PT Geo Fix Indonesia (GeoFix) announces that it has been selected to participate in the BHP Xplor 2026 accelerator program. Highlights • GeoFix has been selected to be part of the 2026 BHP Xplor cohort • GeoFix will receive US$500,000 in equity-free funding • Xplor provides GeoFix access to BHP’s global exploration expertise and networks • The program will support the advancement of geological concepts targeting a major porphyry Cu-Au mineral system within the Sunda-Banda Arc, Indonesia. Jakarta – GeoFix today announced it has been selected to join the 2026 BHP Xplor accelerator program. This year’s cohort includes the largest number of exploration and technology projects since the program began in 2023, reflecting strong global interest in progressing early-stage concepts for future-facing commodities. As part of the program, GeoFix will receive an equity-free grant of US$500,000, access to BHP’s technical specialists and structured support to advance geological concepts in the Sunda-Banda Arc, Indonesia. Gyaista Sampurno, GeoFix Chief Executive Officer, said: “This is a significant milestone for GeoFix and a strong endorsement of the exploration work underway in the Sunda-Banda Arc. Being selected for the 2026 Xplor program provides access to technical expertise, experienced mentors and industry perspectives that will help us strengthen our geological understanding and progress our current program of work. The structure and support available through Xplor will assist us in refining our approach, assessing key uncertainties and building capability within our team. We welcome the opportunity to work with BHP and the other cohort participants over the months ahead.” Tim O’Connor, BHP Group Exploration Officer, said: “GeoFix demonstrated a clear and well-supported geological concept with potential in a future-facing commodity. Their technical approach, combined with the capability of their team and their commitment to disciplined testing, make them a strong addition to this year’s cohort. The Xplor program supports early-stage explorers who are working to progress and mature their concepts. We look forward to supporting GeoFix as they advance their work through the program.” Marley Palin, Head of BHP Xplor, said: “The exploration companies joining this year’s cohort presented concepts supported by well-considered technical thinking and strong fundamentals. GeoFix showed a clear commitment to progressing their project responsibly and systematically, which aligns with the focus of the Xplor program. Our aim is to provide early-stage explorers with access to the expertise, tools and guidance needed at this point in their development. We are pleased to welcome GeoFix to the 2026 cohort.”

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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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