Two adjoining licence areas located ~ 40 km north-east of Leigh Creek township, in the ranges lying immediately east of the Telford coal basin, are being explored for possible economic occurrences of marble rock which are believed to hold enormous...
Two adjoining licence areas located ~ 40 km north-east of Leigh Creek township, in the ranges lying immediately east of the Telford coal basin, are being explored for possible economic occurrences of marble rock which are believed to hold enormous commercial potential within local and export market places. Other targets recognised in the area are probable gold and base metal deposits associated with diapiric structures, mafic intrusive rocks and altered Proterozoic carbonate rocks. The marble is located within the Balcanoona Formation and the top section of the Tapley Hill Formation. Gold and base metals are associated with the western end of the Boolooroo Diapir; however, there is also the potential for carbonate hosted base metals within the Balcanoona Formation e.g. Jeremiah Copper workings. During the first year of joint annual reporting, exploration on licences EL 4012 and EL 3696 first priority was to locate marble deposits suitable for exploration, secondly the exploration and investigation of magnetic anomalies associated with the “Boolooroo Diapir” and thirdly to test the potential for mineralisation within carbonate beds. Ten surface rock samples were collected from the Boolooroo Diapir area where Au and Cu mineralisation had been previously mined. Samples were taken from gossanous or siliceous outcrops and underwent geochemical analysis for a 47-element suite. Further work was undertaken on interpreting the EM survey data collected in the previous reporting period on EL3696 [ENV11545 CNO:2038436] over the Boolooroo Diapir/Goldfields magnetic anomaly, with a suggested depth from surface of 150 m. The search for marble saw several polished core sections polished and analysed from shallow core drilling generally to a depth of 90 cm, with samples collected near to the Jeremiah copper workings [Locations and analysis of some samples is located within the body of the report]. It is noted that a limited ground magnetic survey was completed in the area around the mine workings, but nothing was found. Several shallow cored samples were taken from the Wilkawillina Limestone, with polished section photos included in the report as well as from the Balcanoona Formation and the Tapley Hill Formations marbles. The area covered by exploration licences EL 3696 & EL 4012 contains many deposits of marble some quite unique in colour. One of the most consistent and probably most economic deposits is the multi-coloured Cambrian age Wilkawillina Limestone bed on EL 3696 and is also located within ML 6246. This is intended to be the first marble to be quarried. It is unique in colour. A similar marble was until a few years ago quarried from the Sellicks Hill Quarry and was reported as being sold for $1,000 per tonne ex-pit. Black marble or varieties of black marble are widely found within both exploration licences. No scans are shown of the plain black variety taken from drill core in this report because the result would just obviously be a black disc. the mineral potential of the area in and around the old Boolooroo Goldfield has many obvious exploration targets. This area has the potential to contain several small but sizeable mineral deposits. With surface copper and gold occurrences in the area with obvious iron mineralisation common the probable type of deposit to be located will be an iron-oxide, copper, gold type. Mineralisation within the many carbonate beds within the licence areas cannot be ignored as potential exploration targets. The Jeremiah Copper occurrence is an immediate drilling target. During the second year of joint reporting to 8/2/2011, reporting included detailed site descriptions, photographs, and interpretation for 9 locations of coarse crystal marble identified across the tenements. During the third year of joint reporting, exploration within the Boolooroo Diapir has consisted of reconnaissance work and opportunistic grab sampling. Several carbonatite locations, for use as dimension stone or ornamental marble, have been identified across the tenements and are subject to further investigation, with a range of values listed within the report for 5 samples [no location or laboratory information is provided]. An additional site of coarse crystal marble (in addition to the 9 reported previously) was identified within the tenement group and reported. Included in the annual reporting is the mine plans for ML 6248 and ML 6247 marble quarrying operations. During the fourth year of joint reporting, an additional site of coarse crystal marble (in addition to the 10 reported previously) was identified within the tenement group and reported. During the fifth year of joint reporting, a marble resource estimate was supplied for the Wilkawillina marble resource: 3000 m long x 50 m wide x 2.7 density factor (tonne per cubic metre) = 405,000 t/m x 20 m (depth) = 8,100,000 t with an in-situ value of $100/t equalling $810,000,000, using conservative estimates of dimensions and in-situ value. Beyond discussion on historical marble usage and possible thrombolite occurrences, much of what is reported is a repeat from previous reporting period. Included in the appendices are mineralogy and petrology reports and an Indigenous heritage report, dated from previous reporting periods. [The technical reporting to this point appears to largely be a repetition of work reported previously in all the technical reports to date with the same geochemical data again submitted, with the exception of the addition of 1 or 2 locations of identified marble.] During the sixth joint reporting period, a research project supported by Outback Mable Company Pty Ltd, was undertaken on EL 4862 a part of a TAFE SA Diploma of Geoscience Field Project. The project, completed by Ben Vincent Kay entitled “Boolooroo Diapir” utilised geophysical and geochemical methods to investigate the magnetic anomalies identified previously in the state-wide AEM imagery, and the gossanous ridge that runs east-west across the tenement. Ground magnetic data was collected along roughly north-south traverse on either 100 m, 50 m, or 25 m line spacing, while the electromagnetic EM ground survey was completed over 2 regions at either 50 m or 25 m line spacing. A total of 50 rock samples and 6 soil samples (from 3 auger holes) were collected for portable XRF analysis. A second research project entitled “South West Outback Marble Research Project” was carried out by