A small area centred ~30 km north-northeast of Leigh Creek and the central Telford Basin coalfields, has been explored for possible economic diapir-related stratabound occurrences of base metals and gold. During the first licence year, the only...
A small area centred ~30 km north-northeast of Leigh Creek and the central Telford Basin coalfields, has been explored for possible economic diapir-related stratabound occurrences of base metals and gold. During the first licence year, the only on-ground field activity consisted of making a preliminary surface geochemical survey of the licence area, using portable XRF spectrometric scanning equipment to obtain semi-quantitative assay data from 425 soil samples collected at 100 m intervals along 15 reconnaissance traverses spaced ~200 m apart. In addition, 5 grab rock chip samples were collected from above a synclinal fold axis near the centre of the licence and submitted for laboratory assaying. Two samples taken from pits near the railway line showed high copper values, 4.1% Cu and 3% Cu respectively, and elevated (+100 ppm) arsenic. A consultant was engaged to perform an office-based image interpretation of Landsat and Quickbird satellite spectral data, to try to identify any prospective structural features and mineral alteration zones. He identified that the licence area is transected by late north-west orientated faults and by multiple secondary north-east and west-northwest trending minor faults and shear zones, many being associated with diapiric features to the east of the Lobe C mine in the Leigh Creek Coalfield. A belt of intense veining and mineral alteration was observed to extend for >5 km to the north-west of Mount Telford. 17 discrete sites of surface bedrock alteration were picked by examining processed multiband ratio spectral datasets. During licence Year 2, in May 2010, part of a detailed fixed-wing airborne magnetic and radiometric survey was acquired over EL 4215, this survey covering multiple licences then held by Panda Mining within the Adelaide Geosyncline. More than 1000 line km was surveyed along north-south flight lines spaced 100 m apart, with a nominal 45 m ground clearance of the geophysical sensors. The new magnetic and radiometric data were interpreted by consultant David Isles, who identified many small targets for suggested ground geophysical follow-up. Mostly these targets are diapir-related. A prospect area close to the coalfield where trace surface secondary copper mineralisation was seen was mapped in detail, and soil pXRF geochemical scans were made at sample sites spaced 25 m apart along traverses 100 m apart. No clues as to the extent or controls on mineralisation were found. This occurrence may lie within an exotic block emplaced via diapirism. A small ?folded barite occurrence near Yellow Cliff Tank was examined and grab sampled, and gossanous quartz veins near the margins of the barite bodies were sampled for gold assaying. During licence Year 3, no work was done. During licence Year 4, preparatory to planned drilling at the Coal Field prospect, a Native Title aboriginal heritage protection clearance survey was conducted in November 2012, and a PEPR was submitted to DMITRE explaining the proposed 2-hole campaign. During licence Year 3, no work was done. The planned drilling did not proceed. During licence Year 6, soil geochemical sampling was performed on a 100 m x 100 m grid covering the general vicinity of the Coal Field prospect, with 442 samples submitted for laboratory partial leach multi-element analysis [no interpretation of the assay results was provided to DMITRE]. At the end of the year, it was decided to allow tenure to lapse.
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