Abstract

Behind the inevitable headlines describing the ‘lucky discovery’ of the Sinclair Pollucite Deposit by Pioneer Resources in a drilling campaign targeting lithium mineralisation, the identification, delineation and development of this resource present a deeper and more substantial tale of fundamental mineral exploration strategy and agile management. A window of opportunity provided by booming global interest in Li exploration delivered Pioneer the impetus and capital to leverage deep geological knowledge of the Pioneer District, innovative exploration technologies, and lean and agile management practices in the development and implementation of a successful exploration campaign targeting the previously unappreciated pegmatites of the Pioneer Dome. While not the target of the original drilling, the intersection of high-grade pollucite at Sinclair was fully consistent with the mineral systems model underlying Pioneer’s exploration plan. By pursuing a flexible process-based targeting approach and retaining the capacity to pivot the focus of their exploration team onto this find, Pioneer were able to rapidly define and exploit the pollucite resource at Sinclair, despite the absence of national precedent.

1. KEY POINTS

2. The Sinclair pollucite resource is without precedent in Australia.

3. Discovery of this deposit followed from consistent long-term investment in district mineral exploration.

4. Responsiveness and rapid decision-making were critical to the successful development of this unexpected discovery.

摘要

在不可避免的标题描述了先锋资源在针对锂矿化的钻探活动中“幸运地发现”辛克莱硅藻岩矿床的背后​​，对该资源的识别，划分和开发提出了更深刻，更实质的基本矿产勘探策略和敏捷管理的故事。全球对锂勘探的兴趣日渐浓厚，提供了一个机会之窗，为先锋提供了动力和资本，使其可以利用先锋区的深厚地质知识，创新的勘探技术以及精益和敏捷的管理实践来开发和实施针对该领域的成功勘探活动。先锋穹顶以前未曾欣赏过的伟晶岩。虽然不是最初钻探的目标，辛克莱（Sinclair）的高级绿岩相交点与先锋勘探计划所依据的矿物系统模型完全一致。通过采用灵活的，基于过程的目标确定方法，并保留将勘探团队的重点转移到这一发现上的能力，尽管没有全国先例，但先锋公司还是能够快速定义和开发辛克莱的碳源资源。

1. 关键点

2. 辛克莱（Sinclair）的绿岩资源在澳大利亚尚无先例。

3. 在对区域矿产勘探进行长期的长期投资之后，发现了该矿床。

4. 响应能力和快速决策对于这一意外发现的成功开发至关重要。