Exploration for possibly economic small deposits of agricultural grade gypsum conducted on Eyre Peninsula has located several such occurrences within the remnant evaporitic sediments of past Holocene lakebeds, and in related nearby lunette dunes....
Exploration for possibly economic small deposits of agricultural grade gypsum conducted on Eyre Peninsula has located several such occurrences within the remnant evaporitic sediments of past Holocene lakebeds, and in related nearby lunette dunes. The subject technical report on EL 3004 describes the evaluation of a newly-discovered deposit at Barna, which represents the sixth proposed surface mining venture of the Eyre Peninsula Gypsum partners, and which lies the furthest north, being situated on freehold farmland bordering the southern boundary of the Lake Gilles Conservation Park. Outcropping beds of seed gypsum found in mallee scrubland on the Kassebaum farm were assessed for their quality and likely areal extent. Chemical analysis shows that the gypsum is Grade 1 with a CaSO4.2H2O content in the range 81-90% (average 87%). Quartz sand impurity level is 8-10%, while other contaminants are of low order, especially salt at 0.03-0.15% NaCl. The in-situ indicated resources of gypsum within the easily accessible eastern part of the deposit are approximately 40,000 tonnes, while another 100,000 tonnes are inferred to lie under the more heavily treed western sector. A total in-ground resource estimate of 220,000 tonnes is stated. A proposed mining programme is presented in the report, aiming at producing 1000-5000 tonnes per year from 2004 onwards, depending on rainfall and the availability of gypsum from other deposits. Pertinent factors envisaged for environmental impact amelioration and surface mine rehabilitation are also summarised.
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