Vertex Minerals Limited advised that they have overlayed the LiDAR data, from the 2022 LiDAR survey, over known geological structures to provide clear and concise gold targets on their Hargrave and Hill End tenements. Vertex Minerals contracted Aerometrex Ltd. to undertake a LiDAR and Aerial Photographic survey in during the month of September covering an area of 162km2. The Hargraves and Hill End properties were surveyed with LiDAR and 10cm colour RGB aerial photography.

The LiDAR was processed to yield a high resolution 50cm ground DTM. A high end RIEGL VQ-780ii Sensor was used for the survey. The LiDAR was flown with and minimum average 20 points per square metre with flying height of 1,000 metres to ensure 10 centimetre vertical accuracy.

GeoCloud Analytics was contracted to undertake a detailed interpretation of the data, documenting historical mining evidence and mapping observed structures. The identification and accurate mapping of historical mining activity adds to the existing Government mines database and assist with correctly geo-locating Vertex's database of historical maps and sample data. The LiDAR identification of workings will benefit Vertex in two ways - better understanding of mineralisation and survey accurate location facilitating efficient prospecting.

The Survey accurate location of historical workings identified in the LiDAR data gives Vertex Field staff confidence to plan and prospect. Despite best efforts of Government and Vertex compilation of mining activity from records and historical maps, the data is only as good as the map makers and cartographers creating them. The LiDAR data being tied to local survey benchmarks is highly accurate, giving Vertex staff 100% confidence the mapped mining activity is `where it is'.

The mapped workings provided the Vertex Geology team greater insight into the extent of mineralization and prevalence of folded structures within the project. This data has provided numerous targets for field follow-up assessment for drill priority. The LiDAR data has been reprocessed to extract and highlight the dormant detail within, to produce an enhanced hillshade.

The enhanced hillshade was consumed in 3D and draped on the DTM facilitating detailed interpretation- allowing the identification of structures such as structure, old workings, faults, silicious structures and outcrop. The source point clouds used to produce the DEM are interrogated via machine learning to locate pits and shafts. These features are mapped and further processed with cluster analysis to automate the generation of pit-chain strike vectors for structural trend study.

Reprocessing of the DEM allows greater definition of bush access tracks and old drill pads, potentially enabling Vertex to minimize civil earthworks for drill site access and reduce environmental impact by re-using existing tracks and roads in the area.