g/t Au.
Barrick withdrew from the JV in 1997 and the Waropen COW
application was terminated shortly thereafter. IRC continued to
hold the Zeiwa COW application block, however the inability to
attract new investors at the time led to the eventual termination of
the Zeiwa project in 1999.
IRIANA PROJECT
The Iriana project comprised 1 610 890 hectares divided into
four blocks covering large tracts of north central Papua, evolving
into a sixth generation COW signed on 28 April 1997 by PT
Iriana Mutiara Mining. Exploration commenced in August 1994
with Battle Mountain Gold holding an 80 per cent shareholding
in PT Iriana Mutiara Mining by sole funding all expenditures
through completion of a bankable feasibility study.
PACRIM 2004

Blocks 1 and 2 covered rocks of Pacific Plate geology. Block 1
(Cendrawana) was centred over the Gauttier Range, which owed
its high relief to a WNW-trending, thrust-faulted block of Tertiary,
island arc volcanics and intrusives of basic to intermediate
composition (Iriana Mutiara Mining, 1997). Miocene-Pleistocene
flysch sediments of the Makats Formation and Mamberamo Group
crop out on the flanks of the Gauttier and several smaller ranges.
The Mamberamo Thrust belt dominates structure in the region and
is marked by shale diapirs and chaotically faulted blocks of
sedimentary rocks, with occasional fault wedges of volcanic rocks.
Block 2 (Koada) is underlain by similar poorly consolidated flysch
sedimentary rocks. Separate inliers of unaltered intermediate
volcanics and phyllite were encountered in the Sungai Nadabui
area within the Koada block.
Blocks 3 and 4 cover the southern boundary zone of Pacific
Plate rocks, including upfaulted Pacific Plate mantle material of
the presumed Mesozoic Irian Jaya Ophiolite Belt and Tertiary
island arc volcanics and intrusives and tectonically transitional
Tertiary metamorphic sequences.
Interpretation of acquired Landsat TM imagery and available
air photos assisted in constructing regional drainage base maps
and outlining broad geology (Iriana Mutiara Mining, 1997).
A fixed wing aeromagnetic survey was flown for MRC in
December 1995 over the Cendrawana block and the northern half
of Block 3, encompassing 18 522 line km. The survey line
spacing was 500 m flown N-S with tie lines flown perpendicular
to the survey lines at a spacing of 5000 m.
Helicopter-supported exploration completed by PT Mutiara
Iriana Minerals (an MRC affiliate) in the 1994 - 1997 period
included regional drainage geochemical sampling targeting
porphyry copper-gold, epithermal and sediment-hosted gold and
gold-base metal skarn deposit styles. A total of 2672 sites were
sampled on first pass investigations. At each sample site, stream
float and outcrop were recorded and selected rock specimens
sampled for laboratory analysis for gold, silver, copper, lead,
zinc, and arsenic and occasionally nickel, cobalt, bismuth and
molybdenum. Stream sediment were sieved -80 mesh in the field
and the -200# fraction was further sieved in the laboratory and
analysed for gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, nickel and arsenic
and occasionally cobalt, bismuth and molybdenum. Panned
concentrates were always assayed for gold and in early stages for
antimony, mercury and arsenic, however analyses for the latter
three elements were discontinued when anomalous values were
interpreted to reflect pyrite content in the heavy mineral
concentrate.
The regional reconnaissance drainage-sampling program
identified nickel laterite mineralisation flanking the Siduarsi
Range and numerous gold anomalies – many of which were
attributed to auriferous conglomerate lenses within sediments of
the Mamberamo formation. However gold in stream sediment
anomalies seen draining volcanic, metamorphic and ultramafic
terranes were accorded greater significance and follow-up
investigations identified hard rock gold prospects at Biber and
Kuiri.
