Rhys S. Davies, Richard Schodde, John P. Sykes, David I. Groves, Allan Trench & Michael Dentith, published in the Journal of Applied Earth Science, Transactions of the Institutions of Mining and Metallurgy, June 2020
In summary:
The USGS Three-part Undiscovered Mineral Resource Assessment provides a framework for estimating undiscovered mineral endowment. Previous studies that used this assessment method have relied upon dated or expert-derived grade-tonnage models. In this Paper, an alternate approach was used using a range of local grade-tonnage models, comprising known orogenic gold deposits within the entire Yilgarn Block and several individual terranes with contrasting lithosphere-to terrane-scale characteristics. These models are generated through comprehensive review of historical exploration, resource and production data.
Based on these models, the Sandstone Greenstone Belt in the Yilgarn Block in Western Australia is estimated to contain significant undiscovered gold mineralisation, with a median total endowment of between 166 and 298 t gold, and mean of 167-319 t gold.
Although these updated grade-tonnage models provide an approximately 80 per cent variation in predicted gold endowment, it is still evident that the Sandstone belt remains an underexplored region within the Yilgarn Block.