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.
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. The Group’s geological team is supported by a network of six state-accredited laboratories which conduct assaying, metallurgical testing and sample analysis to establish the gold grade, mineralogical composition and geological properties of the ore and the most suitable method and parameters for cost-efficient extraction and processing.
2011 was a very successful year for exploration, particularly at Pioneer, Malomir and Albyn in the Amur region, at Visokoe in the Krasnoyarsk region and at Petropavlovskoye in the Yamal region. The Group’s total reserves and resources from 23.1Moz to 24.6Moz notwithstanding 650,000oz depletion. Please click here for a breakdown.
The Group anticipates a further increase in its gold reserves and resources due to further exploration of the discoveries made and targets identified in 2011.
