Data release - as updated [made at SA Director of Mines' discretion] : North Mulga, Wooltana and Paralana areas (Frome Basin Project). Joint annual reports for the period 24/9/2012 to 31/12/2018.
Created: 12 Nov 2024 Revised: 12 Nov 2024

The continuation of Heathgate's programme of exploration for economic buried Tertiary sediment-hosted uranium mineralisation within part of the north-western Frome Embayment during 2012-2013 has comprised exploratory drilling of 36 vertical rotary...

The continuation of Heathgate's programme of exploration for economic buried Tertiary sediment-hosted uranium mineralisation within part of the north-western Frome Embayment during 2012-2013 has comprised exploratory drilling of 36 vertical rotary mud holes for a total penetration of 11,340 m, and downhole wireline geophysical logging of all holes. The aim has been to target roll front style uranium mineralisation and redox interfaces in Eyre Formation blanket sands, as well as within palaeochannel sands and alluvial fans of the Namba Formation. Two of the holes were terminated within the target zone before reaching the underlying Cretaceous Bulldog Shale. Aerial photographic coverage of both licence areas was also acquired in March 2013. The 2012-2013 drilling done on EL 5119 North Mulga encountered only a few weakly uranium anomalous gamma ray log responses, predominantly in Namba Formation sediments. The peak recorded values here were: 0.055% eU3O8 in drillhole NM092 within a broader intercept of 2 m @ 0.023% eU3O8, and 0.0523% U3O8 within 0.6 m @ 0.012% eU3O8 in drillhole NM100. A third drillhole, NM098, encountered an anomalous gamma ray log response from sands in interpreted Eyre Formation at a depth of 297.5 m, of 0.4 m @ 0.015% eU3O8. Holes NM093 and NM099 were also logged with a PFN (Prompt Fission Neutron) wireline tool to directly detect the amount of uranium present. It was recommended that future drilling within EL 5119 North Mulga should target the relatively untested basin sediments in the central and eastern parts of the tenement where historic drilling had been relatively shallow. The drilling on EL 5177 Wooltana also identified anomalous some weakly anomalous gamma ray log responses in Namba Formation sediments. These anomalies were noted to be proximal to, and on either side of, the Poontana Fault. In addition, one drillhole, WT106, showed weak anomalism in Willawortina Formation sediments at the base of the ranges. The two holes from the 2012-2013 drilling on Wooltana which recorded the most significant gamma ray log anomalies were WT104 and WT105, both of which are located to the east of the Poontana Fault. During 2013-2014, the previous year's drilling campaign was continued and was completed in early July 2014. 15 vertical rotary mud holes for 4602 m were drilled and geophysically logged, these all being located on EL 5177 Wooltana. Weakly anomalous gamma ray log responses were recorded in three holes, WT124, WT125 and WT128, all coming from within Namba Formation clays. The best of these was found in hole WT124, that represents an intercept of 0.8 m @ 0.023% eU3O8, with a peak value of 0.039% eU3O8. The drilled thickness of the Namba Formation ranges from 100 m to 150 m. Its sediments are clay dominated, and typically are oxidised in their upper levels and reduced at depth. Palaeochannel sands between 2 m and 15 m thick were encountered near the Poontana Fault in six holes; they are weakly oxidised to reduced, and show a similar fabric and grain size to those sands which host the Beverley deposit 25 km to the north. The regional scale of this drilling campaign and of those conducted earlier suggests to Heathgate that these channel sands are more extensive than previously thought, and may potentially be continuous all the way to Beverley. Therefore these channel sands represent a primary target for future drilling campaigns. The Eyre Formation on EL 5177 ranges in thickness from 20 m to 60 m, and is thinner on the eastern side of the Poontana Fault. Its sediments are invariably reduced, more strongly so nearer the Poontana Fault, and contain abundant lignite and pyrite. The reduced nature of the sediments here indicates that the Eyre Formation in the southern part of EL 5177 has limited potential to host mineralised redox fronts. Overlying the Namba Formation is the nearly fully oxidised Willawortina Formation, that forms talus slopes and alluvial fan aprons proximal to the northern Flinders Ranges. This unit is thought to have commenced deposition upon the renewed rapid uplift of the ranges, and now varies in thickness from 60 m to 90 m. Heathgate's drilling found shallow calcareous sediments in several holes east of the Poontana Fault (including WT131), and although these sediments are not mineralised, they offer some potential to host calcrete style uranium. During Year 3 of the project, no work was done. Heathgate rehabilitated its recent drill sites in accordance with published guidelines and to comply with certain directions given by DSD following its field inspection on 8/7/2015 which noted subsidence of the fill put into some sumps. During Year 4 of the project, a total of 22 exploratory rotary mud holes for 4774 m were drilled on EL 5543 either to test for extensions of the Beverley Palaeochannel (with 11 vertical holes for 1891 m) or, in the vicinity of Pepegoona West (3 vertical holes for 861 m) and Pepegoona East (8 vertical holes for 1770 m), to test for extensions of known mineralisation. No significant thicknesses of channel sand or anomalous gamma ray log counts were encountered by the drilling at Beverley. A number of economic grade-thickness mineralised intercepts were recorded in five of the Pepegoona holes, the highest being within the Pepegoona West area (1.89, corresponding to a 4.4 m thick interval in hole PWD0049). No drilling was