Final report, EL 2532, Mount Vizard

Abstract

Literature research indicates to some extent, previous work in the area has precluded the possibility of a major McArthur River type discovery. In addition, the station on which the license was located (St Vidgeon) is currently being squatted on by Aboriginals and may become the subject of a land claim. These factors indicated to Geopeko that it would be more efficient to spend exploration dollars elsewhere. The licence was surrendered on 11th August, 1981. The work completed on the exploration license area was restricted to a review of data on open file. The most relevant information found was that generated by Western Mining Corporation and BHP. The Western Mining exploration programme was designed to test for the stratiform copper potential of the Vizard Formation and the Kookaburra Creek Formation. Their geological mapping revealed that the units were not likely to host economic stratiform copper, as associated rock units had unfavourable lithological characteristics. Percussion drilling over geophysical and geochemical anomalies failed to reveal signs of mineralisation. BHP diamond drilled a weak lead and copper occurrence in partly silicified cherty dolomite on the western side of Mount Vizard. Traces of copper and lead mineralisation were found both in the quartz 'gossans' and in the dolomite, but the only mineralisation shown in the core, apart from isolated sulphide crystals throughout the dolomite, was a 1/4 inch vein of calcitic quartzite containing galena, sphalerite and pyrite.