Final Report EL 7297 McArthur River 24 May 1991 to 23 May 1997

Abstract

During the reporting period, Ashton Mining Limited, on behalf of the Australian Diamond Exploration Joint Venture (ADE JV), and BHP Minerals, through the McArthur River (Metals) Joint Venture, carried out exploration activities over EL 7297. This report provides details of work undertaken on the licence from the date of grant through to the surrender of the licence in May 1997. Work undertaken by the ADE Joint Venture included data review and reconnaissance sampling. A total of ninety-two stream and four loam samples were collected within the boundaries of EL 7297. All samples were forwarded to Ashton's Perth laboratory, where processing returned only two positive samples, both containing a single microdiamond Results were considered disappointing and further exploration within this title was not warranted. BHP Minerals undertook stream sediment sampling and airborne TEM surveys during the life of the licence. These surveys were part of much larger regional surveys in the Boomerang Creek project area. Follow-up of a regional conductor identified from the GEOTEM survey was undertaken by PROT EM soundings. The second TEM survey failed to identify any targets of significance for ground follow-up. Results downgraded this prospect and BHP withdrew from the title in December 1996. Note: this is a summary report and contains no data.