Tuesday, 21st June 2005 (3001 views)

Irish gold mining company Galantas Gold is to strike a first for the European Union (EU) by piloting a high tech gold prospecting helicopter.

The VTEM helicopter-borne system has not yet been flown within the EU, and has just received consent from aviation authorities.

VTEM is a highly sensitive airborne geotechnical survey system which measures the electro-magnetic properties of rocks and minerals, up to a depth of 750 metres below the ground.

It has the ability to detect mineral veins bearing gold that are longer than 25 metres, and will now be flown over Galantas Gold's 189 square kilometre licence area in Tyrone and Fermanagh.

"We are excited about the use of the VTEM system," said Maurice Lavigne, director of exploration and development at Galantas Gold.

"Our licence area is covered with a blanket of clay rich glacial gravel which has hampered the process of discovery, but is transparent to the VTEM system.

"Gold has been found in numerous locations in the glacial gravel and the VTEM survey will help locate the bedrock source."

The helicopter-borne survey is the first step in a revitalised exploration programme over the Galantas Gold prospecting licence.

 

« Back to Gold News stories

 

The news feeds on this site are independently provided by Adfero Limited © and do not represent the views or opinions of the World Gold Council.