Minelab, the global leader in gold detection technology, has launched a Gold Mining division in an effort to support artisanal small scale gold miners and prospectors in Sudan, South Sudan, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Somalia.

This announcement was made at the Mining Indaba 2013 conference in Cape Town, South Africa on Wednesday.

It is understood that the recent discovery of a 5.5kg gold nugget in Ballarat, Australia at 60cms depth by a prospector using a Minelab GPX 5000 hand-held gold detector illustrates the benefit of Minelab’s cutting edge technology in the pursuit of gold. The Ballarat nugget was valued in excess of $300.000.

Prospectors across Africa have also tasted success with the GPX 5000 gold detector. Recently a prospector in Mali discovered a 1.2kg gold nugget and in the past few months there were finds in Zimbabwe (1118g), Kenya (550g) and Guinea (276g) using Minelab’s gold detecting technology.

Minelab launched its first hand-held gold detector in Australia in 1985 and over the past 28 years has been at the forefront of metal detector design and innovation.

Minelab’s new Gold Mining division will provide dedicated support to the worldwide small scale gold mining market and its communities. Peter Charlesworth, General Manager at Minelab, said: “The new Gold Mining division consists of a specialised portfolio of products, accessories and support services which include on and off field training allowing us to provide expert advice on the best use of Minelab’s gold detectors so that miners can produce results in the toughest of mineralized soil conditions, in a cost effective way and with minimal disruption to the environment.”

Sheila Kelleher, General Manager of Minelab’s Gold Mining Division, said the Mining Indaba was the perfect platform for them to launch the Gold Mining division.

“The conference attracts a global audience focused on developing and investing in an industry that affects so many people’s lives,” Kelleher said.

“We hope that Minelab’s Gold Mining contribution will continue to build the connections between Prospecting, Community and the Environment by advancing the usage of Minelab’s hand-held gold metal detector technology and in turn make a difference to the lives of the businesses and communities we work with.”

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