Technical Overview of the O’Brien Gold Property
Summary by AI BETAClose X
3 November 2026
Focus Xplore PLC
(‘Focus Xplore’ or the ‘Group’)
Technical Overview of the O’Brien Gold Property
Focus Xplore PLC (AIM: FOX) is pleased to provide a technical overview and ongoing Phase 1 exploration programme for the O’Brien Property (‘O’Brien Property’ or the ‘Property’). The Property covers approximately 2,100 hectares (21 km²) in central Newfoundland, Canada, and forms part of the Group’s acquisition of five Canadian gold projects announced on 6 October 2026
Key Highlights
- Location and Access: A single licence (041064M; 84 claims; ~2,100 ha) in central Newfoundland, located approximately 28km west of Gander and about 100 km northeast of the Valentine Lake gold deposit.
- Untested South Eastern Target: Coincident geophysical anomalies comprising a magnetic low about 2 km wide with a linear electromagnetic (“EM”) conductor, positioned on-trend of nearby gold occurrences. Comprises a conceptual, but potentially large target.
- Prospective Gold Setting: The 13.5 km Mt Peyton Trend runs along the western side of the Property. The Mt Peyton Intrusive Suite is interpreted as the heat and fluid source for multiple intrusion-related gold–antimony–arsenic occurrences nearby. The Slip showing, about 0.9 km north-north-west of the Property boundary, has returned historical assays of up to 28.6 g/t Au.
- Immediate Phase 1 Programme: An SGH (Spatiotemporal Geochemical Hydrocarbon) soil survey is underway to cover the South Eastern Target. SGH is designed to detect buried targets where glacial cover and wetlands limit conventional soil sampling, this programme started on the 31st of October.
DETAILS
Target Areas
The O’Brien Property has three main target areas;
- The South Eastern Target Area - associated with the magnetic low, and elevated conductivity coincident with significant faulting. Additionally, A magnetic high, which may represent to a diorite intrusion – which elsewhere is related to gold mineralisation- is within the local area,
- Central Target Area – where second and third-order faulting is coincident with elevated arsenic in lake sediments
- North-Western Target Area – Associated with the continuation and parallel structures to the Mt Peyton Trend.
The ,location of these target areas, alongside the magnetic geophysical data from the property is shown in Figure 1. The initial Phase 1 fieldwork is planned to examine the South Eastern Target Area, and if sufficient time is available, the Central Target Area.
Regional geological setting
The O’Brien Property lies in central Newfoundland, within the Exploits Subzone of the Dunnage Zone of the northern Appalachian orogen. The Dunnage Zone preserves arc, back-arc and oceanic remnants of the Iapetus Ocean and is divided by the Red Indian Line into the Notre Dame and Exploits subzones; the Exploits Subzone is bounded to the east by the Gander River Ultramafic Belt, which marks the boundary with the Gander Zone1 2. Closure of the Exploits basins in the Silurian Salinic orogeny3 was followed by gabbro–granite magmatism, represented by the Mt Peyton Intrusive Suite, dated to 422 to 4184 million years ago (Ma), Epigenetic gold is widespread in the eastern and central Dunnage Zone5, including gold-mineralised gabbro along the Dog Bay Line–Appleton fault zone corridor, which extends for at least 75 km6.
Geology of the Property and Nearby Areas
The Property (Licence 041064M; 84 claims, approximately 2,100 Ha) lies on the north-eastern side of the Mt Peyton Intrusive Suite, which comprises gabbro–diorite, monzogranite and granodiorite4.
Bedrock exposure in the area is poor, with till and bog cover7, and the mapped geology of the Property is largely unknown, however, it is inferred from the regional geology as being Early-Late Silurian of the Botwood Group8, composed of greywacke, siltstone and slate and sandstones9. The magnetic highs in the geophysical data are interpreted as possibly reflecting mafic intrusive rocks of the Mt Peyton Intrusive Suite10.
