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Coordinates: 41°02′38″S 172°48′21″E / 41.0439°S 172.8057°E / -41.0439; 172.8057
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Sams Creek mining

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Sams Creek
view of the creek that has giving this mining proposal its name
Sams Creek near its confluence with the Tākaka River
Location
Sams Creek is located in South Island
Sams Creek
Sams Creek
LocationUpper Tākaka
CountryNew Zealand
Coordinates41°02′38″S 172°48′21″E / 41.0439°S 172.8057°E / -41.0439; 172.8057
Production
ProductsGold
Production1,024,000 troy ounces
Typeas yet unknown
Owner
CompanySiren Gold and OceanaGold
Websitewww.sirengold.com.au/site/projects/sam-s-creek

Sams Creek in New Zealand's Golden Bay / Mohua has been subject to gold mining exploration and mining proposals since 1974 when gold was first found by CRA Exploration (now Rio Tinto). Since then, the exploration rights have been sold many times: in 1991 to Macraes Mining Company, which became GRD Macraes and was then floated by that Australian-headquartered miner as a standalone New Zealand company called OceanaGold. In 2011, OceanaGold formed a joint venture with MOD Resources, with the latter company responsible for further drilling, and by 2015, MOD Resources owned 80% of the venture. Sandfire Resources acquired MOD Resources in 2019 and sold its rights to Siren Gold in 2022. Siren Gold holds 81.9% of the exploration rights in one of the two exploration areas, with the balance still held by OceanaGold. The other exploration area is fully held by Siren Gold. Together, the exploration areas cover 4,098.8 ha (40.988 km2). In 2004, OceanaGold reported an inferred[a] gold prospect of 750,000 oz (21,000 kg). This was increased in 2012 by MOD Resources to an inferred gold prospect of 1,024,000 oz (29,000 kg), which remains the current estimate.

Sams Creek was originally part of North-west Nelson Forest Park. With various mining proposals in that forest park, there was public desire to achieve a higher degree of protection. Given effect to the mining interests, the Sams Creek area was one of sixty land parcels set aside when Kahurangi National Park was formed in 1996, and the area remains part of North-west Nelson Forest Park instead; the local boundary of the national park is at the rigde line above Sams Creek.

Mining exploration history

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Gold was first found in the Sams Creek area in 1974 by CRA Exploration.[2] From 1980 to 1987, Australian mining company Conzinc Riotinto of Australia (CRA)—which is these days part of Rio Tinto—was exploring the area by drilling.[3][4] In 1985, the Native Forests Action Council expressed concern over three large mining proposals in the North-west Nelson Forest Park, covering an area of 42,000 ha (420 km2) – larger than the area of Abel Tasman National Park. Sams Creek was one of the three proposals, and 26 drill sites had been established by then. To get access, CRA had bulldozed tracks into the steep-sided native forest.[5] The concerns of the Native Forests Action Council, led by Guy Salmon, was acknowledged by Murray Hosking, the director of environmental forestry of the Forest Service.[6] The president of the New Zealand Mining and Exploration Association, Roger Adamson, spoke of the potential economic benefits from gold mining at Golden Cross, Union Hill, and the Martha Mine at Waihi, Macraes Mine in Otago, and Sams Creek in Golden Bay.[7]

In 1987, CRA put its 701 ha (7.01 km2) Sams Creek prospect for sale, expecting NZ$10 million. The reason for their desire to sell was that they only wanted to deal with large scale deposits.[8] Two years later, CRA still owned the claim and had by then been given consent for bulk sampling 8000 tons of rock by the Minister of Conservation, Philip Woollaston. The advisory committee of North-west Nelson Forest Park gave its qualified support for bulk sampling, which the Maruia Society criticised as "small-scale mining".[9] In 1991, the founder of Macraes Mining Company—Miles Kennedy—negotiated the purchase of the exploration permits and assets from CRA Exploration at Sams Creek and Reefton. [3]