The Biber prospect is located on the northern slopes of the
Gauttier range in the centre of the Cendrawana block at
138°53.0’E and 2°31.3’S and is hosted by intermediate to mafic
Auwewa Volcanics, intruded by gabbroic and dioritic intrusives
(Iriana Mutiara Mining, 1997). The initial anomalous BLEG
sample collected in the mouth of Sungai Jomen, 14 km
downstream of Biber assayed 61 ppb Au. Follow-up stream
sampling returned anomalous values along the length of Sungai
Jomen with peak values of 580 ppb Au in BLEG, 582 ppb Au in
-200# stream sediment and 5569 µg Au in HMC, seen in the
headwater reaches in the immediate prospect area. Prospect
investigations included, 60 line km grid establishment, collection
of 1134 ridge/spur and grid soil samples, detailed mapping and
rock chip sampling (685 mostly channel samples) and 52 line km
of ground magnetics. Soil sampling outlined a 1200 m by 600 m
PACRIM 2004 Adelaide, SA, 19 - 22 September 2004
A SEARCH FOR GOLD IN INDONESIAN NEW GUINEA
gold anomaly (average 48 ppb Au) partially coinciding with an
area of moderate to strong propylitic alteration developed along a
WNW-trending fault system. Mineralisation is strongest in
fault/breccias containing quartz, pyrite and epidote. Best rock
chip results were from a 0.5 m wide quartz-pyrite shear zone
assaying 15.6 g/t Au and 3.05 g/t Au from a quartz veined,
propylitically altered mafic volcanic rock. However
mineralisation seen at surface is limited to narrow shears and
fractures along a fault parallel to the thrusts that bound the
accreted belt of Auwewa Volcanics and further investigations
such as drilling were not considered.
The Kuiri prospect (136°17.4’E and 3°9.4’S) was discovered
by PT Mutiara Iriana Minerals with an anomalous BLEG sample
of 86 ppb Au, coupled with a value of 1053 µg in the HMC
sample from the regional sample site some 4 km downstream of
the prospect. The prospect is located adjacent to a prominent
NE-trending fault, which displaces the southern margin of the
Irian Jaya Ophiolite Belt at the contact with Derewo
Metamorphic rocks. Grid soils, 21 line km of ground magnetics,
detailed mapping and sampling led to the hand-digging of 14
trenches to better expose mineralisation in the steep forested
terrain. The prospect is partially defined by a 1000 m by 400 m
northeast trending soil gold anomaly defined by the +30 ppb Au
contour. Gold mineralisation is associated with
pyrite-arsenopyrite bearing, quartz veined, potassically and
phyllically altered, porphyritic intermediate intrusive rocks and
volcanics. A 2 - 3 m thick pyritic quartz vein at a
metamorphic-volcanic contact returned 6.5 m @ 3.63 g/t Au and
37.7 g/t Ag from an oblique intersection. Trench 13 exposed a
narrow (<1 m), northwest dipping shear zone with minor splays,
hosted by metavolcanics. Sampling of this clay-silica pyrite shear
zone included high-grade channel results of 1.0 m @ 129 g/t Au
and 0.4 m @ 98.3 g/t Au. Mineralisation is restricted to the
brecciated vein structure with no mineralisation, and limited
alteration extending into the host metavolcanics.
PT Mineserve International (a subsidiary of Freeport
McMoran) was contracted by PT Iriana Mutiara Mining to
complete a review of the project in 1998. An infill
reconnaissance helicopter hoist-sampling program was
undertaken in Blocks 3 and 4 with a total of 142 sites sampled
during the campaign. Follow-up investigations of selected
gold-copper anomalies failed to locate significant indications of
mineralisation and both blocks were relinquished in late 1998.
The only area retained into 1999 was a block of 16 470 hectares
covering nickel-cobalt laterite mineralisation at Siduarsi
(Thirnbeck, 2001). Battle Mountain gave notice withdrawing
from the project in 1999 and application to terminate the project
was lodged in early 2004, following the lack of interest to further
evaluate the Siduarsi nickel-cobalt laterite prospect.