Gold mineralisation in the local area, and along the faulting to the north of the Mt Peyton Intrusive Suite, is commonly associated with the north-east trending faulting11. The Slip showing which returned historical assays of up to 28.6 g/t Au, is located about 0.9 km north-north-west of the Property boundary, on the north-north-western end of the 13.5 km Mt Peyton trend, which is anomalous in gold, silver, arsenic and antimony. The Slip showing is interpreted as late-stage, intrusion-related mineralisation with a granitic dyke cutting a gabbro-diorite intrusive. At the Hurricane–Corsair prospects, 3.5km to the southwest of the Property, gold occurs in narrow quartz–siderite veins within pyrite–arsenopyrite–sericite–siderite–silica alteration envelopes in quartz diorite; this is interpreted as fracture-controlled, vein-style mineralisation.
Property Geophysics
The Property has received multiple modern geophysical surveys covering around 90% of the licence area, including a VTEM (Versatile Time-Domain Electromagnetic) survey in 2021 and Government-assimilated regional magnetic surveys12, including high-resolution data in the south-east of the Property.
Due to the cover on the Property, the Sout Eastern Target is based on geophysics (see Figure 1). The target is centred on a north-north-east-trending lineament (orientated circa 022°), interpreted from regional magnetic data, which is crossed by north-north-west-trending lineaments (335°) sub-parallel to the Mt Peyton Trend. A linear electromagnetic (EM) conductive anomaly coincides with the north-north-east lineament. A north-north-west-elongate magnetic high near the intersection with the EM anomaly may reflect a gabbro–diorite intrusion of the Mt Peyton Intrusive Suite, a dyke or sill, or magnetite-bearing alteration.
Locally, gold mineralisation is associated with gabbro–diorite intrusions, including Neyles Brook7, Hurricane–Corsair and, directly along strike of the South Eastern Target; the Slip showing4. The geological setting of the South Eastern Target, including the magnetic low that may be related to widespread demagnetisation associated with hydrothermal fluids, and the electromagnetic response, which may be related to sulphides, warrants further testing. This demagnetised/conductive zone lies at the apex of a significant fault structure, close to a major intrusion, providing a geologically dilated and structurally complex environment where late-stage orogenic gold mineralisation can occur.
The South Eastern Target lies at the interpreted intersection of a north-north-east lineament, which coincides with the EM anomaly, and north-north-west lineaments, about 1.5 km east of the mapped margin of the Mt Peyton suite ; it also coincides with a magnetic low about 2 km wide that is significantly weaker that the surrounding geology. The low may reflect hydrothermal alteration of a magnetic protolith, a change in lithology, or both.
These orientations are similar to regional mineralisation, gold mineralisation at Hurricane–Corsair and Neyles Brook; as well as the wider Mt Peyton Trend and the monzogranite dykes at the Slip. Where structures of different orientations meet, complex fault structures can be developed, where fluid flow can be focused and space can open (“dilation”); some gold deposits are localised in such settings14. The Mt Peyton Intrusive Suite is interpreted as the source of heat and fluids for multiple c. 422–418 Ma intrusion-related gold occurrences nearby4. If the magnetic low reflects hydrothermal alteration of a magnetic protolith, it would indicate past fluid flow through this setting; this has not been tested, and offers a conceptual, but high-priority target.
Figure 1: O'Brien Property - Magnetics, Inferred Structural Geology and Target Areas
Previous Exploration
Gold exploration in the area followed the Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador’s regional lake-sediment geochemical survey, which was carried out in 198015, and reanalysed for gold in 198816. Noranda followed up arsenopyrite-bearing quartz-vein float found during regional prospecting with trenching, geophysical surveys and diamond drilling in 1989–91, defining the Mt Peyton Trend, a corridor of anomalous gold, silver, arsenic and antimony that runs along the western side of the Property17. Between 1999 and 2003, Black Bart Prospecting, Quest and Rubicon Minerals extended the trend Mt Peyton Trend using arsenic in lake sediments and prospecting, which resulted in the identification of the SS showing about 0.2 km north-north-west of the Property and the Quinlan and Cyril showings about 0.9–1.4 km to the south-west18.
