Undiscovered goldmines may lie under North's surface
Northern Ireland could be sitting on a goldmine, geologists revealed today.
A number of new sites are to be explored after a major mapping study of the North’s natural resources.
Traces of platinum have also been found in soil for the first time.
Nine exploration and mining companies have already declared they want to carry out further examinations.
Their work is expected to see at least £20m (€28m) ploughed into the local economy.
And Garth Earls, Director of Geological Survey NI, delivered an upbeat assessment of the chances of uncovering a vein of ore similar to the Galantas site near Omagh, Co Tyrone.
He said: “Will we find another precious metal mine? I would like to think we will.
“I would be disappointed if we didn’t find another bedrock gold occurrence.”
With the new detailed maps reaching depths of several kilometres, the possible presence has been found in the soil around North Down and parts of Co Londonderry.
The traces of platinum, detected in east Antrim, came as a big surprise to scientists.
Although stressing the chances of finding any significant seams were tiny, exploration firms from Canada, South Africa, Britain and Northern Ireland have taken out licenses to investigate further.
Mr Earls and other geologists will present the initial results from their Tellus Project, a geochemical and geophysical survey named after the Roman Goddess of the Earth.
Nowhere else on earth has been surveyed in such detail, they will tell a two-day conference in Belfast.
The land and airborne study into the province’s natural resources, carried out between 2004-06, is expected to have a massive impact on the economic, environmental, agricultural and health sectors.
Magnetic, electromagnetic and radiometric mapping techniques were used from low-flying aeroplanes to survey the whole of Ulster’s 14,000sq km.
And with Northern Ireland boasting arguably the world’s most diverse geology - from the Mountains of Mourne and Sperrin Lakelands to the Antrim Basalts – teams collected 31,000 soil, sediment and water samples for analysis.
The project’s £6.3m (€9m) costs were paid by the UK's department of enterprise, trade and investment (DETI), and through an EU rural development programme.
But the heavy private sector investment has already provided value for money - with a slice of any future private sector earnings.
Although gold and silver licences are issued through the Crown Estate, any companies mining platinum will have to pay 4% of their profits to DETI.
Other issues around carbon capture and storage and urban geochemistry were also explored.
Belfast, for example, was found to be less polluted than other UK cities, with lower levels of copper, arsenic, lead and zinc. It was, however, higher in chromium and nickel.
The study unearthed valuable information on Northern Ireland’s gas reserves and geothermal potential as well.
It raised the possibility of drilling down to reach water hot enough to provide heating or even generate power stations. One 3km hole in Larne reached water close to boiling point.
And in animal health selenium deficiencies, which can affect the muscles and hearts of sheep, were found to be greater in some parts of Northern Ireland.
With the researchers claiming world-class scientific information has been developed, they predict their data will be used by the British government, private sector and academics.
Nigel Dodds, the Northern Ireland Economy Minister, heralded its potential.
He said: “The geological data generated from the Tellus Project will help to develop Northern Ireland’s economy.
“All economies depend to some extent on the availability of natural resources. Development cannot take place without natural resources. Similar surveys in other countries, such as Australia, have resulted in significant increases in inward investment.”
Mr Dodds also emphasised the opportunities for future scientific research within universities and through public-private partnerships.
He added: The project will have a major informative impact on Northern Ireland’s economic, environmental, agricultural and health sectors for years to come.
“This research will make a significant contribution to the development of long term policy planning.”