Macraes Mining Company changed its name to GRD Macraes in 1998. From 2002 to 2004, GRD Macraes undertook further explorative drilling. In December 2003, the Perth-based parent company launched a share issue for a new New Zealand-based company to be called Oceana Gold (later styled as OceanaGold). The aim was to raise NZ$114 million, with half the income going to GRD Macraes in exchange for the New Zealand assets.[10][11] Oceana Gold listed on both the Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges in mid-March 2004.[12]

During 2004, OceanaGold reported an inferred gold prospect of 750,000 oz (21,000 kg) extending over a length of 7 km (4.3 mi).[3][13] GRD Macraes sold its remaining shareholding in OceanaGold during 2006.[14] At the end of 2016, OceanaGold delisted from the New Zealand stock exchange, but kept its listings in Australia and Canada.[15]

Activities at Sams Creek ceased in 2004 and were taken up again in 2011 when OceanaGold formed a joint venture with MOD Resources. The latter company was registered in August 2011, formed from the Medical Corporation Australasia—a biotech company—by James Packer, Andrew Forrest, and former Multiplex director Tim Roberts (son of John Roberts).[16][17] Kennedy was chairman of MOD Resources.[2] The arrangement was that MOD Resources would fund further exploration, and would get 80% of the benefits from the venture. At the time, the exploration permit covered an area of 3,060 ha (30.6 km2).[3] In November 2011, MOD Resources announced that they intended to buy 80% of the Sams Creek asset from OceanaGold,[16] but the joint-venture arrangement stayed in place instead. Between October 2011 and March 2012, a drilling programme costing NZ$2.4 million was carried out by MOD Resources. The exploration permit was to expire in March 2012,[18] but was extended by five years based on the results.[2][19] In a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), MOD Resources labelled Sams Creek "New Zealand's biggest undeveloped gold project".[2] By June 2012, MOD Resources had commenced its second drilling programme and reported to the ASX an increased inferred gold prospect of 1,024,000 oz (29,000 kg). The updated estimate was provided by the Nelson office of Golder Associates.[18] Forest & Bird was the organisation that most actively opposed the exploration activities.[20] Drilling stopped in July 2014 after the gold price had dropped. At that time, MOD Resources owned 60% of the Sams Creek project, with the remaining 40% held by OceanaGold. When drilling stopped, the value of MOD Resources dropped from $9.5 million to $3.1 million through impairment losses that were applied.[21] From September 2015, MOD Resources owned an 80% share of the mining rights, with OceanaGold holding the balance. MOD Resources' rights were on the market since January 2016.[22][23]

During the consultation for Tasman District Council's Outstanding Natural Landscapes and Features report, MOD Resources "strongly opposed" the inclusion of Sam's Creek in 2017, and the area was not included in the report.[24] In July 2017, MOD Resources announced that it would sell its interests to Condamine Resources for A$3.8m to become a 15% minority shareholder.[22][23] However, by 30 June 2018, Condamine Resources had cancelled the share aquisition.[25] Sandfire Resources acquired MOD Resources in October 2019 and thus became an 80% owner of the Sams Creek project.[26] In October 2020, it was announced that Sandfire Resources had entered into a sale agreement of their Sams Creek venture to Auris Minerals (at an estimated transaction value of A$23.3 million),[26] but the purchase agreement was terminated in June 2021 by Auris Minerals.[27] Condamine Resources changed its name to Siren Gold during 2022.[28] Siren Gold is the trading name of the New Zealand company Sams Creek Gold Limited,[29] which is fully owned by Siren Gold Limited based in Perth.[30] In June 2022, Sandfire Resources sold its entire Sams Creek interest to Siren Gold for A$0.25 million.[31]

Areas of two minerals exploration permits (dark green) and an application for a prospecting permit (red hatching)[b]

Sams Creek is a tributary on the true left of the Tākaka River. There are two minerals permits in the area plus an application for a prospecting permit, and all permits cover areas on both sides of the Tākaka River:[29][32][33]