undertaken on ELs 5119 or 5177. Also during this year, portions of ground gravity, controlled source audio-frequency magnetotelluric (CSAMT) and passive seismic geophysical surveys were acquired within EL 5543, as part of a broader geophysical program seeking to determine the buried geometry and trace of the Paralana Fault Zone. The surveys were designed to evaluate the effectiveness of these geophysical techniques for defining thicknesses of prospective strata, depth to basement, position of palaeochannels, and the distribution of local to regional scale faults. Over the period March to May 2016, 483 CSAMT readings at 32 kHz were taken along 18 SW-NE aligned traverses 1.5 km long and spaced 400 m apart, using a 50 m station interval, to generate 24.4 line km of data. Two transmitter dipoles each 2 km long were constructed, to impart a current input to the subsurface of between 2.5 A and 25 A. The various time series geometric components of the decaying signal returns were collected by six 50 m wide loop receiver arrays, aiming to provide scalar coverage of an 8 to 12 km wide section of the Paralana Fault Zone. In April-May 2016, ~26.7 line km of passive seismic data were collected along 14 traverses within the Paralana Project area using four Tromino 3G ENGY seismometers. Station spacing varied between 50 m, 100 m and 200 m, and the survey lines were positioned over geological structures, such as known basin faults, palaeochannels and basement highs, as well as survey lines coinciding with CSAMT, gravity and seismic reflection survey lines. Seismic signals were recorded for 20 minutes using a sampling frequency of 128 Hz. The data clearly identified the contact between crystalline basement and the overlying sedimentary sequence, down to a depth of ~700 m. Those faults having significant offset or defining the contact between sediments and uplifted basement highs (e.g. the Poontana Inlier) were able to be interpreted. However, a detailed passive seismic traverse made across the known position of the Beverley Palaeochannel failed to detect any evidence of its existence. A this time also, part of a ground gravity survey was read over a single 100 m x 50 m grid aligned SW-NE and lying at the foot of the ranges, ~ 3 km east of Mount Adams. A total of 244 new stations were acquired on EL 5543 to assist with structural mapping of the Paralana Fault Zone. Working in collaboration with the CSIRO, a start was made on reprocessing and interpreting an existing dataset of airborne EM survey data which had been acquired in 2002 by Heathgate, and merging it with the 2012 Frome Embayment AEM Survey data that had been acquired by Geoscience Australia. During Year 5 of the project, drilling was planned for 3 of 6 tenements within the Paralana AEA (EL 5534, EL6027 and EL 5349), to test the Nambe and Eyre Formations for prospective palaeochannel and sand sequences. Rotary mud drilling saw 23 holes for 5984 m completed, with all holes geologically and geophysically logged. Drilling included testing for extension of the Beverley palaeochannel and other palaeochannel targets within EL 5543, exploring for palaeochannel within EL 6027, and testing the Eyre Formation thickness and prospectivity within EL 5349. Reprocessing of existing Heathgate Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) data across EL 6027, 6028 and 5543 and Geoscience Australia AEM data (Record 2012/40) was undertaken as part of a collaborative project with the CSIRO during the reporting period. Final model outputs were received in 2017 with a final report still pending. Interpretation and drill target generation is ongoing. During the reporting period, Heathgate engaged two independent forward modelling studies to determine whether contemporary AEM systems will more successfully image Namba palaeochannels than the original systems used for ten years. One study was performed by RAMA Geoscience and the other by CSIRO. During Year 6 of the project to 31st December 2018, Heathgate undertook rotary mud drilling of their Paralana tenement (EL 5543) to test the Namba and Eyre Formations for prospective palaeochannel and sand sequences. A total of 12 holes were drilled for a total of 2288 m. All holes were logged using a suite of down-hole geophysical sondes designed to calculate uranium grade and assist with the determination of lithology. Down-hole wireline logging of all drillholes was performed by Heathgate’s in-house logging services using a comprehensive suite of Geovista and in-house designed Advanced PFN (APFN+) sondes. Of the 12 holes drilled, 5 tested for extensions of the Beverley palaeochannel, while the 7 remaining holes were drilled to target accumulation of Eyre Formation sediments against the Wooltana fault. Three desktop geophysical studies were undertaken during the reporting period with a focus on Frome Basin structure/stratigraphy, palaeochannel hosted uranium and calcrete hosted uranium. The company engaged CSIRO as part of a project targeting undercover palaeochannel systems using electrical prospecting systems (TUps-Elps), the first phase of the project included the review of available survey systems and the building of models for the next phase of the project [see included reports]. The second study saw the company engage Mira Geoscience on a pilot project around utilising integrated modelling and interpretation methodologies available through Mira’s software suite (GOCAD-SKUA and VPmg/VPem1D inversion codes). The aim of the pilot was to demonstrate processes that incorporate multiple coincident geophysical and geological information to produce a more consistent model and generate drill targets [see included reports]. For the third study the company engaged Solve Geoscience to perform supervised and unsupervised classification for the regional mapping of calcrete [see included report].

