Exploration
Exploration
Petropavlovsk is one of the leading explorers in Russia, with an excellent geological exploration team and state-of-the-art laboratories and research centres. Petropavlovsk’s strong exploration expertise should enable it to sustain its growth in the coming years.
Exploration is conducted at Petropavlovsk’s early stage assets to ascertain or clarify their economic viability, or to provide data for pre-feasibility studies. At Petropavlovsk’s producing assets, exploration results have contributed to prolonging the life of the mine. For example, at Pokrovskiy, successful exploration identified additional reserves in the main pit, plus a series of satellite deposits (the “Pokrovskiy Flanks”) surrounding the main pit, which have prolonged the life of the mine.
Petropavlovsk conducted a successful exploration programme in 2010. Petropavlovsk’s exploration programme at its principal assets, predominantly Pioneer and Malomir, and evaluation of Proven and Probable Ore Reserves at Petropavlovskoye, culminated in a 36% increase in gold Ore Reserves in accordance with the JORC Code (2004).
Exploration work conducted by Petropavlovsk’s exploration teams cover different surveying methods, namely mapping, drilling, trenching, modelling and the calculation of reserves and resources. The geological team is headed by Nikolai Vlasov who, prior to his career with Petropavlovsk, was in charge of the State Mission that evaluated gold resources in the Russian Far East. The Group has been able to capitalise on his expertise and detailed “on the ground” knowledge to identify new exploration targets.
