RE: AI on significance of Telfer at 60 metres and another discovery at 570 metres 13km apart23 Aug 2025 12:07
Cat, here's the AI answer to your rhetorical question...
The presence of arsenopyrite at the Red Setter site is a significant indicator for gold discovery because the mineral is a well-known host for gold in many deposits globally. Arsenic plays a crucial role in concentrating gold, acting like a "pump" that allows gold to become chemically bound within the arsenopyrite mineral structure. This "invisible gold" is not visible to the naked eye but can make up a substantial portion of the gold resource. The association of gold with arsenopyrite has been recognized by geologists for centuries, and its discovery at Red Setter points to the potential for a substantial gold-bearing system.
Significance of Telfer's Reef Structures
At the Telfer mine, the reef structures are significant because they are the primary, high-grade gold and copper orebodies. They are vertically stacked, thin, stratiform, and stratabound orebodies (meaning they are parallel or contained within specific rock layers) centered on anticlinal hinges. These reefs are linked by lower-grade stockwork vein arrays and sheeted vein sets, which together form a very large gold-copper system. The reefs are crucial because they represent the most concentrated zones of mineralization, making them the primary targets for mining operations.
Reef Structures at Red Setter
While the Red Setter deposit is being explored for its "Telfer-style" mineralization, information from public announcements indicates that the mineralization consists of quartz-carbonate-sulfide veins with some arsenopyrite. The veining is described as "similar to the ore at Telfer where the combination of bedding concordant reef veins and discordant veins have produced a very large gold copper system." However, the exact number of distinct "reef structures" at Red Setter has not been publicly stated as of late 2024. The focus of the exploration announcements has been on the potential for a deeper, "Telfer style" dome structure and the presence of extensive hydrothermal activity, which could indicate the presence of such reefs in the future.