VAN DAALEN PROJECT
The Van Daalen project comprised two blocks, one a sixth
generation COW signed 28 April 1997 by PT Barrick Mutiara
Van Daalen covering 517 700 hectares and an adjoining seventh
generation COW application covering 30 220 hectares to the
immediate northeast of the COW block. Both blocks were
located in Paniai Regency in the headwaters of the Van Daalen
and Rouffaer Rivers within a structurally complex zone of the
Irian Jaya fold and thrust belt. Barrick Gold Corporation held
85 per cent of the COW company shares and funded exploration
under the terms of a JV with MRC.
Four litho-tectonic domains were identified from Landsat
imagery (Barrick Mutiara Van Daalen, 1997). From south to
north, Mesozoic shelf sequences of the Kembelangan Group
from the Australian Plate were separated from schist/phyllite
units of the Derewo Metamorphic Belt by the prominent regional
Derewo Fault Zone. The Rouffaer Fault Zone and Gauttier Offset
separated Derewo Metamorphics with ultramafics and intrusives
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M R THIRNBECK
of the Irian Jaya Ophiolite Belt (Monnier et al, 2000). Further to
the north, Neogene volcanics and clastics of the North Coast
Basin were seen in lowland areas of the COW project.
A helicopter-borne magnetic-radiometric survey was flown for
MRC at 400 m spacing over both blocks, a total of 16 466 line
km. The most prominent feature in both the magnetics and
radiometrics was the southern boundary of the Ophiolite Belt.
Forty geophysical-lithostructural targets were identified for
ground investigations.
Helicopter supported field investigations had collected broadly
spaced drainage samples over approximately 60 per cent of the
project area when exploration activities were suspended in mid
1997. BLEG, -80# stream sediment, panned concentrate and rock
chip samples were collected at 204 sampling sites that allowed
direct helicopter access. Stream sediments were analysed for
gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, bismuth and
arsenic. Half the geophysical-lithostructural targets were not
sampled and 16 geochemical anomalies were identified for
further investigations that were not carried out. Barrick Gold
withdrew from the JV in late 1997, with the Barrick share of the
project reverting to IRC. Western Mining Corporation checked
the porphyry copper potential under a 1998 option but elected
not to proceed further. Despite many unchecked drainage
anomalies, the high exploration and land holding costs were
major factors in IRC’s decision to terminate the COW project in
early 1999 when competition for limited funds was intense.
MAMBERAMO PROJECT
The Mamberamo project was a sixth generation COW
application covering 843 400 hectares in north central Papua,
centred on the middle to lower reaches of the Mamberamo River.
The exploration effort was governed by a memorandum of
understanding between MRC and Battle Mountain Gold. Battle
Mountain would sole fund expenditures through to completion of
a bankable feasibility study and hold 85 per cent shareholding
once a COW company was formed.
Geology comprised disrupted sedimentary rocks of the
Mamberamo Basin as evidenced by numerous mud volcanoes
(Williams and Amiruddin, 1984). Helicopter supported
reconnaissance sampling of 930 drainage sites was completed by
PT Mutiara Iriana Minerals in 1996. Gold was panned in several
drainages and three gold in stream sediment anomalies were
identified. However the lack of any supporting arsenic or base
metal anomalism supported field observations that gold was shed
from conglomerate lenses within the thick sedimentary sequence
of the Mamberamo Basin. No further investigations took place
and the project was terminated in 1997.
SENTANI PROJECT
MRC formed a JV with Western Mining Corporation to evaluate
nickel laterite deposits in the Sentani area, near the provincial
capital Jayapura. However Western Mining Corporation
withdrew as joint COW applicants prior to establishment of the
COW company and the project was continued with 95 per cent
ownership by MRC’s publicly listed vehicle IRC. The Sentani
project, covering 14 640 hectares, was a seventh generation
COW signed 19 February 1998 by PT Iriana Sentani. The main
project focus was evaluation of nickel laterite deposits fringing
Tanahmerah Bay (Thirnbeck, 2001).
Geology is dominated by the Cyclops massif, an ophiolite
sequence with component residual mantle peridotites, cumulate
gabbros, dolerites, normal mid-oceanic ridge basalts and minor
amounts of boninitic lavas (Monnier et al, 1999).
