Dar es Salaam — Minelab, the global leader in gold detection technology and hand-held metal detector devices, has announced the establishment of a Gold Mining division to support artisanal small scale gold miners and prospectors.

The recent discovery of a 5.5kg gold nugget in Ballarat, Australia at 60cms depth by a prospector using a Minelab GPX 5000 hand-held gold detector illustrates the benefit of Minelab's cutting edge technology in the pursuit of gold, a statement from Minelab said.

The Ballarat nugget was valued in excess of $300,000.

According to the statement availed to East African Business Week in Dar es Salaam last week, the prospectors across Africa have also tasted success with the GPX5000 gold detector.

It said that recently a prospector in Mali discovered a 1.2kg gold nugget and in the past few months there were finds in Zimbabwe (1118g), Kenya (550g) and Guinea (276g) using Minelab's gold detecting technology.

Minelab launched its first hand-held gold detector in Australia in 1985 and over the past 28 years has been at the forefront of metal detector design and innovation.

Minelab's new Gold Mining division will provide dedicated support to the worldwide small scale gold mining market and its communities, the Minelab's General Manager, Mr Peter Charlesworth said.

"The new Gold Mining division consists of a specialised portfolio of products, accessories and support services which include on and off field training allowing us to provide expert advice on the best use of Minelab's gold detectors so that miners can produce results in the toughest of mineralized soil conditions, in a cost effective way and with minimal disruption to the environment," he said.

In areas where traditional subsistence mining has taken place for generations, Minelab has introduced cutting edge technology and provided training and support to enable these communities to transform their gold mining activities and their lives for the better, Mr Charlesworth said.

Across the globe Minelab's technology is making a difference to artisanal small scale gold miners by increasing efficiency, productivity and safety.

Ms Sheila Kelleher, the General Manager of Minelab's Gold Mining Division said that the mining Indaba is the perfect platform for them to launch their Gold Mining Division.