Two ground programmes are documented on the Property. In 2002–03, Rubicon Minerals prospected and sampled the north of the Property, where roughly two-thirds of a 40-sample soil line from that programme falls within the Property, and all soils returned 5 ppb Au or less17. Gordon Lawrence sampled soils, stream sediments and rocks on the Newex1 licence (020780, ten claims), which overlaps the centre of the Property; he reported no earlier ground work on those claims19. Results from this programme returned up to 7,080 ppm arsenic and 23.9 ppm antimony, with gold below 2 ppb except for one sample at 48 ppb.
The Property is covered by, and the data is available for, a helicopter-borne magnetic and electromagnetic survey flown for Rubicon Minerals; it is also covered by regional magnetic compilations20, and about 89% of it by magnetic and time-domain EM data from Exploits Discovery’s work in the early 2020s21.
There has been no recorded sampling directly over the eastern target, and no drilling, rock sampling or systematic geochemistry completed on the Property to date.
Proposed Phase 1 Exploration Programme
The South Eastern Target Area of the O’Brien Property, where structural geology is inferred to be most promising, is largely covered by surficial materials with little exposure; conventional soil sampling is unlikely to provide useful or scientifically robust information. Locally, swampy areas are reported to be underlain by glacial clay, which is expected to impede upward ion movement from potentially buried deposits (which soil sampling aims to detect). In addition, wetland conditions (variable pH, metal binding by organic matter, and sediment and groundwater input at bog margins) commonly produce geochemical anomalies unrelated to bedrock, making results from swampy ground difficult to interpret22. Swampy areas were therefore excluded from sampling.
To address these limitations, we will complete Spatiotemporal Geochemical Hydrocarbon (SGH; formerly Soil Gas Hydrocarbon) analysis over the target area. SGH is a proprietary method developed by Activation Laboratories Ltd. (Actlabs), Ancaster, Ontario. Rather than extracting metal ions, it uses a very weak leach to release hydrocarbon compounds adsorbed on soil particles, and measures 162 compounds in the C5–C17 range by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry at parts-per-trillion levels23. Results are interpreted against signature templates that Actlabs has developed for gold and other deposit types24. SGH is less affected by changes in sample medium than selective leach methods, and responses have been documented over buried targets in both organic and mineral soils22. In British Columbia, SGH responses have been reported over the Tommy and Ted epithermal Au–Ag veins at the 3Ts prospect25, and over the Kwanika Cu–Au porphyry, where SGH outlined a reduced zone above mineralisation buried by up to 40 m of glaciofluvial sediment26.
REFERENCES
|
1 |
Williams, H., Colman-Sadd, S.P. and Swinden, H.S., 1988. Tectonic-stratigraphic subdivisions of central Newfoundland. Current Research, Part B, Geological Survey of Canada Paper 88-1B, 91–98. |
|
2 |
van Staal, C.R., 2007. Pre-Carboniferous tectonic evolution and metallogeny of the Canadian Appalachians. In Goodfellow, W.D. ed., Mineral Deposits of Canada, GAC Special Publication 5, 793–818. |
|
3 |
Dunning, G.R. et al., 1990. Silurian orogeny in the Newfoundland Appalachians. Journal of Geology 98, 895–913. |
|
4 |
Sandeman, H.A.I., Dunning, G.R., McCullough, C.K. and Peddle, C., 2017. U–Pb geochronology, petrogenetic relationships and intrusion-related precious-metal mineralization in the northern Mount Peyton intrusive suite: implications for the origin of the Mount Peyton trend, central Newfoundland NTS 2D/04. Current Research, Report 17-1, 189–217. |
|
5 |
Evans, D.T.W., 1996. Epigenetic gold occurrences, eastern and central Dunnage Zone, Newfoundland. Geological Survey, Mineral Resource Report 9. |
|
6 |
Honsberger, I.W., Sandeman, H.A.I., Bleeker, W. and Kamo, S.L., 2023. Gabbro intrusions along the Dog Bay Line–Appleton fault zone gold corridor, northeast-central Newfoundland: U–Pb baddeleyite geochronology and lithogeochemistry. Current Research, Report 23-1, 31–46. |
|
7 |
Quinlan, E. 2009 First year assessment report of prospecting activity on licence 015196M, the Neyles Brook property, NTS 2E/03, work conducted June 2008 to June 2009. Quinlan Prospecting Inc. Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador, Assessment Report 002E/1645. |