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About this record

Record No mesac28248
Topic Geoscientific Information
Type of Resource Document
Category Type
Document Type Mineral Company Report - Mineral Exploration
Contributor Daishsat Geodetic Surveyors;Zonge Engineering and Research Organisation (ZERO);Resource Potentials Pty Ltd
Sponsor Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd
Tenement
Tenement Holder Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd
Operator
Geological Province
Mine Name Beverley uranium deposit;Pepegoona West uranium deposit;Pepegoona East uranium deposit
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. From 1/1/2016, joint licence reporting for ELs 5119 North Mulga, 5177 Wooltana and 5543 Paralana was begun under the terms of the newly approved Paralana Amalgamated Expenditure Agreement which was made between Heathgate and DPC in November 2015. Includes: - Annetts, D., Munday, T., Ross, J. 17/1/2018. Forward modelling airborne EM system responses for palaeochannel hosted uranium mineral systems. Report No. EP179338. CSIRO – Mineral Resources. Appx. D to annual report to 31st December 2017. Pg. 402-704. - Angus, R. 22/11/2017. Memorandum – AEM Forward Modelling Study. RAMA Geoscience. Appx. E to annual report to 31st December 2017. Pg. 705-734. - Macnae, J., Annetts, D., Munday, T., Ross, J. December 2018. Targeting undercover palaeochannel systems using electrical prospecting systems (Tups-elps): Phase 1.1 report. CSIRO – Mineral Resources. Appx. D to annual report to 31st December 2018. Pg. 762-793 - Annetts, D., Macnae, J. December 2018. Targeting undercover palaeochannel systems using electrical prospecting systems: Tups-elps. Milestone 1. [Presentation] CSIRO – Mineral Resources. Appx. E to annual report to 31st December 2018. Pg. 794-815. - Mira Geoscience Ltd. November 2018. Heathgate Beverley Integrated Interpretation Overview. [Presentation] Appx. F. to annual report to 31st December 2018. Pg. 816-855. - Mira Geoscience Ltd. November 2018. Integrated Interpretation Modelling Procedures. [Presentation] Appx. G to annual report to 31st December 2018. Pg. 856-945. - Solve Geosolutions. September 2018. Supervised and unsupervised classification for the regional mapping of calcrete. [Presentation] Appx. H to annual report to 31st December 2018. Pg. 946-989. Geographic Locality: North-eastern Flinders Ranges;Mount Adams;Pepegoona Creek;North-western Lake Frome Plains;Moolawatana Station;Wooltana Station;North Mulga Outstation;Paralana Fault;2016 Paralana Gravity Survey [part];2016 Beverley CSAMT Survey [part];2016 Frome Basin Passive Seismic Survey [part] Doc No: Env 12446 Drillhole: NM082 - NM100;WT100 - WT131;BV656 - BV666;PWD0049 - PWD0051;PGD0107 - PGD0114

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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/mesac28248
Citation Simper, J.;Barnes, J.;Rava, B.;Wyschnja, B.;Mann, S.;Riley, S.;Owers, M.;Hewett, A. Data release - as updated [made at SA Director of Mines' discretion] : North Mulga, Wooltana and Paralana areas (Frome Basin Project). Joint annual reports for the period 24/9/2012 to 31/12/2018. Mineral Company Report - Mineral Exploration
https://pid.sarig.sa.gov.au/document/mesac28248

Technical information

Status
Maintenance and Update Frequency
Geographic Reference GDA2020 (EPSG:7844)
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