In late 1998 colluvial gold was discovered at Waena within the
Sentani project boundary and an ensuing gold rush developed.
Gossanous boulder subcrop characterised by chalcedonic quartz
vein stockwork, occur in grass fields over a 300 m by 1000 m
396 Adelaide, SA, 19 - 22 September 2004
zone centred along a inferred east-west trending north dipping
thrust fault. Limited rock chip sampling returned a best result of
1 m @ 1.71 g/t Au from a chalcedonic vein stockworked gossan.
Gold mineralisation at Waena (140°37.7’E, 2°34.4’S) occurs
in hydrothermal breccias with strong silicic, carbonate and pyrite
alteration hosted in serpentinised ultramafic igneous rocks,
possibly an olivine bearing pyroxenite. The alteration mineralogy
is dominated by amorphous silica and chalcedony. Secondary
fluid inclusions from late stage quartz overgrowing opaline silica
cement were measured to homogenize in the range from 138° to
150° Celsius (Iriana Sentani, 1998). Furthermore multiple
episodes of hydrothermal brecciation and fluidisation of wallrock
indicate a high-level epithermal system at Waena.
After failing to identify additional tonnage potential in and
around the known nickel laterite deposits, the Sentani project
was terminated in 2003.
SENGGEH PROJECT
MRC applied for the Senggeh project area in northeastern Papua
initially with Morrison Knudsen Corporation in 1994. Cyprus
Gold Australia replaced Morrison Knudsen in 1995 and as fully
funding 85 per cent partners progressed the project through to a
sixth generation COW signed on 28 April 1997 by PT Cyprus
Amax Iriana.
A fixed wing air magnetic survey for 20 000 line km was
completed for MRC over the entire project area apart from a
17 km wide security strip adjacent to the international border
with Papua New Guinea. North-south flight lines at 800 m
spacing were closed down to 400 m in resultant areas of interest.
Interpretation defined two priority targets with magnetic features
compatible with the Grasberg/Porgera target model.
Drainage base maps were prepared from Landsat TM imagery
interpretation and available airphotos. A helicopter, boat and
vehicle supported reconnaissance program by PT Cyprus Amax
Iriana collected drainage samples from 1071 sites in the second
half of 1997 (Cyprus Amax Iriana, 1998). IRC funded
exploration over the eastern third of the project area under an
option arrangement to earn up to a 46 per cent interest in the
eastern third of the block. Observations confirmed regional
geology as dominated by shallow dipping sediments of the
Mamberamo basin. Faulted inliers of phyllites, schists and
ophiolite rocks were encountered, particularly in the southeastern
quadrant of the project area. Lack of helicopter landing sites
precluded direct inspection of the magnetic anomaly targets.
At each site a BLEG and -150# stream sediment sample was
collected. BLEG samples were analysed for gold, copper and
silver, whilst the stream sediment samples were assayed for gold,
silver, copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, molybdenum, nickel, antimony
and bismuth.
Also, where possible, magnetic concentrates were collected
using a six square inch magnet plate to collect any magnetic
fraction in the stream (Cyprus Amax Iriana, 1998). This is a rapid
technique requiring a low sample weight, relying on precipitated
gold and pathfinder gold being associated with limonitic particles
which include maghaemite. The latter is readily extractable by
magnet directly from the streambed. All up magcon samples were
able to be collected from 72 per cent of sites. The magcon samples
were analysed for gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, iron,
molybdenum, nickel, antimony and bismuth.
Numerous drainage gold anomalies were generated during the
first pass reconnaissance sampling. However Cyprus withdrew
from the JV in October 1998 before any follow-up sampling was
undertaken thus marking the end of regional field investigations.
IRC progressed the project by immediately reducing the COW
area from 1 433 000 hectares to 63 090 hectares, retaining two
blocks covering the best regional gold anomalies at Nambla and
the Southwest Target area.