Dev-Orson Mbara, following much the same program as the “Boolooroo Diapir” project, with the aim to investigate numerous magnetic anomalies associated with what is known as the Boolooroo Diapir by using geophysical survey techniques (ground magnetics and electromagnetic) and geochemical samples analysis. The geophysical surveys were completed along 22 traverses with 50 m line spacing and readings taken every 10 m. A total of 27 geochemical samples were collected for pXRF sampling (15 soil and 12 rock). During the seventh joint reporting period, additional marble locations were identified within the tenement group and considered a part of the Tapley Hill Formation. Further research projects were completed by TAFE SA Geoscience students across the tenements investigating the Boolooroo Diapir during the reporting period, entitled “Depot Spring Station – Final Project Report 2015” by Natalia Penar and “Geological Workings of the Boolooroo Area” by Sam Dunn. Penar completed both ground magnetic and electromagnetic surveys across an area in the southern part of EL 4862, with approximately 5.5 line-km covered and 231 stations read for each survey on 500 m x 500 m grid with readings taken on a 25 m x 50 m spacing. A geochemical survey was taken on a 50 m x 50 m grid, with soil (30) and rock (3) samples collected every 10 m for pXRF analysis. Dunn’s work again utilised geophysical and geochemical methods to test the diapir proximal to “Sheepshaft” – an area where small amounts of malachite have been identified within the tailings pile. The ground magnetic and electromagnetic surveys were collected on the same 300 m x 300 m with readings taken on a 50 m x 25 m spacing. A further electromagnetic survey was undertaken with readings collected on a 350 m x 500 m grid with 50 m x 25 m reading spacing. The geochemical sampling was undertaken on a smaller 50 m x 50 m grid at 10 m spacings with 36 soil and 4 rock/grab samples collected for pXRF analysis. During the eighth joint reporting period, exploration efforts included work from geophysicist Irwan Qarana with a report entitle “Report on application magnetic data to explore IOCG type mineralisation at EL 4862”, who undertook data processing on existing ground magnetic and electromagnetic data from EL 4862, with the area thought prospective for IOCG targets with the uplifting of basement stratigraphy related to igneous intrusion and known copper and gold mineralisation in the area. TAFE SA student Alexander Lee studied the Rosemary Mine at Depot Mine as a part of their Diploma of Applied Geosciences. The Rosemary Mine produced copper in the 1900 from a series of shafts and drives and produced 7.9 tonnes of metal. Lee undertook ground magnetic and EM conductivity surveys, as well as a surface chemical survey. Both geophysical surveys used a 325 x 893 m grid with north-south transects ~50 m apart with readings taken every 10 m. Surface rock chip samples were collected at 100 m intervals. The EM survey data showed a strong correlation with the stratigraphy of the area. A total of 16 rock chip samples were collected and were analysed using XRF. Hoc Nguygen, also a TAFE SA student, completed a similar survey over the Depot Springs area proximal to the “Sheep Shaft” prospect, completing both ground magnetic and EM surveys as well as a geochemical survey. The aim of the project was to test the apparent magnetic anomaly that as identified in the previous year, coincident with the Sheep Shaft copper mine. While the identified anomaly was revealed to be a result of incorrect data entry, it was decided to still investigate the area. A grid measuring 250 x 350 m centred over the Sheep Shaft was established with both geophysical surveys completed on a 10 m spacing, 26 lines for a total of 930 readings were collected. Magnetic results were as anticipated with an anomaly in the south of the grid and decreasing to the north. The EM survey showed two distinct areas of contrasting conductivity, with high to the west and low to the east, reflective of the local geology. During the time of the TAFE SA projects it was reported to them that the lease holders of the Boolooroo Goldfield just south of the grid area, had discovered gold by digging 1 m down into the topsoil and fossicking/picking over the spread-out soil. Approximately 200 g of gold was found over 3 days. It was concluded that that the area around the Sheep Shaft does not have any detectable magnetic animalism, but the discovery of gold just to the south is encouraging for further discoveries. Outside of TAFE SA student work: An area of unidentified white siliceous out crop with white unidentified crystals growing along a joint was subject to further investigation in follow up to mineralisation within the Boolooroo Diapir. Analysis showed that the rock contained 71.6% silica, 9.95% aluminium oxide, 7.5% potassium oxide, 5.6% calcium oxide, 1.2% carbon and 0.7% iron oxide, and is a fine-grained crystalline rock with “anomalous” Ba 485 ppm and Cu 164 ppm. A 200 x 200 m EM survey was undertaken over the outcrop to correlate the subsurface and gauge the potential extent of the deposit. Consensus within the report is that the “Boolooroo Diapir” is one of brecciation caused by igneous intrusions rather than diapirism associated with plastic halites and gypsums. They say this is supported by the airborne geophysics, the surface geology, ground geophysics and mineralisation and that there is no evidence of doming in the area. It was concluded that the igneous intrusions are likely a mixture of mafic and ultramafic and this conclusion was reached from surface rock analysis returning anomalous Cu, Au, Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Ag, As and Cr. It is also supported by numerous bodies of coarse-grained carbonates within the Balcanoona Limestone that can be considered carbonatites. During the ninth joint reporting period to 8th February 2018, 3 holes were drilled for 166 m in the Boolooroo Diapir area, with hole 3 intersecting water at a very shallow depth. The holes were located to test a previously identified EM anomaly located within a “very large donut” shaped magnetic anomaly. None of the holes reached target depth nor the target zone. The magnetic anomaly is reported as being caused by magnetite, with iron mineralisation found from surface to the bottom of each hole with grades from 5% to 24% Fe. A gravity survey was completed in October 2017 by Atlas Geophysics. During the tenth joint reporting period exploration was limited to reviewing previous drilling and geophysical survey data. A field tip was taken to the site in September 2018 (see included report).