Brisbane, Australia – At the 2025 Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) Conference, Devon S. Thorffata, our geologist, presented new findings on the complex evolution of the Awakmas gold deposit in Sulawesi, Indonesia. His poster, titled “Genesis of the Hybridized Awakmas Au System, Indonesia,” attracted attention for its detailed reconstruction of multiple mineralizing phases contributing to the deposit’s gold endowment. The study identifies three distinct hydrothermal phases preserved within the Awakmas ore system: pre-collisional, syn-collisional, and post-collisional mineralization. Among these, the post-collisional phase was interpreted as the dominant contributor to gold enrichment. By recognizing that metal input occurred repeatedly under changing tectonic conditions, the research positions Awakmas as a hybrid deposit rather than the product of a single mineralizing event. This interpretation challenges conventional genetic classifications and encourages a more dynamic view of deposit evolution. The implications of this model extend beyond Indonesia. Similar hybridization processes may explain the coexistence of multiple gold styles and ages documented in several deposits worldwide, where mineralization histories are often more complex than previously assumed.

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At the 2025 Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA) meeting, held at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, renowned economic geologist Richard H. Sillitoe shared his perspectives on the declining rate of copper (Cu) discoveries and the path forward for revitalizing exploration success. Sillitoe identified three key reasons for the current slowdown in copper discoveries: a significant reduction in budgets for generative greenfield exploration, the decreasing number of easily accessible exposed deposits, and the diminishing amount of time geologists spend in the field. These factors, he noted, have collectively constrained the industry’s ability to identify new world-class deposits. To reverse this trend, Sillitoe emphasized that improved discovery rates require a combination of factors: strong field geologist efforts supported by geochemistry, geophysics, academic research, and the latest technological tools; more creative thinking and the development of new exploration concepts; greater allocation of time for critical thinking with fewer bureaucratic hurdles; and a willingness to accept higher geological risk in exchange for reduced ESG-related constraints. Summarizing his philosophy, Sillitoe presented what he called the “magic discovery formula”: high-quality fieldwork integrated with the right geochemical and geophysical techniques, plus the boldness to drill deeper. His message was clear: while technology and data are powerful tools, the heart of mineral discovery remains in the field, where geologists apply creativity, critical thinking, and the courage to test bold ideas.

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Golden, Colorado – Our geologist Adi Sulaksono took the stage at the prestigious Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA) Meeting 2025, hosted at The Colorado School of Mines, to present new insights into the magmatic evolution of one of the world’s largest copper-gold deposits: the Grasberg Porphyry Cu-Au Deposit in Papua, Indonesia. His presentation, titled “Igneous Amphibole and Apatite from the Grasberg Porphyry Cu-Au Deposit, Indonesia: Insights into the Magmatic Degassing of Volatiles,” showcased how mineral chemistry can be used to reconstruct volatile behavior and redox evolution within ore-forming magmatic systems. Using EPMA and LA-ICP-MS, he analyzed amphibole and apatite minerals to decipher how chlorine (Cl) and sulfur (S)-bearing fluids separated from magmas during crystallization. Most notably, his results suggest that the mixing of magmas with distinct oxidation states could have generated a large amount of SO2 required to form porphyry deposit. This research provides new constraints on volatile evolution and redox-controlled fluid release in porphyry systems, key processes that govern metal transport and ore deposition. The findings not only enhance understanding of Grasberg’s unique mineralization history but also offer broader implications for exploration models in oxidized arc settings worldwide.

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