|
8 |
O’Brien, B.H. compiler 2001 Simplified geological map of the Northeast Dunnage Zone between Halls Bay and Hamilton Sound. Map 2001-41, scale 1:250,000. St. John’s: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Mines and Energy, Geological Survey. |
|
9 |
Evans, D.T.W., Hayes, J.P. and Blackwood, R.F. 1992 Gander River, Newfoundland [Map]. Map 92-021, scale 1:50 000. St. John's: Geological Survey Branch, Department of Mines and Energy, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Geofile 002E/02/0839 |
|
10 |
Miller, H. G., & Thakwalakwa, S. A. M. 1992. A geophysical and geochemical interpretation of the configuration of the Mount Peyton Complex, central Newfoundland. Atlantic Geology, 283, 221–231. |
|
11 |
Dimmell, P.M. and Regular, M.B. 2021 Report on 2020 exploration prospecting, geochemistry tills, compilation on the Twin Ponds TP property, Lic’s 24270M, 24274M, NTS 2E/2, North Central Newfoundland. Assessment Report prepared by New Found Gold Corp. for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Department of Natural Resources, Mineral Lands Division, Geological Survey File 002E/02/2067. |
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12 |
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14 |
Sibson, R.H., Robert, F. and Poulsen, K.H. 1988 ‘High-angle reverse faults, fluid-pressure cycling, and mesothermal gold-quartz deposits’, Geology, 166, pp. 551–555. |
|
15 |
Butler, A.J. and Davenport, P.H. 1981 Lake sediment geochemical survey of the Botwood NTS 2E map sheet. St. John’s: Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Mines and Energy, Mineral Development Division, Open File 2E/0409. |
|
16 |
Davenport, P.H. and Nolan, L.W. 1988 Gold and associated elements in lake sediment from regional surveys in the Botwood map area NTS 2E. St. John’s: Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Mines, Mineral Development Division, Open File 2E/0563. |
|
17 |
House, S. 2003 Assessment report, TCH Trans Canada Highway Project, licences 8703M and 8817M 1st year, NTS 2E/03: report on prospecting and rock sampling for Quest Inc. and Rubicon Minerals Corporation. Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador, Assessment Report 002E/1305. |
|
18 |
Sparkes, B.A. and House, S. 2002 Assessment report on the Peyton Linear property, licences 7093M third year, 7022M third year, 7094M third year and 8263M first year, Lewisporte area NTS 2E/03, Newfoundland. Unpublished assessment report for Rubicon Minerals Corporation, November 2002. |
|
19 |
Lawrence, G. 2014 First year assessment report on prospecting, soil, sediment and rock sampling, Newex1 property, licence 020780, NTS 02E/02, 02E/03. Geological Survey of Newfoundland and Labrador, Assessment Report 002E/1875. |
|
20 |
Oneschuk, D. and Kilfoil, G.J. 2021 Airborne geophysical data compilation, north-central Newfoundland parts of NTS 02C, 02D, 02E and 02F. Open File NFLD/3396. St. John’s: Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Geological Survey Division, and Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. |
|
21 |
Geotech Ltd., 2021. Preliminary Report on a Helicopter-Borne Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic (VTEM™) Plus and Horizontal Magnetic Gradiometer Geophysical Survey, Project: Mt. Peyton Block, Gander, NL. Aurora, ON: Geotech Ltd. Prepared for Exploits Discovery Corp. Available within Newfoundland and Labrador Geological Survey Geofile NFLD/3456 |
|
22 |
Hamilton, S.M., 2007. Major advances in soil geochemical exploration methods for areas of thick glacial drift cover. In: Milkereit, B. ed., Proceedings of Exploration 07: Fifth Decennial International Conference on Mineral Exploration, 263–280. |
|
23 |
Activation Laboratories Ltd., 2023. SGH Sampling Information. Activation Laboratories Ltd., Ancaster, Ontario. |
|
24 |
Activation Laboratories Ltd., 2018. SGH Fact Sheet. Activation Laboratories Ltd., Ancaster, Ontario. |
|
25 |
Cook, S.J. and Dunn, C.E., 2007. Final report on results of the Cordilleran Geochemistry Project: a comparative assessment of soil geochemical methods for detecting buried mineral deposits – 3Ts Au-Ag Prospect, central British Columbia. Geoscience BC, Report 2007-7, 225 p. |
|
26 |
Heberlein, D.R. and Samson, H., 2010. An assessment of soil geochemical methods for detecting copper-gold porphyry mineralization through Quaternary glaciofluvial sediments at the Kwanika Central Zone, north-central British Columbia. Geoscience BC, Report 2010-03. |
