Data release - as updated [made at SA Director of Mines’ discretion] : Bimbowrie. Annual reports for the period 4/11/2009 to 11/11/2018.
Created: 12 Nov 2024 Revised: 12 Nov 2024

During licence Year 6 (2009-2010), the first year of tenure of renewed EL 4375, the main exploration activities undertaken by Sinosteel-PepinNini Curnamona Management Pty Ltd (SPCM) were to conduct two drilling campaigns, the first designed to...

During licence Year 6 (2009-2010), the first year of tenure of renewed EL 4375, the main exploration activities undertaken by Sinosteel-PepinNini Curnamona Management Pty Ltd (SPCM) were to conduct two drilling campaigns, the first designed to appraise the extent of mineralisation and to validate historical drill-based information obtained at the Mount Victoria uranium deposit, and the second to explore for an interpreted extension of the Crocker Well Original deposit's lode mineralisation towards the north-east. Downhole geophysical logging of both the appraisal diamond and exploratory RC percussion holes was undertaken to confirm mineralised sections and to provide further data. 5 inclined fully HQ cored diamond holes with a total penetration of 648.1 m were drilled at the Mount Victoria uranium deposit during November-December 2009. The drilling results confirmed the downdip continuity of the mineralised lodes, and revealed the existence of significant intervals of high grade uranium mineralisation (up to 0.49% U3O8 over 7 m) having associated highly anomalous total (to 2.23%) HREE and LREE content (Dy + Er + Yb + Gd + Eu + Ho + Lu + Tb + Tm). However, the intercept grades and thicknesses within the Main Lode System (Main, Central and South lodes) also appeared to be highly variable over short distances. In November 2009, 5 inclined RC percussion holes with a total penetration of 500 m were drilled at the Crocker Well Original uranium deposit , near where past exploratory drilling had returned intercepts of 17 m @ 270 ppm U from 14 m depth, and 6 m @ 303 ppm U from 23 m depth. However, the latest RC drilling failed to replicate these historic intercepts, and did not define any north-east extension to the Crocker Well Original mineralisation. Most of the drill cuttings sample assays gave 2000 counts per second) readings being recorded in the field by handheld scintillometers at airborne radiometric anomaly sites. Grab sampling (5 samples) of outcrop and mullock heaps at the abandoned historic Mount Victoria copper mine returned minor anomalous values of copper and gold only. Laboratory assay results were received for 623 downhole samples which had been submitted by SPCM for re-analysis due to its recognition of unacceptable discrepancies in the QA/QC processes for previous drillhole sampling done at the Crocker Well Uranium Project. The new assay results were accepted, allowing the project dataset to be technically validated in preparation for the planned back calculation of a JORC (2004) compliant resource. In December 2009, because of prevailing economic and uranium market conditions, a decision was made by the joint venture partners to delay the completion of a Bankable Feasibility Study for the development of the Crocker Well uranium deposit. In April 2010, an independent JORC compliant estimate of the mining recoverable uranium resources of the four Crocker Well uranium deposits was completed by specialist consultants Hellman and Schofield. The total Inferred and Indicated Mineral Resources then stood at 4.75 Mt @ 513 ppm U3O8 using a 300 ppm U3O8 cutoff grade, that is equivalent to 2434 t of contained metal. During licence Year 7, work by SPCM comprised: - commissioning a consultant's geological and structural interpretation of aeromagnetic and radiometric data, and selection of possible targets. From this, it was realised that EL 4375 may be prospective for magnetite iron ore associated with the Braemar Iron Formation, since a significant aeromagnetic anomaly with source attributed to this unit was recognised to lie within the Bimbowrie Conservation Park. However, because the flight lines for the existing 2009 airborne magnetic survey dataset are aligned approximately parallel to the unit's strike, another detailed low level helicopter magnetic survey may need to be conducted to properly define the aeromagnetic anomaly and allow more detailed interpretation to be carried out. Performing this extra survey will be dependent on results from the upcoming RC drilling programme; - acquisition of a 4 line km ground magnetic survey involving readings made along two traverses over the possible Braemar magnetite target, followed by the modelling and interpretation of profiles of the magnetic data; - preparation and submission to PIRSA/DEH of a detailed DEF for planned RC drilling to be done within