The
Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences' Mineral Resources Programme is
currently carrying out research under two major projects:

HAREM (Hauraki Andesite Rhyolite
Epithennal Mineralisation)
The Hauraki Goldfield lies within a
belt of andesite-dacite-rhyolite volcanics of Miocene Pliocene age which is
underlain by a basement of Mesozoic greywacke. It contains some 50 separate
epithermal gold deposits and is a world-class gold and silver producer. The
HAREM project is aimed at improving models of the epithermal gold
mineralisation, and to better understand the processes and controls of origin,
transport and deposition of the gold.

MARGO -
(Marlborough Gold)
The MARGO project is aimed at determining the
geological factors that controlled the formation of the Mesozoic mesothermal
gold-antimony-tungsten deposits in the Marlborough Schist belt. Following
reconnaissance work on 12 deposits, our current work is concentrated on deposits
in the Wakamarina valley.