Seeking resource discovery, growth and opportunity

Following graduation from University of Queensland (BSc Geol) in 1967, Adrian worked as an underground geologist in the Rosebery mine in Tasmania, gaining knowledge in mining practises and the geology of volcanogenic base metal (VMS) deposits. This experience proved valuable in far Nth Qld when recognising and evaluating the copper-zinc massive sulphide prospects of Mt Molloy and Dianne in the Palmer River region, culminating in the drilling and definition of a resource in the latter from which ~60,000 tonnes of 23.5% copper direct smelting supergene ore of was shipped from Cairns to a smelter in Japan in 1980.

At that time Adrian was based in Mareeba, NQ, which allowed assessment of many old mines and prospects in a region ranging from Townsville to Coen and west to Croydon, and this work led to a number of joint ventures with major exploration companies by the application of new genetic concepts to historical mining camps. He has personally owned and operated alluvial tin, gold and sapphire operations. Adrian is very familiar with industrial minerals, mining, quarrying and has been mine manager and is an active Senior Site Executive (SSE) on a number of mining and exploration sites.

Experience in uranium and rare earth elements (REEs) was acquired in the Mt Isa and Tanami Desert (WA) districts in the early 1970s, followed by the discovery of a new uranium prospect in the Einasleigh River area in NQ. Subsequently in 2010 he supervised detailed drilling programmes on the Killi Killi Hills REE prospects in WA on the NT border, when Orion Metals Ltd evaluated the significance of xenotime mineralisation in basal conglomerates of the PreCambrian Gardiner Sandstone.

During the early 1990s he was appointed Resident Manager of the Cracow gold mine for 4 years until closure. Under his management the mine’s geological team compiled a comprehensive database which encouraged the involvement of Newcrest Mining Ltd which, after successfully defining new ore resources, eventually took control of the mine.

During the mid-1990s he supervised the construction and commissioning of the Mt Kasi gold mine on Vanua Levu in Fiji, a project of similar size to Cracow. During the 1990s he made a number of field visits to mining areas in Chihuahua, Mexico in search of heap leachable epithermal silver deposits. After confirmatory drilling of the concept on one target, the project was joint ventured to a US-based company specialising in silver exploration and mining.

He was a founding director of Queensland Gold & Minerals Ltd which listed on the ASX in January 2007, and subsequently renamed Orion Metals Ltd, which actively explored for gold and REEs until takeover by foreign interests. Mr Day is currently a Director of private companies, gold-copper focused Prophet Resources Pty Ltd, industrial minerals focused ICQPL and his private geological consulting company Australian Asiatic Gems Pty Ltd (established 1994).

Adrian has always been keen on promoting Queensland’s mineral endowment and has participated in privately funded mineral exploration and corporate development. He negotiated mineral access agreements with NQ Native Title Owners in NQ, and has been heavily involved in fostering commercial working relationships with traditional owners and governments in foreign lands – e.g. Sri Lanka, Mexico, Fiji, West Timor and Cambodia. Consequently he is deeply respectful of the social and environmental obligations associated with mineral exploration and subsequent mine developments.

Andrew is a highly experienced geologist, having 35 years’ experience and over 20 years combined experience as an ASX company director (much of which as an executive director) of ASX listed junior resource companies, providing for a strong resource and mineral exploration, project generation, company management, project management & feasibility, project development, mining, capital raising, governance and corporate background.

Andrew has extensive experience across a range of mineral and resource projects, much of this experience gained throughout Queensland. Andrew and small team of professionals successfully listed Metallica Minerals Ltd on the ASX in 2004 and subsidiaries Cape Alumina Limited and MetroCoal Limited in 2009 (these companies have since merged to become Metro Mining Limited, a successful bauxite producer).

His key strength is strategic planning, specialising in project generation, mineral exploration and acquisition. He has been instrumental in the selection and acquisition of all the mineral assets held by Industrial Commodities Qld Pty Ltd (ICQPL), Prophet Resources Pty Ltd and his previous positions in listed companies, notably Metallica.

He graduated from the University of Queensland in 1985 and has been a Member of the AusIMM from 1989. He has worked continuously as a geologist in the exploration and mining industry.

Andrew was a Founding and Executive Director of Metallica Minerals in 1997, listing the company on the ASX in 2004. He retired from the Managing Director position in July 2015 and then retired as a director in June 2017. At the Metallica General Meeting on 1 February 2019, Andrew along with two Brisbane based experienced professionals were elected by the shareholders to the Metallica Board replacing the previous Metallica Board. Andrew later retired from the board of Metallica on 31 August 2021 to focus more on his private company and family interests.

Andrew was also previously a director of other ASX listed junior companies, Cape Alumina Limited, MetroCoal Limited, Orion Metals Limited and Planet Metals Limited and was previously a Director of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

Previously (80’s-90s), he has been a company geologist with BHP Gold Mines Ltd, Perseverance Corp. Ltd (Nagambie Gold Mine) and Cracow Mining Venture as well as a consulting geologist for Valdora Minerals N.L., Auralia Resources N.L and International Pursuit Corp.

Andrew has had considerable experience in gold, base metals, nickel laterites, bauxite, mineral sands, coal; plus industrial minerals such silica sand, magnetite, quarry rock and limestone – predominantly in Queensland.

Mr Gillies is currently a Director of private companies, gold-copper focused Prophet Resources Pty Ltd, industrial minerals focused ICQPL and his private geological consulting company Golden Breed Pty Ltd (established 1993).