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Other governmental organizations of Mineral Resources

Metal Mining Agency of Japan (MMAJ)

Under the policy of the Mining Division of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, the Metal Mining Agency of Japan, a semigovernmental organization, is executing the domestic and overseas mineral exploration, financial assistance for Japanese mining companies, stockpiling of rare metals, technological research and developments, and pollution control related to the mining activities.

The domestic mineral exploration program by MMAJ consists of regional and detailed geological surveys, including geochemical and geophysical surveys, and drilling and tunneling surveys. The program has additional styles of surveys available for rare metal resources. In FY 1996, regional and detailed geological surveys will be undertaken in 8 and 4 selected districts respectively. One of the major targets of the regional survey is the Seta area of the Northern Hokkaido district. Many gold-bearing quartz veins have been discovered by drillings conducted by MMAJ in this area. After discovery of a vein, 18 m in width, with ore grades of 8 g/t of Au and 110 g/t of Ag in FY 1993, the vein was confirmed to become bigger by the drillings of FY 1995; 19 m and 27 m in width with ore grades of 5 g/t Au and 63 g/t Ag, and 2.8 g/t Au and 28 g/t Ag respectively. As to the detailed survey, the Hida district including the Kamioka mine area looks very promising for Pb, Zn exploration. A drillhole of this program in 1993 intersected a large mineralized zone of 13.4 % Zn with a width of 44.4 m. Following this result the tunneling survey started in FY 1994 and will reach the 884 m-point from the initial one at the end of FY 1996; the confirmed mineralized zone by the drilling is located near a 1000 m-point.

The overseas mineral exploration program of the MMAJ started in FY 1970 as a technical cooperation for mineral exploration in developing countries. In FY 1996, the MMAJ program will be carried out in 22 overseas mineral exploration projects in 21 countries, including 9 Asian countries, and 1 project finding survey for prospective mineralization. The overseas mineral exploration projects involve 7 new programs, carried out in 6 countries; Mongolia, Vietnam, Philippines, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Honduras. In Chile projects, ENAMI and CODELCO are counterpart companies and the geological survey team of MMAJ will participate in one project of them from this year. As part of mineral exploration projects, follow-up surveys on completed projects are provided. Although 3 follow-up survey projects are planned in FY 1996, the project areas are not yet decided.

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