During Year 12 of the Olary JV Project (2008-2009), field work was undertaken only on EL 3849 Outalpa to make up for the earlier underspending on that licence relative to commitments. In early 2009, a ground radioactivity survey was acquired using...
During Year 12 of the Olary JV Project (2008-2009), field work was undertaken only on EL 3849 Outalpa to make up for the earlier underspending on that licence relative to commitments. In early 2009, a ground radioactivity survey was acquired using a hand-held gamma ray spectrometer across the area of previously recorded high surface radioactivity located to the south of the Domenic prospect. This was followed in June 2009 by the drilling of 4 southwards-inclined RC holes for 295 m at what was called the Ameroo Hill North uranium prospect, to test the downdip extent of the confirmed radiometric anomalies. The returned 1-metre hole interval drill cuttings samples were logged with the spectrometer, and 89 of them showing radioactivity were submitted for laboratory assaying. The assay results were disappointing, because the peak uranium assay value obtained was only 560 ppm U, and there was a lack of lanthanum compared with the high cerium-lanthanum contents of the surface samples, suggesting the presence of refractory minerals in the mica schist bedrock. 10 grab rock chip samples of ferruginised metasediment were collected for assaying from locations along an ENE trending shear zone at the Peryhumuck copper-gold prospect. Four of the samples returned >2% Cu, to a maximum of 7.57% Cu, and three samples returned >2 g/t Au, to a maximum of 5.19 g/t Au. The mineralised samples also had a high content of silver (grades of >5 g/t Ag in three samples) and molybdenum (>200 ppm Mo in three samples) as well as cobalt and bismuth. One sample had anomalous lead (0.16% Pb). A consistently high level of sulphur suggested to PacMag that the mineralisation had been predominantly tied to sulphides prior to weathering. A 10 kg bulk drill cuttings sample hand collected from hole RABR822, which was considered to have the most representative intersection of the Blue Rose copper oxide mineralisation, was subjected to trial crushing, grinding and flotation tests. Three ore concentrates obtained after the flotation stage were assayed for Cu, Fe and Au by atomic absorption spectroscopy on aqueous aqua regia solutions, and returned average grades of 1.73% Cu and 7.9 g/t Au for the 72% of the sample which comprised a <75 microns grind size fraction cycloned test feed. During Year 13 of the project, exploration work comprised the collection of 4 magnetite rich grab rock chip samples from outcrops of Neoproterozoic iron formations on EL 3848 that are interpreted as stratigraphic extensions of Royal Resources' Razorback Ridge Project iron occurrences. High iron contents of up to 50.8% Fe were returned from laboratory assaying. Aeromagnetic data images show that a possible 32 km of semi-linear magnetic anomalies which could represent shallowly buried iron formations are present on the Blue Rose JV's tenements. Earlier detailed field mapping indicated that there are at least two discrete magnetite rich units in the western portion of the Wadnaminga licence area that dip gently northwards and have locally tight folding, with shallow west-plunging fold noses potentially giving zones of major thickening. In outcrop the observed magnetite is medium grained, and occurs within discrete units having a high stratabound iron content which are interbedded with units of siltstone and tillite. During year 14 of the project (2010-2011), PacMag received detailed aeromagnetic and radiometric datasets from the farminee Bonython Metals Group (BMG) consortium which had been acquired in September 2010 over the Wadnaminga North and Wadnaminga South portions of a much larger regional fixed-wing survey airborne geophysical that was aiming to delineate all shallow subcrops of the Braemar Iron Formation. BMG also provided the company late in 2011 with a report (appended herein) giving its pre-drill assessment of the magnetite potential of EL 3848. Previously, on 24/12/2010, the Blue Rose Project partners had reached an agreement with BMG giving it the rights to farm in and explore for iron ore on that tenement. In a separate dealing made on 3/2/2010, a private company WASCO Mining Pty Ltd was granted an option to purchase the Blue Rose copper oxide deposit in order to mine and process the minerals there. WASCO's principals have extensive experience in small to medium scale copper production in Australia, as well as direct access to the Chinese copper consumption market. The sale agreement would apply to a 12 square km area at Blue Rose. This agreement includes provision for a staged refund of historical exploration spending incurred there, by a gross revenue royalty payable to the Blue Rose JV partners that will be levied on the value of the production of metals mined from the deposit. On 18/7/2011, EL 3849 Outalpa was fully surrendered by the Blue Rose Project partners, leaving just EL 3848 Wadnaminga active (see the surrendered licence's final report held separately in Env 12286). During year 15 of the project, PacMag did no gold exploration work on behalf of the JV partners. An archaeological survey was conducted over the Golden Sophia prospect area in preparation for drilling, but this work was not able to proceed owing to a new native title claim being filed that covered EL 3848. The remainder of the year was spent negotiating an aboriginal heritage protection agreement. In May 2012, iron ore exploration farminee BMG was placed into liquidation by court order. At the end of the reporting year, the company remained in liquidation and grossly under-spent on its farm-in commitment, and so forfeited its rights to continue to participate in the project. On 19/7/2012, EL 3848 was renewed over the same 996 square km area for a fourth 5-year term, as EL 5129. During year 16 of the project, ongoing issues with obtaining native title land access permissions prevented new project operator Red Gold from doing any work. During year 17 of the project, an aboriginal heritage protection agreement for EL 5129 was finalised, and further planning for a drilling programme was undertaken. During years 18 through to year 21 of the project, no work was done. On 28/10/2015, a licence second partial surrender was made, of three peripheral portions totalling 280 square km or ~28% of the former area of the Wadnaminga tenement.
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