Mulga Well. Annual reports to licence expiry/full surrender, for the period 22/6/2004 to 21/6/2009.
Created: 12 Nov 2024 Revised: 12 Nov 2024

An area located close to the western margin of the Stuart Shelf, approximately 90-120 km south-west of the Olympic Dam deposit, and extending parallel to it for 65 km, was taken up by Marathon Resources (Marathon) to explore for possible economic...

An area located close to the western margin of the Stuart Shelf, approximately 90-120 km south-west of the Olympic Dam deposit, and extending parallel to it for 65 km, was taken up by Marathon Resources (Marathon) to explore for possible economic IOCG mineralisation hosted by Mesoproterozoic Gawler Range Volcanics (GRV) and Hiltaba Suite granites. Two small outcrops of Mesoproterozoic sediments belonging to the Tarcoola and ?Labyrinth formations, located at the north-western end of EL 3211, are the only known exposures of pre-Jurassic bedrock. Only three previous drillholes exist in this area, all of which penetrated the GRV and ended while still within its upper to middle section. It was believed by Marathon that an inferred underlying sequence of oxidised basal GRV and mafic/intermediate and acid volcanics, regarded as equivalent to the Olympic Dam host sequence, could hold untested IOCG potential. Initial work undertaken by Marathon comprised semi-regional gravity surveying and the collection and assaying of reconnaissance surface calcrete and soil samples. The gravity acquisition took place during May-June 2005, when 1137 stations were read along 39 lines to form an 800 m x 400 m grid. The calcrete sampling (222 samples) was undertaken during June 2005 on a 1 km triangular grid spacing, and the MMI soil sampling during July 2005 along gravity traverses (337 samples taken at 100 m intervals). During April-May 2006 an additional 550 gravity stations were read by Haines Surveys, also on a nominal spacing of 800 m E-W and 400 m N-S. Additionally, processing of the 1137 stations acquired in 2005 was completed. All of the new gravity data plus the gravity and aeromagnetic datasets from previous surveys were subsequently sent to Adelaide Mining Geophysics for re-modelling to produce revised gravity images and combined magnetic and gravity images. A number of exploration targets were identified by Marathon from interpretation of the geophysical data covering its EL 3211 and the adjoining Coondambo EL 2819 licence located immediately to the south, in which it has a major interest. The surface geochemical programme also successfully identified localities with elevated Au values. In the third licence year, regional geochemical sampling was continued to further refine possible IOCG target areas. 970 calcrete samples were collected on a 200 m triangular spacing across a regional grid, and submitted for multi-element analysis of 48 elements including gold. Follow-up soil sampling (686 samples) was then performed in the northern part of the licence area. During May 2007, uranium exploration farminee UraniumSA flew a reconnaissance airborne electromagnetic (REPTEM) survey across EL 3211, for a total of 351 line km along flight lines spaced 2 km apart, with a nominal 35 m mean terrain clearance for the sensor array, to try to define palaeodrainage features which may be part of the Kingoonya Palaeochannel. During August 2007, two exploratory vertical aircore holes for a total penetration of 187 m were drilled, seeking to confirm palaeochannel boundaries and to establish the local cover stratigraphy at conductivity anomalies interpreted from the AEM survey data. Hand-held spectrometer readings were taken over the drill cuttings samples and used to select sample intervals to send for assaying. No further field work ensued for twelve months, while Native Title land access negotiations were completed to allow free access to exploration targets identified from geophysical and drilling data. Early in 2008, Marathon made plans to drill three RC/diamond cored holes on an IOCG target located 4 km north of Mulga Well Bore 2. During July-August 2008, 23 vertical rotary mud holes for 1138 m were drilled by UraniumSA along traverses located in the north-western corner of the licence area, and were downhole geophysically logged with the company's own natural gamma ray probe and SP-resistivity electrical sonde. No more field work took place subsequently, owing to a newly imposed denial of land access for mineral exploration onto the subject portion of the Woomera Prohibited Area. After lengthy but unsuccessful discussions had ensued between the SA Government and the Commonwealth Department of Defence, aiming to resolve the impasse, the licensees decided not to renew tenure for a second five-year term.

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About this record

Record No mesac24933
Topic Geoscientific Information
Type of Resource Document
Category Type
Document Type Mineral Company Report - Mineral Exploration
Contributor Haines Surveys Pty Ltd;Adelaide Mining Geophysics Pty Ltd;GPX Airborne Pty Ltd
Sponsor Marathon Resources Ltd;UraniumSA Ltd
Tenement EL 3211
Tenement Holder Marathon Resources Ltd;Gingertom Resources Pty Ltd
Operator Marathon Resources Ltd;UraniumSA Ltd
Geological Province
Mine Name
Stratigraphy
Commodity
Notes
Notes: On 18/7/2006 Gingertom Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UraniumSA Ltd, signed a farm-in and joint venture agreement with Marathon Resources, enabling it to earn a 70% interest in any palaeochannel uranium mineralisation discovered on...

Notes: On 18/7/2006 Gingertom Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UraniumSA Ltd, signed a farm-in and joint venture agreement with Marathon Resources, enabling it to earn a 70% interest in any palaeochannel uranium mineralisation discovered on EL 3211 by conducting exploration for said mineralisation, with Marathon to retain the rights to other minerals. Only basic exploration data has been provided to PIRSA by the JV partners: no interpretative material has been reported. Geographic Locality: North-eastern Gawler Ranges;Bon Bon Station;Mulga Well Outstation;Coondambo Station;Kingoonya Palaeochannel;Glendambo;Woomera Prohibited Area;2005 Mulga Well Gravity Survey;2006 Mulga Well Gravity Survey;2007 Tarcoola Aerial EM Survey [part];2007 Tarcoola Aerial Magnetic Survey [part] Doc No: Env 11039 Drillhole: KYAC010;(339964);KYAC011;(339965);KYM025 - KYM047;(360483 - 360505)

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Language English
Metadata Standard ISO 19115-3

Citations

Use constraints License
License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
Persistent identifier https://pid.sarig.sa.gov.au/document/mesac24933
Citation Younger, A.;Hanneson, J.E.;Blythman, R.;Freytag, J.;Galloway-Warland, N. Mulga Well. Annual reports to licence expiry/full surrender, for the period 22/6/2004 to 21/6/2009. Mineral Company Report - Mineral Exploration
https://pid.sarig.sa.gov.au/document/mesac24933

Technical information

Status
Maintenance and Update Frequency
Geographic Reference GDA2020 (EPSG:7844)
Geo bounding box {"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[135,-31.5],[136,-31.5],[136,-30.5],[135,-30.5],[135,-31.5]]]}
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