The technology behind much of the current 'gold fever' in South Australia will be revealed to the resources sector in Adelaide next week by the CSIRO Division of Exploration and Mining.

This follows today's reports of major gold discoveries in the inhospitable Gawler Craton and Tunkillia regions in South Australia.

At the invitation of the Resources '96 conference, the Division's Dr Charles Butt will outline (December 3) the calcrete geochemistry technology for exploration that it developed in collaboration with the Australian Minerals Industry Research Association (AMIRA).

The technology was instrumental in the recent gold discoveries in South Australia, including the Challenger deposit which has excited recent stock market activity. Calcrete geochemistry was originally developed for exploration in similar country in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields.

Dr Butt says much of the area is typified by carbonate soils and hard surface layers of limestone-like materials (calcrete).

"We have increased understanding of how ancient gold ore bodies have weathered over millions of years and provided newfound confidence to prospectors that even minute surface traces of gold might indicate significant underground reserves," Dr Butt said.

CSIRO Exploration and Mining has recently been refining the technology within the CRC for Landscape Evolution and Mineral Exploration, of which it is a member. Earlier this year the CRC stationed a senior CSIRO researcher in Adelaide - Mr Melvyn Lintern, who specialises in the technology.

"Calcrete geochemistry was first applied in South Australia by Dominion Mining, a sponsor of the original AMIRA research, unlocking a significant new gold province in the process. A similar approach has great potential for parts of NSW and Victoria," Dr Butt said.

More information from: Dr Charles Butt 09-387 0750 (bus.), 09-387 4791 (a.h.) or Mr Melvyn Lintern 08-8274 7719