GLOSSARY
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Alteration (hydrothermal alteration) |
Changes in a rock's mineral content and chemistry caused by reaction with hot, water-rich fluids. Alteration commonly surrounds mineralisation and is a useful exploration guide. |
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Anomaly / anomalous |
A measurement, or group of measurements, that differs significantly from surrounding background values. Anomalies may indicate mineralisation but can also have other causes. |
|
Arsenopyrite |
An iron-arsenic sulphide mineral (FeAsS) that commonly hosts or accompanies gold. |
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Claim |
The basic unit of mineral tenure in Newfoundland and Labrador, measuring 500 m × 500 m (25 ha). One or more claims make up a mineral licence. |
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Conceptual target |
An exploration target defined by interpretation of indirect data, such as geophysics, that has not yet been tested by sampling or drilling. It is not a mineral resource and may not be confirmed by further work. |
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Conductor (EM conductor) |
A zone of elevated electrical conductivity detected by an electromagnetic survey. Possible causes include sulphide minerals, graphite, and clay-rich or water-saturated ground. |
|
Cover / overburden |
Unconsolidated material lying on top of bedrock, such as glacial till (unsorted sediment deposited by ice), clay, sand and peat. |
|
Demagnetisation |
Destruction of magnetic minerals in a rock (mainly magnetite, a magnetic iron oxide), commonly by hydrothermal alteration, producing a magnetic low. |
|
Dilation |
The opening of space within or between faults and fractures, typically where structures bend, branch or intersect. Dilational zones can focus fluid flow and host gold deposits. |
|
Diorite |
A coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock of intermediate composition. Quartz diorite contains more quartz; gabbro–diorite describes rocks transitional between gabbro and diorite. |
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Dunnage Zone |
The central tectonostratigraphic zone of the Newfoundland Appalachians, preserving volcanic arc and oceanic crustal remnants of the Iapetus Ocean, an ancient ocean that closed long before the Atlantic opened. It is divided by the Red Indian Line into the Notre Dame and Exploits subzones. |
|
Electromagnetic (EM) survey |
A geophysical method that induces electrical currents in the ground and measures the response to map variations in electrical conductivity; used to detect conductive bodies such as sulphides. |
|
Exploits Subzone |
The eastern part of the Dunnage Zone, bounded by the Red Indian Line to the west and the Gander River Ultramafic Belt to the east. It hosts numerous gold occurrences in central Newfoundland. |
|
Fault |
A fracture in rock along which the rocks on either side have moved relative to each other. |
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Gabbro |
A dark, coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock of mafic composition (the intrusive equivalent of basalt). |
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Geophysics / geophysical survey |
Measurement of physical properties of the ground, such as magnetism and electrical conductivity, to map geology and identify targets beneath cover. |
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Hydrothermal |
Relating to hot, water-rich fluids circulating in the Earth's crust, which can dissolve, transport and deposit metals. |
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Intrusion / intrusive |
A body of igneous rock that crystallised from magma below the Earth's surface. |
|
Intrusion-related gold |
Gold mineralisation genetically linked to a nearby igneous intrusion that supplied heat and fluids; commonly accompanied by elevated arsenic and antimony. |
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Lake-sediment survey |
A regional geochemical survey in which sediment from lake bottoms is sampled and analysed to identify catchments with elevated metal values. |
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Licence (mineral licence) |
An exploration licence issued by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, giving exclusive rights to explore the ground covered by one or more claims. |
