A special prospecting licence was awarded to Viti Mining Ltd to explore mystery deposits in Nabila, Nadi.
During a handover ceremony of the licences, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Jone Usamate said the exploration site was located about 15km southwest of Nadi.
“Historically, mystery deposits were discovered by prospectors in 1937 and from 1947 to 1948, the mine produced about 750 ounces of gold and 200 ounces of silver,” he said.
“In the mid ’80s, the prospect was further explored by Climax Mining, therein in 1986, 23 diamond and 108 RC drill holes were born in the Faddy’s (gold) prospect.
” In 1989, Climax Mining published a masonry source of 922,000 tonnes of gold with a cut of grade of 2g per tonne.”
He added that a second prospecting licence was also awarded to the company for exploration works in Viani, Cakaudrove.
Mr Usamate said these were incorporated in 2008 as Viti Mining Ltd had been active in the local exploration and mining of manganese ore and had been working extensively on the manganese prospects mainly in the Nadroga and Navosa and Ba provinces.
Viti Mining Ltd director John Sanday said the company appreciated the Department of Mineral Resources for awarding them the licences.
“From Viti Mining’s perspective and in our previous history in the industry, we have always kept the landowners up to date with all developments and findings and have been our most important partners,” he said.
