The importance of brownfields gold exploration

Abstract

Significant growth in the size of gold Resources on many mines of the Yilgarn Craton has occurred well after the deposit was discovered and after mining had commenced. Examples include the Kalgoorlie and Norseman goldfields found more than a century ago and the Jundee and Sunrise goldfields discovered in the 1990s. The initial discovery event is referred to as greenfields exploration , and the later additions as brownfields exploration . For the Yilgarn Craton, annual Resource additions have significantly exceeded mine depletion since 1980. Brownfields exploration enjoys economic benefits not available to greenfields exploration such as reduced infrastructure and regulatory costs. In Australia, criticism of the exploration and mining industry for failing to find deposits is misplaced.