PACRIM 2004

Anomalous zones dropped prior to any follow-up
investigations during this major relinquishment included gold
stream anomalies at Lereh, Senggi, Ampas, Arso and Wembi, a
nickel laterite near Ubrub and a weakly copper mineralised
diorite intrusive also near Ubrub. The gold anomalous areas
appeared to drain sedimentary rocks containing lenses of
conglomerate that in some cases were found to be gold-bearing.
Whilst gold is detected in panning in these areas (small scale
alluvial mining continues at Senggi) there was no mineralised
float nor was there any supporting anomalous geochemistry in
other elements in the stream sediments.
In general the magcon results mirrored the stream sediment
results apart from detecting some low level antimony anomalies
ranging from 3 - 6 ppm Sb that were not detected in conventional
stream sediment geochemistry. These low-level antimony
anomalies were also not followed up.
The nickel geochemistry in stream sediment samples clearly
revealed a provenance break aligned along a broad
north-northwest trending valley in the sedimentary formations of
the Mamberamo basin. The northern half of the project area
consistently returned background nickel in stream sediment
values ranging from 50 to 120 ppm Ni suggesting sediments
derived from rocks of oceanic affinity. In stark contrast drainages
within sedimentary formations derived from presumed
continental rocks as seen in the southern half of the project area
were always below 50 ppm Ni.
The Southwest Target area was retained in a block covering 31
220 hectares where pronounced airmag features (139°54.4’E,
3°25.6’S) infer shallow buried intrusives localised at the
intersection of arc normal and arc parallel structures. These
airmagnetic anomalies have target signatures comparable to
Grasberg and Porgera. The airmag anomaly overlapped a
250 sq km area shedding anomalous gold. Thirteen sites recorded
gold in BLEG values greater than 50 ppb Au, with a maximum
gold in BLEG value of 1400 ppb Au and maximum stream
sediment (-150#) value of 2450 ppb Au both from the same site.
These anomalies could only be reached with helicopter support
and were unable to be further investigated due to financial
constraints.
The other retained block at Nambla covered the northern
flanks of the Idenburg Inlier terrane. Reconnaissance
investigations recorded anomalous stream gold geochemistry
with a maximum BLEG value of 125 ppb Au and a gossan
breccia float assaying 79.2 g/t Au and 124 g/t Ag. Limited
follow-up investigations in late 1998 recognised extensions of
the mineralised Mafi River thrust zone seen in the adjoining
Idenburg project area to the south. Brecciated and silicified
ultramafic sampled from the thrust zone (140°38.0’E, 3°36.8’S),
assayed 0.89 g/t Au, 484 g/t Ag, 2.91 per cent Pb and 11 per cent
Zn. Outcropping massive magnetite skarn (140°36.1’E, 3°37.1’S)
in Tekai Creek assayed 0.16 g/t Au and contained minor amounts
of the rare earth mineral, allanite.
The Senggeh project was eventually terminated in early 2003
to preserve funds for other exploration projects exhibiting more
promise.
IDENBURG PROJECT
Approval to explore the Idenburg project area was received by
joint applicants MRC and Barrick Gold in early 1995. Exploration
activities commenced in August 1995, operating under a Joint
Venture whereby Barrick held 85 per cent of the COW company
by sole funding all expenditures through commencement of
commercial production. A sixth generation COW was signed by
PT Barrick Mutiara Idenburg on 28 April 1997 covering 1 445 000
hectares of east central Papua. The eastern boundary of the project
abutted the border with Papua New Guinea and extended
westwards over a 260 km distance covering the northern flanks
and foothills of the central range of eastern Papua.
PACRIM 2004 Adelaide, SA, 19 - 22 September 2004
A SEARCH FOR GOLD IN INDONESIAN NEW GUINEA
Interpretation of satellite imagery identified six major
litho-tectonic domains (Barrick Mutiara Idenburg, 1998). From
south to north these are Mesozoic shelf slope sequences of the
Australian Plate, schist and phyllite of the Derewo
Metamorphics, interleaved metamorphic and melange units and
intrusives of the Irian Jaya Ophiolite Belt, Neogene volcanics
and sediments of the North Coast Basin and Palaeozoic
metamorphic and intrusive rocks of the Idenburg Inlier.