  • Minerals Exploration Permit 40338 with an operation name "Takaka River (Sams Creek)", covering 3,046.5 ha (30.465 km2); this permit is held by Sams Creek Gold Limited (operating as Siren Gold and owning 81.9%) and Oceana Gold (New Zealand) Limited (owning 18.1%)[29]
  • Minerals Exploration Permit 54454 with an operation name "Barrons Flat", covering 1,052.3 ha (10.523 km2); this permit is 100% held by Sams Creek Gold Limited (operating as Siren Gold)[32]
  • Permit Application 61184.01 with an opeation name "Waitui", covering 3,416 ha (34.16 km2); this permit application has been applied for by Sams Creek Gold Limited (operating as Siren Gold)[33]

The "Takaka River (Sams Creek)" permit is from March 1998 and will expire in March 2025. Due to its age, it cannot be extended as an exploration permit.[29] The only option for the permit holders to retain control is to upgrade the permit to a mining permit. And whilst Siren Gold executives have stated to the Golden Bay Community Board in July 2024 that the company has no detailed mining plans as yet, they were about to apply for the mining permit.[34]

The Sams Creek mining proposals attracted public attention once more from May 2024 due to the Fast-track Approvals Bill proposed by the Sixth National Government of New Zealand. In October 2023, Te Waikoropupū Springs received protection through a water conservation order (WCO), the highest level of protection that a body of water can receive in New Zealand. A WCO receives its statutory standing through the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), but the Fast-track Approvals Bill overrides the RMA and thus nullifies the WCO. The community concern arose from the Wharepapa Arthur Marble Aquifer, which feeds Te Waikoropupū Springs as well as providing the drinking water supply for residents and industry in the Tākaka Valley, being located close to or underneath where tailings from mining would be stored. An estimated 3700 tons of arsenic would be contained in the tailings, which was the centre of the community concern. Siren Gold applied for their mining project to be added to the schedule of the Fast-track Approvals Bill.[35][36] Projects that get progressed under the Fast-track Approvals Bill are not subject to input from the public or environmental groups, and local councils have 10 working days to provide input. Barry Johnson, Tasman District Council's environmental manager, commented:[37]

if you have a really complex thing like a gold mine, how the hell do you provide meaningful comment in that time?

Save Our Springs, a group that was set up while the water conservation order was considered by the Environment Court, presented a petition to parliament on 30 July 2024. During the two months that the petition was open, it was signed by 24,446 people. The group's requests were to exclude the Sams Creek project from the schedule of the legislation, and to include any activity that would occur in an area protected by a water conservation order among projects that would be ineligible for fast-tracking.[38][39][40]

Land zones

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Sams Creek and land zones: yellow is Kahurangi National Park, grey is Sams Creek conservation area, green is North-west Nelson Forest Park, uncoloured is private land; purple line is Sams Creek and blue line is Sams Creek Middle Branch

Sams Creek is located on the south side of the Lockett Range.[41][42] The lower reaches of the waterway are located on land that belongs to North-west Nelson Forest Park, with the land classed as conservation park under the Conservation Act 1987. The upper reaches are located in Sams Creek conservation area, with the land classed as "specially protected area".

in 1970, eight forest parks were amalgamated to form North-west Nelson Forest Park.[43] The North-west Nelson Forest Park covered approximately 360,000 hectares (3,600 km2) of land.[44] From the 1970s, mining companies explored within the forest park and that led to public requests to give the area the higher protection of a national park.[43][45] Much of the forest park plus parts of Mt Owen and Matiri State Forests became Kahurangi National Park in 1996.[43]

Around 60 land parcels of the North-west Nelson Forest Park were excluded from Kahurangi National Park for a variety of reasons. These include hydro stations, grazing leases, sphagnum moss gathering areas, and mining operations or interests.[43] As a result, remaining areas of North-west Nelson Forest Park are highly fragmented.[46] Macraes Mining successfully applied to have the Sams Creek area excluded from the national park.[45]

Scientific research

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Research papers

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A number of scientific papers deal with the gold mining proposal at Sams Creek.

