Oceana Gold has identified six new potential gold targets at its open pit West Coast mine near Reefton, including one which could lead to underground mining in the area.
Chief executive Paul Bibby said since starting the brownfields exploration programme during the second half of 2009, Oceana had "significantly increased" the Reefton exploration team to 13 geologists and field assistants.
"These encouraging results from Reefton, combined with the more than 120,000 ounces of reserves that were added in December 2009, are a very good start to this brownfields exploration programme," he said.
Last year, Oceana produced a record 300,391oz of gold, of which 29%, or 87,342oz were extracted from Reefton.
Mr Bibby said geologists had identified several extensions to the gold mineralisation at the General Gordon, Souvenir and Empress deposits and diamond drilling of "six near mine highly prospective targets started earlier this month".
Oceana's Reefton permits cover more than 95% of the historic two-million-ounce, hard-rock production goldfield which stretches for more than 30km.
