Otago · Central Otago
Experienced geological and project-delivery support for orogenic gold and critical-mineral exploration across Otago and Central Otago.
Wairiri Exploration Group provides gold exploration geology and programme-delivery capability across Otago and Central Otago. Work can include project generation, historic research, structural interpretation, geological mapping, geochemistry, geophysics, drilling, QAQC, geological modelling, NZPAM permitting and field programme delivery.
Wairiri's Otago experience includes orogenic gold, critical minerals including tungsten and antimony, and alluvial gold. The approach is to combine the district's extensive historic mining and exploration record with modern field observations, spatial data, geochemistry, geophysics and drilling to build testable geological models.
Otago gold exploration includes structurally controlled mineralisation within the Otago Schist, from the Hyde–Macraes Shear Zone to the wider Bendigo–Ophir district. Effective targeting depends on integrating structure, lithology, alteration, quartz-vein systems, historic workings and modern drilling rather than treating individual datasets in isolation.
Wairiri has geological personnel based in Central Otago and can build flexible teams around the scale and location of each programme. This provides local field capability while retaining access to Wairiri's wider South Island network of geologists, field personnel, drillers, surveyors and technical specialists.
Otago geology & exploration
Real field conditions, geology and drilling are central to Wairiri’s Otago exploration work.
People and experience
Wairiri combines senior exploration leadership with locally based field capability.
More than 25 years of exploration and project experience, including approximately three years managing Santana Minerals exploration as the Bendigo–Ophir project advanced through sustained drilling and resource growth.
View Hamish's profile →Central Otago-based exploration geologist with Bendigo–Ophir field experience, supporting mapping, sampling, drilling and traceable geological data collection.
View Joe's profile →Field personnel and specialist subcontractors can be assembled to suit programme scale, terrain, drilling method and project stage.
Explore our capabilitiesMineral systems
Otago's mineral systems require careful integration of structure, lithology, alteration, geochemistry, historic information and drilling evidence.
Target generation and exploration support in structurally controlled Otago Schist-hosted gold systems, from historic data review through drilling and model refinement.
Field recognition, UV techniques, geological interpretation, sampling and target development for scheelite-bearing systems associated with Otago exploration.
Geological review, field investigation and integrated targeting where antimony mineralisation forms part of the wider structural and mineral-system framework.
Otago exploration
Wairiri can support opportunity review, permitting, fieldwork, drilling, geological interpretation and project delivery.