Sutakiki
Click here to view a map of the proposed Vunevalekama drill hole- 23-May-08 (370kb)
Click here to view a map of the Vunevalekama Trench Samples- 23-May-08 (209kb)
Click here to view the Sutakiki reinterpreted magnetics image - 23-May-08 (342kb)
Click here to view the Sutakiki Prospects: rock chip gold values on aeromagnetic background- 23-May-08 (249kb)
Click here to view the Sutakiki Prospect drill hole locations - 23-May-08 (884kb)
Click here to view images of SK11 drill hole cores - 29-Feb-08 (2,894kb)
Click here to view images of SK13 drill hole cores - 29-Feb-08 (246kb)
Click here to view images of SK14 drill hole cores - 29-Feb-08 (1,556kb)
Click here to view the Rock Chip Analysis Image - 26-Jan-07 (852kb)
During the 1990's ARM could not gain access to the Sutakiki Tenement as compensation agreements could not be negotiated with the land owners. Access Agreements were negotiated with the land owners in mid 2006, providing the first access into the area since the 1988 exploration activity by Newmont. During that exploration activity, Newmont recovered up to 73ppb gold in stream sediment samples and anomalous copper and zinc values from rock chip sampling with grades of up to 19,600ppm Copper and 36,100ppm Zinc. A sample of altered and fractured volcanic rock, impregnated with pyrite mineralisation from the main Sutakiki drainage yielded 1.8g/t gold. These results led Newmont to consider that the Mt. Popomaneseu headwaters of the Sutakiki (and Koloula) rivers were a prime target for porphyry copper gold mineralisation and that the results indicated a ‘‘significant gold source with a possible copper association''. This area is one of ARM's key targets. The Directors consider that mineralisation and hot spring activity in the headwaters of the Sutakiki River is part of a combined porphyry and epithermal system which extends into the Mbina system in the northern headwater section of the Koloula Valley to the south.
Sluicing for gold in the Sutakiki Valley closer to the Gold Ridge mine location north of the Sutakiki prospect has been conducted by artisanal miners in the past. Primary gold mineralisation occurs in this area in association with silver, copper and arsenic in reefs emplaced in the sheared altered Guadalcanal Gabbro. The reefs have a similar orientation to those at Gold Ridge to the north. The main vein measures 2m to 3m in width and 250m in length, lies upstream of the alluvial workings and is associated with an 800m long magnetic low.
Field reconnaissance by Solomon Gold geologists resulted in the discovery of mineralised porphyry systems on the Sutakiki River and fresh faces exposed by landslides returned assays averaging 7g/t gold (excluding a 1,000 g/t sample). Detailed mapping and sampling in the area defined mineralisation over a 3 x 1.5 km area. Drilling of a complex vein system to the east (Holes SK01 to 07) followed and while widespread low grade gold and copper mineralisation was encountered, it was determined that the core of the Sutakiki mineral system was located to the west.
Solomon Gold field activities at Sutakiki are now focused on the area west of the discovery outcrop at Sutakiki, in an area known as the Uluda Dome. The Uluda Dome is characterised by domed volcanic cover rocks and sediments, fractured and overprinted sporadically by late stage veins carrying significant gold and copper anomalies. Notably, the geological crews discovered an intrusive or “diatreme” breccia, diagnostic of the presence of nearby porphyry systems, grading 3.5 g/t gold. The company has directed two drilling rigs to test the Uluda Dome area with an emphasis on SK09, which is drilling to the west to test a substantial potassium anomaly over the Uluda Dome.
