University of Tasmania, Australia

A new project commenced in October that extends the research until at least 2014. The new initiative builds on the methods and techniques developed during previous work in the region, while expanding the research in terms of its geological scope and geographical footprint, which now includes the whole of mainland SE Asia and Sumatra.

The new project aims to:

• Undertake a regional tectonic and metallogenic analysis of the mineralised fold belts in mainland SE Asia.
• Perform deposit-scale studies to characterise important ore deposits.
• Provide sponsor companies with an increased understanding
  of ore deposit location, formation and evolution in the region.
• Gain a new understanding of the geological and tectonic events that formed ores deposits in SE Asia.
• Establish a new, well-constrained, dated, and documented geological framework to enable better exploration targeting in
  SE Asia.

The following volcanic/magmatic belts have been proposed for detailed study in relation to Cu-Au-Mo and Pb-Zn-Cu-Ag metallogeny:

• Sibumasu (Si=Siam, Bu=Burma, Ma=Malaysia, Su=Sumatra) terrane.
• Kratie-Dalat Fold Belt in Cambodia and Vietnam.
• Northern and southern margin of Truong Son Fold Belt in Laos
  and Vietnam.
• Martabe-Miwah-Monywa belt in west Myanmar and Sumatra.
• Northern and southern extension of the Loei Fold Belt in Cambodia.
• Sukothai and Chiang Mai Fold Belts in Thailand, Myanmar, the eastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and Yunnan.
• Song Ma (Ailaoshan) Suture in NW Vietnam and Yunnan.
• Bentong-Raub Suture in Malaysia.
• Borneo terrane in East Malaysia.

In 2011, reconnaissance field work and sampling were carried out at the Mount Popa volcano in the Monywa-Wuntho belt, Myanmar, to determine the episode and timing of volcanic eruption and mineralisation.

In addition, preliminary field programs were undertaken in Cambodia and East Malaysia.