As part of a renewed search for possible buried economic volcanogenic or epigenetic stratiform copper oxide or copper carbonate deposits, thought to be associated with poorly exposed fault structures and related hydrothermal alteration of...
As part of a renewed search for possible buried economic volcanogenic or epigenetic stratiform copper oxide or copper carbonate deposits, thought to be associated with poorly exposed fault structures and related hydrothermal alteration of Adelaidean bedrock in the Eudunda district, the current licensee undertook a detailed review of previous exploration, including that recently undertaken by Copper Range, inspected the local geological features in the vicinity of the abandoned historic Kapunda copper mine, and performed a soil geochemical reconnaissance survey across the licence area using three different portable hand-held XRF analytical instruments (Niton XL3T, Innov-X Omega 6000 and Innov-X Delta DP4000 : total of 4649 plus 5309 samples scanned during 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 respectively, on a roughly 3 km x 20 m grid closing in to 50 m x 20 m over anomalies of interest). One significant anomalous copper trend was identified in the centre of EL 4291, overlying a north-northeast trending structure that appears to sharply truncate strata that, 7 km to the south, host the copper mineralisation at Kapunda. This area also exhibits a modest arsenic anomaly. Another two potentially important spot copper anomalies were identified on the core of the anticlinal hinge at Tarnma, just to the north of Tothill Creek, while several other spot copper anomalies were identified adjacent to old copper workings at Brady Creek and Apoinga, and on Garden Road and Black Spring Road. During 2009-2010, 17 rock chip grab samples of mineralised ground were collected and assayed, hand-held magnetic susceptibility measurements were taken over broad sections of outcrop of a suite of rocks forming the region's bedrock stratigraphic package, and all pre-existing geophysical data were reviewed and reprocessed. That new information, combined with the available recorded geological and geochemical data, were then used to reinterpret the solid geology of the tenements and to generate targets for exploratory RAB drilling. In late February 2010, Phoenix retained Groundprobe Pty Ltd to reprocess and interpret existing geophysical data over the tenement area, creating a solid geology interpretation of the entire area, and tied to magnetic susceptibility readings taken of the local stratigraphy. Reprocessed data was used for anomaly definition and target generation. A partial relinquishment of 43 square km of EL 4291 was completed on 10/11/2010. No field work was done during the 2011-2012, 2012-2013 or 2013-2014 project reporting periods. Approximately 51% of the remaining area of Bagot Well North EL 3972, or 174 square km, was partially relinquished on 5/11/2012, as a second reduction of ground then held at this licence's renewal for a second 5-year term (as EL 5169). Australia Plains EL 4503 covering 222 square km was fully surrendered on 12/12/2012. No field work was done during the 2014-2015 project reporting period. In December 2015, Bagot Well North – EL 4626, formerly of the Eudunda Group, was surrendered in full reducing the Group by 142 km2. In the 2015-2016 project reporting period, field work was resumed on the group with a small exploration program comprising landholder engagement, data review and an XRF field program. A total of 218 field portable XRF analyses were taken using the Olympus Innov-X 4000. No field work was done during the 2016-2017 project reporting period. EL 5169 was surrendered during the reporting period.
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