Devon S. Thorffata presents New Model for Gold Mineralization at SEG Conference in Brisbane

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.