Norton Gold Project
Mining Lease ML 80035
The Norton Gold Project is a proposed restart of historical open-pit operations within Mining Lease ML 80035, located approximately 70 km south of Gladstone, Queensland.
Project Location
Central Queensland Goldfield
The Norton Gold Mine is located less than 70km by road south of the port city of Gladstone. The project sits within an outcropping area central to a major Intrusion Related Gold System (IRGS) within the northern New England Orogen of eastern Australia.
This region hosts several major gold deposits, demonstrating the significant gold endowment of the geological province.
Location
~70km south of Gladstone
Tenure
Mining Lease ML 80035
Geology & Mineralisation
High-Grade Sub-Vertical Shear Zones
Gold mineralisation at Norton occurs within high-grade sub-vertical shear zones that outcrop at surface. Mining Licence ML 80035 contains 8 main shears that make up the currently defined deposit. Three shears have previously been mined or pre-stripped and remain open for future mining.
The primary mineralised structures include the Never Never, Frampton, Chandler, Nine Grams, Little Wonder and Stamper shears. Historical drilling has recorded numerous intercepts exceeding 10 g/t Au at shallow depths, including grades up to 107.9 g/t Au.
Prior selective mining and truck grade data confirm the continuity and high-grade nature of the mineralisation. Individual truckloads have contained in excess of 7 g/t gold with many running well above 15 g/t gold, especially near the intersection of the Frampton and Chandler shears.
Mineralised Shear Structures
Never Never
Primary shear zone with documented high-grade intercepts at shallow depth
Frampton
Extensively drilled structure with historical truck grades confirming continuity
Chandler
Intersects with Frampton shear, hosting high-grade mineralisation at junction
Nine Grams
Sub-vertical shear with recorded grades up to 71 g/t Au
Little Wonder
Additional mineralised structure within the mining lease
Stamper
Defined shear zone included in the project area
Pit Design & Shear Locations
Figure: Pit design showing Little Wonder, Frampton and Chandler starter pits with pre-strip areas
Historical Drillhole Locations
The map illustrates the locations of historical drillholes relative to existing workings within ML 80035. Interrogation of the database yielded numerous intercepts greater than 10g/t gold at shallow depths.
3D Geological Model
The 3D Geological Model illustrates the relationship between modelled mineralisation at the Frampton and Never Never workings. This model is being updated with coordinate and level information from recent survey data.
Historical Drilling Results
Documented High-Grade Intercepts
Multiple drilling campaigns between 1985 and 2006 have established a comprehensive geological database. The table below shows selected high-grade intercepts exceeding 10 g/t Au from historical drilling programs.
| Hole ID | Interval | From | To | Grade | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NQ-85-19 | 0.45m | 27.34m | 27.79m | 107.9 g/t Au | Frampton |
| PG-86-11 | 0.5m | 17.6m | 18.1m | 73.7 g/t Au | Frampton |
| NQ-85-10 | 0.3m | 32.3m | 32.6m | 71.0 g/t Au | Nine Grams |
| NRC-2 | 1m | 27m | 28m | 52.0 g/t Au | Frampton |
| NQ-85-2 | 1m | 23m | 24m | 36.5 g/t Au | Frampton |
| NQ-85-14 | 0.75m | 22.75m | 23.5m | 31.0 g/t Au | Chandler |
| NQ-85-19 | 0.4m | 17.9m | 18.3m | 30.3 g/t Au | Frampton |
| NRC-26 | 2m | 19m | 21m | 26.0 g/t Au | Frampton |
| NQ-85-2 | 1m | 95m | 96m | 25.2 g/t Au | Frampton |
| PG-87-10 | 1m | 25m | 26m | 24.6 g/t Au | Never Never |
Note: Selected intercepts from historical drilling programs (1985-2006). Full database includes additional intercepts across all shear structures.
Historical Production Data
Truck Grade Confirmation
Historical mining data from prior operations (2005-06) includes individual truckload gold grades. This data demonstrates the geological continuity of the deposit between drill holes and provides confidence in grade estimation.
Individual truckloads have recorded grades in excess of 7 g/t gold, with many running well above 15 g/t gold. The highest concentrations occur around the intersection of the Frampton and Chandler shears.
The long section below shows truck grades overlain on drill hole data along the Frampton shear, demonstrating the correlation between drilling results and actual mined grades.
> 15 g/t
Multiple truck grades recorded
~900t
Stockpiled material on site
Long Section - Truck Grades vs Drill Data
Figure: Truck-load block gold grades at intersection of Frampton and Chandler shears overlain on drill hole data. Red/yellow indicates higher grades.
Ore Sorting Technology
Steinert KSS Sensor-Based Ore Sorter
The project utilises Steinert KSS combination sensor sorting technology, employing X-ray transmission (XRT) and 3D laser scanning to separate gold-bearing material from waste rock based on atomic density and particle characteristics.
Test work conducted on Norton Gold Mine samples demonstrated exceptional results: achieving 91.93% gold recovery in just 14.41% of the feed mass, effectively lifting head grade from 16.10 g/t to 102.71 g/t in the high-grade product stream.
The ore sorter processes material in the 10-300mm size fraction, targeting sulphide-associated gold mineralisation. This beneficiation step significantly reduces the tonnage requiring downstream processing while concentrating gold content.
91.93%
Gold recovery achieved
6.4x
Grade uplift (16.1 to 102.7 g/t)
Steinert KSS sensor-based ore sorter using XRT and 3D laser technology
Ore Sorter Installed On Site
Ore Sorter Front
Development Strategy
Capital-Light Mining & Ore Upgrading
Selective Open-Pit Mining
Targeting high-grade shear zones through selective mining to maximise gold content per tonne moved. Existing haul roads and site infrastructure support rapid restart.
Sensor-Based Ore Sorting (XRT)
Beneficiation via XRT technology to upgrade run-of-mine material, separating mineralised material from waste rock and improving head grade before further processing.
No On-Site Processing
No on-site smelting or refining required. Upgraded ore product sold to third-party processors or treated under toll arrangements at existing facilities.
This strategy materially reduces capital intensity, shortens time to first cash flow, and limits metallurgical and environmental complexity compared to conventional processing operations.
Site & Equipment
Project Infrastructure
Open Pit Mining Area
Ore Stockpiles
Ore Sorting Conveyor
Prior Mining Operations
Mineralised Ore Sample
Interested in the Norton Gold Project?
For project enquiries, contractor discussions, or investment interest, contact Norton Mining.
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