This is the word from the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG), which has called for submissions from the exploration industry.

 

JORC is the globally respected Code - applied by most Papua New Guinean explorers - by which Australia's mineral resources sector regulates the integrity of public reporting of its results and it was last updated in 2012.

 

The Code is of particular relevance for explorers and miners listed on stock exchanges, investors, equity market commentators and regulators who oversee those companies.

 

The AIG says that all such public reporting of exploration results, mineral resources and ore reserves, has to be described within JORC's parameters and the statement signed before issue by an authorised person competent in the Code's standards.

 

Work on the update has now with an online survey seeking comment ahead of a fuller review and update of JORC next year.

 

Submissions are open online at https://bit.ly/3oSfKFh until February 12, 2021. 

 

JORC chairman Steve Hunt said the survey would be followed by a summary issues paper to be circulated at the end of April 2021. Further industry feedback would then be sought before finalisation of the updated code.

 

"We would normally have started the periodic review of JORC with public meetings of JORC stakeholders, though as with many things in 2020, this has not been possible due to the pandemic," Hunt said.

 

The update survey is open to individuals, companies and other stakeholder groups to provide feedback on the Code including their views on specific areas for review, improvement or alignment within it.

 

AIG president Andrew Waltho strongly encouraged all Institute members involved in mineral exploration, resource evaluation and mineral resource and ore reserves estimation to contribute to the survey. 

 

"Professional geoscientists are critically important stakeholders whose voices need to be heard during the JORC Code review and update process," Waltho said.