A fixed wing magnetic survey was completed for MRC over
the entire area for 30 595 line km, flown north-south at 400 m
line spacing with tie lines flown east-west at 4000 m line
spacing. One hundred and eleven geophysical-lithostructural
targets were identified for follow-up.
The 1995 - 1996 helicopter-supported reconnaissance
exploration program comprised broadly spaced BLEG, -60#
stream sediment, panned concentrate and rock sampling from
845 sites (Barrick Mutiara Idenburg, 1998). BLEG samples were
assayed for gold and silver. Stream sediment samples were
assayed for gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum,
bismuth, arsenic, antimony, mercury, nickel, cobalt and
chromium. Rock samples were analysed for the same suite of
elements as stream sediments plus potassium. The geochemical
sampling generated 116 single and multi-element anomalies to
follow-up with over half located in the Idenburg Inlier where the
geochemical anomalies were often coincident with
geophysical-lithostructural targets. More than half the panned
concentrate samples from the Idenburg Inlier contained visible
gold. The JV collected a total of 1443 rock chips in the Idenburg
COW. Eighteen of these recorded values greater than 1 g/t Au,
with 17 of these regional rock chips from the Idenburg Inlier.
Barrick Gold planned to continue funding activities at
Idenburg but withdrew from the project in late 1997 as part of a
countrywide pullout. Barrick’s share of the project reverted to
IRC and the COW company was renamed PT Iriana Mutiara
Idenburg. By mid 1998 vast tracts of the Idenburg project area
had been relinquished, eventually retaining only 108 600
hectares in a single block covering the prospective Idenburg
Inlier terrane. Fortunately an all weather road provides access to
the reduced project area, 120 km directly south of the coastal
provincial capital Jayapura.
Funding constraints ensured only piecemeal follow-up
investigations during the 1998 - 2003 period when it was
virtually impossible for a junior exploration company listed on a
Canadian Stock Exchange to attract funds to develop a grassroots
gold exploration play in Indonesia. Nevertheless prospecting of
near road areas of the Idenburg Inlier in 1998, identified
numerous gold mineralised outcrops of mesothermal origin, the
most notable where gold bearing gossan boulders marked out a
5 km segment of the trace of a northwest trending thrust structure
characterised by dismembered ophiolite slices in the Mafi River
valley. Initial rock chipping of 16 scorodite and fuchsite bearing
gossans in a 500 m by 150 m segment in the hanging wall of the
thrust zone (140°39.0’E, 3°38.4’S) returned gold assay results
ranging from 5.23 g/t Au to 33.4 g/t Au, with a best channel chip
of 7 m averaging 26.7 g/t Au. Extensions to the Mafi occurrence
were suspected 500 m to the southeast where follow-up
prospecting of a 737 g/t Au gossan float in a small creek was
sourced to a narrow 10 cm pyrite-quartz-chalcopyrite vein that
assayed 1018 g/t Au. Gold in this high-grade vein sample occurs
in irregular 20 µm long grains infilling fractures between pyrite
and quartz grains that occur later than the chalcopyrite.
Other areas of interest identified in 1998 within 20 km of Mafi
included Bermol where mylonitised quartz sulfide vein material
assayed 13.9 g/t Au; a 20 cm mesothermal quartz sulfide vein at
Tekai assaying 81 g/t Au; a 50 cm boulder vein at Afley assaying
28.6 g/t Au and at Nova where fingernail sized gold nuggets
were readily pannable.
397
M R THIRNBECK
More detailed investigations from late 2000 to early 2002
funded by project optionholders advanced Mafi and Bermol to
prospect status. Diamond drilling in the second half of 2000 at
Mafi intersected mesothermal quartz sulfide vein gold
mineralisation hosted in magnesite-silica altered serpentinite,
with a best interval of 12.6 m at 8.0 g/t Au, 108 g/t Ag and
2.69 per cent Pb from 6.0 to 18.6 m depth in hole 14. The
distinctive magnesite-silica altered host rock has been mapped
along the Mafi thrust structure in excess of 10 km. The drill
intersected gold mineralisation dips shallowly southwest at
approximately 15° within the hanging wall of the thrust structure
and remains open downdip under alluvium cover. Regional
footwall rocks at Mafi are almandine bearing amphibolite
metamorphic facies, with the precursor rocks most likely being
an intermediate igneous rock, possibly a tuff.
