The search spans the broad corridor between Goornong, Elmore, Huntly and Lockington, using modern technology to reach rock formations which were well beyond the grasp of the region's early miners.
While central Victoria boasts a rich mining history, the deep rock beneath younger surface sediment remains largely unexplored.
The exploration program aims to identify geological structures which may contain gold mineralisation and narrow the search to the most prospective areas.
Exploration has been under way for roughly 18 months. Teams are using a mix of airborne gravity surveys, electrical ground mapping, shallow aircore drilling and deep diamond core sampling to build a clearer picture of the underground structure.
Induced polarisation surveys pass electrical currents through the ground to map what lies beneath, while airborne gravity surveys detect subtle shifts in the Earth’s gravitational pull — both helping geologists pinpoint changes in the rock below.
The company was clear this is early-stage discovery work. The focus is on mapping the geology and it should not be taken as a sign mining is imminent.
Any future development would require clear economic evidence, rigorous technical analysis, environmental approvals and extensive community consultation.
The company said its exploration activities were generally low impact and planned to minimise disruption to farming operations, vegetation and existing land uses.
Access to private land was negotiated directly with each landholder and exploration only went ahead once they had given their full permission.
Fosterville Gold Mine’s regional exploration team comprises about 12 people, with between 20 and 30 people potentially involved across its licence areas during active fieldwork periods, including specialist contractors.
Beyond the exploration itself, the program is delivering a steady boost to local businesses, with fuel, equipment, logistics and engineering services sourced from the region wherever possible.
Fosterville Gold Mine said it communicated with landholders and the wider community through face-to-face meetings, community events, its website, social media and traditional media.
