The South Australian Police concluded their search at several locations, including six mine shafts, for missing four-year-old boy Gus Lamont.
Several locations were identified following analysis of aerial mapping and imaging conducted after recent ground searches.
The inspection of the mine shafts, located between 5.5km and 12km from the Oak Park homestead, did not locate any evidence to support the investigation into Gus’ disappearance.
Several of the shafts were relatively shallow and could be visually inspected. However, some of them were up to 20m deep and specialised equipment was required to complete the search.
As previously reported, the more than 60-day-long search for Gus has propelled the issue of abandoned mines into the public consciousness.
For more than a decade, organisations such as the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) have been sending teams across the country to identify abandoned mine features.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, Western Australia’s Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) General Manager of the Abandoned Mines Program Tara Read says due to Western Australia’s vast land area – totalling 2.53 million km2 – GSWA had to limit their search.
“It took them 11 years and they managed to capture that data from within 10km of towns and 1km of major roads,” Read says.
The most recent survey, conducted by GSWA, compiled the comprehensive database, revealing there are more than 190,000 abandoned mine features throughout the state.
However, Read notes there is still a lot of data out there that has not been categorised yet.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: SA Police