  • Windle SJ; Craw D (December 1991). "Gold mineralisation in a syntectonic granite dike, Sams Creek, northwest Nelson, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 34 (4). doi:10.1080/00288306.1991.9514481. ISSN 0028-8306. Wikidata Q131353800.
  • A. J. Tulloch (June 1992). "Petrology of the Sams Creek peralkaline granite dike, Tākaka, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 32 (2): 193–200. doi:10.1080/00288306.1992.9514513. ISSN 0028-8306. Wikidata Q131531986.
  • Kevin Faure; Robert L. Brathwaite; Cornel E.J. de Ronde (May 2003). "Gold mineralisation in the polymetallic Sams Creek peralkaline microgranite, South Island, New Zealand". Journal of Geochemical Exploration. 78 (10): 613–616. doi:10.1016/S0375-6742(03)00071-2. ISSN 0375-6742. Wikidata Q131531999.
  • Kevin Faure; Robert L. Brathwaite (19 January 2006). "Mineralogical and stable isotope studies of gold-arsenic mineralisation in the Sams Creek peralkaline porphyritic granite, New Zealand". Mineralium Deposita. 40: 802–827. doi:10.1007/S00126-005-0013-Y. ISSN 0026-4598. Wikidata Q131306179.
  • Kevin Faure; Robert L. Brathwaite (March 2006). "Mineralogical and stable isotope studies of gold–arsenic mineralisation in the Sams Creek peralkaline porphyritic granite, South Island, New Zealand". Mineralium Deposita. 40 (8): 802–827. doi:10.1007/S00126-005-0013-Y. ISSN 0026-4598. Wikidata Q131531970.
  • A. J. Tulloch; W. J. Dunlap (June 2006). "A Carboniferous 40Ar/39Ar amphibole emplacement age for the Au‐bearing Sams Creek alkali‐feldspar granite dike, west Nelson, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 49 (2): 233–240. doi:10.1080/00288306.2006.9515162. ISSN 0028-8306. Wikidata Q131532017.
  • M. Phillips; P. Angus; D. MacKenzie; D. Craw (August 2013), Geochemical variations in the Sams Creek gold prospect, NW Nelson, NZ, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Wikidata Q131531893

Master's theses

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Two master's theses have been written about mining at Sams Creek.

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Inferred" is a mineral resource classification where the estimate has a low level of confidence.[1]
  2. ^ Permits 56704 and 60562 are smale-scale permits covering waterways held by others