the Bimbowrie Conservation Park; and - the conduct of aboriginal heritage protection work area clearance surveys of the proposed drill traverse locations. During licence Year 8, in two stages during December 2011 and February 2012, SPCM drilled 10 inclined exploratory RC holes for 1553 m along two traverses to test the Bimbowrie magnetite prospect. This drilling revealed the presence of a significant iron resource, although DTR processing of selected iron-rich drill cuttings samples showed that even with fine head fraction grind sizes the levels of trash mineral contamination within the magnetite concentrates remained at unacceptable levels. From 189 processed samples, at a 38 microns grind size, the average DTR recovery was 13.3% from an average head grade of 20.2% Fe, giving an average concentrate grade of 67.28% Fe, with an average SiO2 grade of 5.8%. 256 composited drill cuttings samples taken from 5-metre hole intervals were submitted for laboratory multi-element assaying, but no anomalous trace metal values were returned. In view of the disappointing ironstone sample analysis results, the perceived potential of the Bimbowrie prospect was downgraded, and no further work there was envisaged. No uranium exploration was done during the reporting year, because of deteriorating uranium market factors affecting existing producers and intending ones. A Retention Lease was pegged over the Crocker Well Uranium Field (RL no. 126 - later surrendered on 15/12/2016). During licence Year 9, field activity was limited to collecting 7 rock chip geochemical samples of outcrops of iron formations, with the majority taken at the Plumbago DSO ironstone prospect. Assaying them for an iron-related element suite indicated that the surface material from Plumbago was of high grade, with few contaminants. Consequently, SPCM proceeded to conduct an aboriginal heritage protection work area clearance survey at the prospect in order to be able to drill test it. In September 2012, a detailed helicopter-borne aerial magnetic survey was flown for SPCM over the Curnamona joint venture's westwards-adjoining EL 4965 Mount Victor. Part of the survey's coverage (amounting to 2462.4 line km) extended onto the subject EL 4375 along its far western side. The north-south flight lines were 100 m apart and the sensor mean terrain clearance was 30 m. The full survey operations report, and a relevant subset of the raw digital data, were provided to DMITRE as part of the 2012-2013 annual report for this tenement [and are included herein]. During licence Year 10, in July 2014, SPCM undertook test RC drilling of the Plumbago DSO ironstone prospect via 13 inclined holes for 1374 m. 396 drill cuttings samples taken from 1-metre hole intervals were submitted for laboratory assaying of an iron-related element suite. Only hole RC14PLU004 returned assay values of interest, thus significantly downgrading the prospect's potential. The lode in general was weakly developed, and had been downfolded on its northern end to a greater depth. A further two rock chip samples of magnetite ironstone outcrop collected from near Mount Victoria were submitted for laboratory iron-related element suite assaying, and were of high grade, with few contaminants. During licence Year 11, on renewed EL 5571 Bimbowrie, Sinosteel Uranium did little work, but submitted 2 RC drillhole samples from Plumbago prospect and 1 rock chip sample from outcrop on Alconie Hill for petrographic examinations. The Alconie Hill rock sample was described as a strongly albite altered granodiorite containing abundant epidote, sphene and biotite replacing former ferromagnesian minerals. It has nearly 60% albite, and shows possible albitised granophyric textures. Magnetite grains in the sample are idioblastic and inclusion-free, and are partly altered to haematite along cleavage traces. The two drill cuttings samples were both taken from hole RC14PLU010 from the intervals 35-36 m downhole and 60-61 m downhole. The former was described as a plagioclase-biotite(-quartz) gneiss with fabric-forming biotite and retrograde chlorite and muscovite. It has abundant sodic plagioclase, suggesting that it forms part of the “sodic sequence” observed in the region. It was thought to possibly have originally been a fine grained sediment, possibly evaporitic in nature. The second sample was described as a banded metasediment dominated by plagioclase, quartz and biotite. The biotite is once again fabric forming, as well as being pleochroic and partially replaced by chlorite. During licence Years 12, 13 and 14, no work was done. Some pre-existing data was collated and prepared for further assessment. During Year 14 a reconnaissance trip involving iron formation outcrop tracking was undertaken, however no samples were taken.

