Introducing our New Zealand Education Endowment Trust 2024 Scholarship recipients

Li Sike - University of Otago
Postgraduate Diploma in Science 

Li is a student at the University of Otago and is undertaking her research project on “ Gold mineralisation along the contact between the Reefton Group and Greenland Group in Stony Creek, Reefton, New Zealand” This study will present mapped anomalous gold in soil and rock chips from Stony Creek, near Reefton, where mineralisation is spatially associated with the faulted contact between the Reefton Group and Greenland Group. The style of this mineralisation has yet to be characterised and it is unclear whether the fault-hosted gold is pre-Devonian and confined only to the Greenland Group and this fault has simply been reactivated where it now juxtaposes the Reefton Group against the Greenland Group; or the mineralisation is post-Devonian and extends into adjacent Reefton Group sediments. This study also has important implications for the timing of mineralisation and the potential for structurally controlled orogenic gold in the Reefton Group at Stony Creek and in other areas where the Reefton Group outcrops in the Reefton goldfield.

Hunter Hewson - University of Otago
Bachelor of Science (Geology)

Hunter is a student at the University of Otago currently pursuing a degree in geology. His third year independent research project (Geol302) is called "Antimony Mineralisation in the Carrick Range, Central Otago". The research focused on the three antimony showings in the Carrick Range, which is part of the Otago Schist Belt. There were three main objectives of the research. Identify and map the three antimony showings, create a comprehensive geological map of the surrounding area. Finally to analyse samples of antimony in the University's Scanning Electron Microscope to identify the composition of the antimony.
Hunter presented his research at the New Zealand Branch Conference in August 2024.

Jake Horne - University of Waikato
MSc Major in Earth Science

Jake is undertaking his MSc dissertation project at the University of Waikato on “Origin of volcaniclastic breccia above and adjacent to the Wharekirauponga (WKP) - EG North Rhyolite Dome”.
This project looks at the volcaniclastic breccia/lapilli tuffs and lithics above and adjacent to the WKP EG North Rhyolite Dome. This was done using core logging, petrography, and geochemistry methods to detail the characteristics of the rhyolites, breccias, and lithics. The objectives of this project were to define the different rhyolite, breccia, and lithic types and their origins.

Alicia McKean – University of Otago 
Thesis year of MSc of Geology

Alicia is a master’s student at the University of Otago. Alicia’s project is called “Structural controls on Orogenic gold in East Otago along the Cap Burn Fault” The research study is focussed on identifying the host structures in drill core to determine the structural controls and relative timing of mineralisation. Drill core will be analysed by XRF, and Assay results are used to help identify the alteration footprint around the mineralised sections. Mineralised structures and ore-bearing minerals will be analysed by reflected light petrography, SEM and LA-ICP-MS. This will allow comparisons of mineralisation styles to other large gold deposits in the region, The Hyde Macraes Shear Zone and The Rise and Shine Shear Zone. Alicia presented her research at the New Zealand Branch Conference in August 2024. 

Joe Cunningham - University of Otago
Bachelor of Science (Geology)

Joe is a student at the University of Otago currently pursuing a degree in geology, focussed on economic geology and mineral exploration. Prior to his studies, he worked as a field technician for Santana Minerals on the Bendigo Ophir gold prospect. This role ignited his passion for economic geology and motivated him to pursue a degree in the subject. Joe has immersed himself in this field, learning about the geology behind mineral deposits and gaining insights into the economic, governmental, and investing environments that shape the world of mineral exploration. In August, he presented his independent research at the New Zealand Branch Annual Conference in Wellington, earning the best student presentation award. Additionally, he recently attended the AusIMM, Young Leaders Conference and the Australian National Mining Games in Brisbane, where he competed as part of the New Zealand team.