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves" (PDF). Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Moore, Bill (1 May 2012). "Gold promise gets more scrutiny". The Nelson Mail. Nelson, New Zealand. p. 3. ProQuest 1010399122.
  3. ^ a b c d Goodger, Karen (13 Oct 2011). "Companies to evaluate gold in Golden Bay; GOING FOR GOLD". The Nelson Mail. Nelson, New Zealand: Fairfax Media. p. 1. ProQuest 243439111.
  4. ^ "CRA says it will return". The Press. 12 June 1985. p. 36. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Moratorium on park drilling sought". The Press. 5 December 1985. p. 72. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Threat of large-scale mining acknowledged". The Press. 8 January 1986. p. 23. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  7. ^ Adamson, Roger G. (11 August 1986). "Mining and the N.Z. economy". The Press. p. 20. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  8. ^ "$10M tag on CSR claim". The Press. 1 July 1987. p. 39. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Maruia Soc. to fight prospecting licence". The Press. 26 September 1989. p. 3. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Oceana Gold's pot at the end of the rainbow". The New Zealand Herald. 25 August 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  11. ^ Daniels, Chris (18 November 2003). "$57m to boost quest for gold". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Oceana Gold posts A$10.9m half year profit". The New Zealand Herald. 24 August 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Oceana expands assets". The Northern Miner. Toronto, Ontario. 3 September 2004. p. 8. ProQuest 243439111.
  14. ^ "GRD sells out of Oceana Gold". The New Zealand Herald. 8 September 2006. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  15. ^ Underhill, Jonathan (28 November 2016). "OceanaGold to delist from NZX to trim compliance costs". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  16. ^ a b "New Zealand mine acquired by MOD Resources". Mining Engineering. 63 (11). Littleton: 17. November 2011. ProQuest 908875991.
  17. ^ Forrestal, Luke (1 July 2012). "Upgrade boon for Golden Bay gold". Sunday Star-Times. Wellington. p. D12. ProQuest 1022708083.
  18. ^ a b Basham, Laura (26 June 2012). "Bay gold strike worth $2 billion; Multimillion ounce reserve". The Nelson Mail. Nelson, New Zealand. p. 1. ProQuest 1022185209.
  19. ^ Moore, Bill (11 June 2012). "Drilling at Sams Creek reveals greater gold resource". The Nelson Mail. Nelson, New Zealand. p. 1. ProQuest 1019779514.
  20. ^ Young, Sarah (14 October 2011). "Battle warning in Golden Bay mining; Forest and Bird oppose planned gold exploration". The Nelson Mail. Nelson, New Zealand. p. 3. ProQuest 901235361.
  21. ^ "Miner cuts value with drilling on hold". The New Zealand Herald. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  22. ^ a b Boot, Sophie (3 July 2017). "Sams Creek Gold owners sell major stake". NZ Newswire. ProQuest 1915230977.
  23. ^ a b Hartley, Simon (10 July 2017). "Sams Creek gold prospect sold". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  24. ^ Hindmarsh, Nina (6 March 2017). "Protection plan 'seems ridiculous'". The Nelson Mail. p. 1. ProQuest 1874431811.
  25. ^ "Condamine Resources Ltd cancelled the acquisition of 80% stake in Sams Creek Gold Ltd from MOD Resources Limited". MarketScreener. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  26. ^ a b Rani, Kondapuram Sampangi Archana (5 October 2020). "Divestment of Sams Creek Gold Project in New Zealand". NS Energy. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  27. ^ "Termination of Sams Creek Share Purchase Agreement". Auris Minerals Limited. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Reefton Goldfield, New Zealand" (PDF). Siren Gold. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  29. ^ a b c d "Record 40338: Minerals Exploration Permit". New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  30. ^ "Sams Creek Gold Limited (3508391) Registered". New Zealand Companies Office. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  31. ^ "Siren Acquires Sams Creek Project". SirenGold. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  32. ^ a b "Record 54454: Minerals Exploration Permit". New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  33. ^ a b "Record 61184.01: Application for Minerals Permit – Record Status: Under Evaluation". New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  34. ^ Richards, Jo (13 September 2024). "Gold execs visit Bay". GB Weekly. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  35. ^ Ridout, Amy (29 May 2024). "Fast-track gold mine plan 'huge concern' for Golden Bay". The Nelson Mail. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  36. ^ Richards, Jo (21 June 2024). "Mine plan remains unclear". GB Weekly. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  37. ^ Williams, Lois (28 July 2024). "Tākaka defends its pristine spring from Aussie miners". Newsroom. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  38. ^ "Petition of Kevin Moran on behalf of Save Our Springs: Don't fast track Te Waikoropupū". New Zealand Parliament. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  39. ^ Williams, Lois (28 July 2024). "Tākaka defends its pristine spring from Aussie miners". Newsroom. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  40. ^ Richards, Jo (2 August 2024). "Mine petition presented to parliament". GB Weekly. p. 3. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  41. ^ "Place name detail: Sams Creek". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  42. ^ "Place name detail: Lockett Range". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  43. ^ a b c d "Kahurangi National Park Management Plan (incorporating the 2009/2010 partial review and 2016/2017 amendment)" (PDF). Department of Conservation. June 2001. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  44. ^ "New forest park". The Press. 17 September 1970. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022 – via Papers Past.
  45. ^ a b Hindmarsch, Gerard (Jul–Sep 1995). "Kahurangi; Our newest National Park". New Zealand Geographic (27).
  46. ^ "Place name detail: North-west Nelson Forest Park". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
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