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Lineament |
A linear feature identified in geophysical data, topography or imagery, commonly interpreted as a fault, fracture or geological contact. |
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Magnetic high / magnetic low |
An area where the measured magnetic field is stronger (high) or weaker (low) than its surroundings, reflecting the abundance of magnetic minerals in the underlying rocks. |
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Magnetic survey |
A geophysical survey measuring variations in the Earth's magnetic field caused by magnetic minerals in rocks, mainly magnetite (a magnetic iron oxide). |
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Mineralisation |
A concentration of metals or valuable minerals within rock, which may or may not be of economic interest. |
|
Mount Peyton Intrusive Suite |
A large Silurian intrusive complex in central Newfoundland comprising gabbro–diorite, monzogranite and granodiorite. It is interpreted as the heat and fluid source for nearby intrusion-related gold occurrences. |
|
Mount Peyton Trend |
A 13.5 km corridor of anomalous gold, silver, arsenic and antimony running along the western side of the Property, first defined by Noranda in 1989–91. |
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Occurrence |
A location where mineralisation has been found, without implying that it is of economic size or grade. |
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Orogenic gold |
Gold deposits formed during deformation and metamorphism in mountain belts, typically as quartz veins along faults and shear zones. |
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Prospect |
An area of mineralisation that has been identified and warrants further exploration. |
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SGH (Spatiotemporal Geochemical Hydrocarbon) |
A proprietary soil geochemical method developed by Actlabs (formerly Soil Gas Hydrocarbon). A very weak chemical extraction (leach) releases hydrocarbon compounds adsorbed on soil particles, and 162 compounds containing 5 to 17 carbon atoms (the C5–C17 range) are measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry at parts-per-trillion levels. Results are interpreted against signature templates for specific deposit types to identify buried targets. |
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Silurian |
A geological period spanning approximately 444 to 419 million years ago. |
|
Soil sampling |
Collection of soil samples, usually on a grid or along lines, for geochemical analysis to detect metals derived from the underlying bedrock. |
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Strike / along strike |
The horizontal direction (trend) of a geological feature such as a fault, vein or rock layer; "along strike" means continuing in that direction. |
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Sulphides |
Minerals composed of metals combined with sulphur (e.g. pyrite, arsenopyrite). They are typically electrically conductive and often associated with gold. |
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VTEM (Versatile Time-Domain Electromagnetic) |
A helicopter-borne electromagnetic survey system developed by Geotech Ltd. It measures how electrical currents induced in the ground decay after the transmitter is switched off, mapping ground conductivity and detecting conductors such as sulphide bodies. |
QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT
The technical information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by Mr Nicholas O’Reilly (MSc, DIC, MIMMM QMR, MAusIMM, FGS), who is a qualified geologist and acts as the Qualified Person under the AIM Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr O’Reilly is a principal consultant working for Mining Analyst Consulting Ltd, which is providing independent technical review to Focus Xplore PLC.
**ENDS**
Enquiries:
|
Dave Russell |
info@focusXplore.com |
Focus Xplore PLC |
Executive Director |
|
James Biddle Roland Cornish |
+44 (0) 207 628 3396 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited |
Nominated Adviser |
|
Jason Robertson |
+44 (0) 207 374 2212 |
First Equity Limited |
Corporate Broker |
|
Corporate Website: www.focusXplore.com |
LinkedIn: Focus Xplore PLC |
X: @focusXplore |
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