Relinquishment report for SEL 8032 Frances Creek project 21 January 1993 to 20 January 1994

Abstract

Previous mining in the Frances Creek area was in 1926 when alluvial gold was first discovered. The hard rock source, 5km to the NW, was not worked until 1936-37. Reported production from this deposit was 4,776g Au from 457 tonnes of ore prior to 1965 (Shields, 1965). Since then, the deposit has been mined intermittently by the Casey Family (Casey's Prospect). In 1961, massive haematite lodes were discovered. These deposits were mined between 1966 and 1974. They trend generally N-S and are situated adjacent to the Frances Creek western tenement boundary. Since 1974, limited exploration has been undertaken for gold. Minatone and Total Mining explored for uranium near the granite contadt to the east between 1985 and 1987. Anomalies were drill tested but results were not encouraging enough to warrant further exploration. Since 1987, little systematic geological and geochemical evaluation were conducted. During 1992 and 1993 exploration activities conducted by Dominion Mining included literature research, airborne geophysics, regional stream sediment sampling and rock chip sampling within the relinquished area. No significant anomalies were located by this programme of work. Aztec Mining joint ventured into SEL 8032 in a farm in agreement at the end of 1993 and are the present operators. No exploration was conducted within the relinquished area by Aztec.