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NEWS

Parsons’ continued focus on drilling belies his roots as an
exploration geologist. From its creation, the company has been
synonymous with high-quality exploration credentials, led by
Parsons and chief geologist Sam Brooks. That commitment
has delivered a 3.4 moz project but Parsons knows only too
well it could have ended up very different.
“We went into Bellevue with a specific idea,” he explained. “The
assumption had always been that the fault running through the
orebody cut off the mineralisation. If it did continue it would be
kilometres away and difficult to find. But we believed the fault
was there before the gold mineralisation and then we proved
that theory through drilling on the other side of the fault and
finding gold.”
In between theory and confirmation, there were a few
concerning moments, Parsons admitted.
“Whenever you target new mineralisation away from the mine
it is scary, particularly when you don’t hit it in the first few
holes,” he said. “Those first few didn’t do much and we were a
bit: ‘Hmmmmm…’ but then we hit 7m @ 27 g/t gold in the 10th
Steve Parsons
hole and in a brand new lode, then we were away.
“You do think back and wonder how many holes would we
“The model hasn’t changed since Day 1, it has been all about
have drilled before we pulled the pin? I’m not sure but I’m
stepping-out and, in the last 18 months, infill drilling,” he said.
certain we would eventually have walked away and it would
“But maybe we are only drilling on the edge of a bigger and
have been left there for another 30 years.”
better system. That is always in the back of our minds and we
As well as perseverance, Parsons still displays that other vital always remind the team that we could be only drilling a small
characteristic of the successful explorationist; optimism. part of a much larger system.”

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