Meanwhile at Bermol, some 10 km south of Mafi, host rocks to
mineralisation include unaltered regional metamorphic rocks of
upper greenschist facies. Detailed investigations included 14 line
km of grid soil sampling and mapping and channel rock chip
sampling of mineralised lode exposures. Structure is dominated by
a north trending, shallow west dipping thrust that is interpreted to
be southern extensions of the thrust structure seen to the north at
Mafi. Prospect geology includes fine-grained weakly foliated
diorite, feldspar porphyry, mafic dykes and schists. Best channel
chip results were 14 m at 6.91 g/t Au and 4 m at 19.4 g/t Au from
vertical samples 150 m apart where the gently dipping
quartz-sulfide lode vein outcropped through a hilltop. The
quartz-sulfide veins at Bermol contain early pyrite followed by
arsenopyrite, with chalcopyrite and later electrum deposited in
fractures. Preliminary bottle roll tests indicate that the gold can be
cyanide-leached at a recovery rate of about 80 per cent for the
fresh unoxidised samples with estimated 15 per cent sulfides,
mostly arsenopyrite and pyrite with minor chalcopyrite. Drilling is
the next planned phase of exploration at Bermol.
Additional hunting-party prospecting in 2002 and 2003
identified mineralised gold structures hosted in diorite at Kali Sua
Sinta where the discovery channel sample across a mineralised
structure with mesothermal quartz veining assayed 3 m at 65.5 g/t
Au. A grab rock chip of fresh quartz pyrite vein within this
mineralised exposure assayed 348 g/t Au. Mineralised quartz
sulfide scree material are seen scattered on surrounding slopes and
as float in the main river both upstream and downstream adjacent
to the discovery exposure suggesting additional veins are present
in the Kali Sua Sinta district. More detailed surface investigations
by PT Iriana Mutiara Idenburg are continuing through 2004 to
define drill targets in this area some 11 km west of Bermol.
CONCLUSIONS
The discovery of the world-class Grasberg porphyry copper-gold
deposit in 1988 triggered an upsurge of mineral exploration
activity throughout Papua province that peaked in 1997. Between
1994 and 1996, MRC attracted some major international mining
companies to Papua and formed Joint Ventures to explore large
tracts of under-explored country to the north of the central range.
In general, first pass regional reconnaissance exploration was
completed over most project areas. However planned follow up
investigations were thwarted by the withdrawal of major funding
partners in the 1997 - 1999 period in response to the perceived
deteriorating investment climate attributed to fallout from the
Busang scandal of 1997, coupled with economic and political
turmoil that plagued Indonesia into 1998.
Following the withdrawal of all the initial JV partners by 1999,
MRC/IRC continued exploration in selected projects as funding
permitted. Gold mineralisation styles identified include VMS on
Supiori Island, epithermal breccias at Waena, skarn in Senggeh
project, porphyry-related at Wasewa, vein breccia shears at Kuiri
and numerous mesothermal lode occurrences within the Idenburg
project.
398 Adelaide, SA, 19 - 22 September 2004
After the buoyant optimism of the mid 1990s, this ambitious
gold search of frontier country in Indonesian New Guinea has a
decade later failed to meet initial expectations. Despite immense
setbacks and hurdles, particularly in attracting further funding
following exposure of the Busang fraud in 1997 and the
1997 - 1999 mass withdrawal of JV partners, the venture has
identified and retained a promising gold exploration project at
Idenburg. Further exploration, in particular diamond drilling, is
required at Idenburg to ascertain the significance and
development potential of the widespread lode type gold
mineralisation of mesothermal origin.
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