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About this record

Record No mesac27011
Topic Geoscientific Information
Type of Resource Document
Category Type
Document Type Mineral Company Report - Mineral Exploration
Contributor Hellman and Schofield Pty Ltd;Borehole Wireline Pty Ltd;Geosolutions Pty Ltd;Teale & Associates Pty Ltd
Sponsor Sinosteel PepinNini Curnamona Management Pty Ltd;Sinosteel Uranium SA Pty Ltd
Tenement
Tenement Holder PepinNini Resources Curnamona Pty Limited;Sinosteel Uranium SA Pty Ltd
Operator Sinosteel PepinNini Curnamona Management Pty Ltd
Geological Province Curnamona Province
Mine Name Mount Victoria uranium deposit;Crocker Well uranium deposit;Crocker Original lode;NE Extension prospect
Stratigraphy
Commodity
Notes
Notes: This release to the public of the subject mineral exploration data, namely, company data which was acquired more than 5 years ago, is being done by DMITRE in accord with the provisions of Section 77D of the Mining Act 1971 and Regulation 88...

Notes: This release to the public of the subject mineral exploration data, namely, company data which was acquired more than 5 years ago, is being done by DMITRE in accord with the provisions of Section 77D of the Mining Act 1971 and Regulation 88 of the Mining Regulations 2011. On 22/9/2014, Curnamona Project joint venturer PepinNini Resources Curnamona Pty Limited transferred its 40% interest in the project to Sinosteel Uranium SA Pty Ltd, giving the latter full ownership of the two licences then comprising the project ground. Includes: - Gatehouse, S.G., April 2010. Recoverable resource estimates, Crocker Well Uranium Project (Hellman and Schofield consultant's report for SPCM). Appx 15 to EL 4375 annual report to 11/11/2010. 58 pages, 31 fig, 6 ref, 12 tables; - Isles, D., 29/11/2010. Memorandum re. interpretation of airborne magnetic and radiometric survey data and [future] targeting [suggestions] (Southern Geoscience Consultants report for SPCM). Appx 1 of EL 4375 seventh annual report to 11/11/2011. 20 pages, figures, 1 table. Geographic Locality: North-western Olary Ranges;Bimbowrie Station;Plumbago Station;Bimbowrie Conservation Park;2012 Mount Victor Aerial Magnetic (helimag) Survey [part] Doc No: Env 11089 Drillhole: DD09MTV001 -DD09MTV005;(275710 - 275714);RC09NEX001 - RC09NEX005;(296008 - 296012);RC11BIM001 - RC11BIM005;(346799 - 346803);RC12BIM001 - RC12BIM005;(346804 - 346808);RC14PLU001 - RC14PLU013;(287570)

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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/mesac27011
Citation Rava, B.;Xu, X.;Gatehouse, S.G.;Brewer, A.M.;van Dongen, L.;Teale, G.S.;Guan, T. Data release - as updated [made at SA Director of Mines’ discretion] : Bimbowrie. Annual reports for the period 4/11/2009 to 11/11/2018. Mineral Company Report - Mineral Exploration
https://pid.sarig.sa.gov.au/document/mesac27011

Technical information

Status
Maintenance and Update Frequency
Geographic Reference GDA2020 (EPSG:7844)
Geo bounding box {"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[139.5,-32.5],[140.5,-32.5],[140.5,-31.5],[139.5,-31.5],[139.5,-32.5]]]}
Purpose

                    
                    

                    
                  
Lineage