First annual report period ending 12 September 1991 EL 6948 Hugh River, EL 6957 Deep Well Range, EL 6963 Yam Creek and EL 6964 Todd River.

Abstract

This report details exploration completed within the combined areas of EL 6948 Hugh River (retained portion), EL 6957 Deep Well Range (retained portion), EL 6963 Yam Creek and EL 6964 Todd River during the first year of tenure. EL's 6948 (367 blocks, 1160km 6957 (450 blocks, 1449km 6963 (307 blocks, 961km and 6964 (329 blocks, 1029km were granted to CRAE on the 13th September 1990. 216 blocks of Hugh River EL 6948 and 198 blocks of Deep Well Range EL 6957 were voluntarily surrendered on 11th April 1991. The EL's are located approximately 70km south of Alice Springs within the eastern Amadeus Basin. Tenure was acquired to explore for diamonds and base metals. A detailed airborne magnetics/radiometrics survey was completed over EL's 6948 and 6957. The survey yielded six magnetic anomalies possibly indicative of diamondiferous diatremes within the retained portions. The anomalies were located with helicopter magnetics and loam sampled. Loam samples were observed for kimberlitic indicator minerals and microdiamonds. No positive results were returned. One magnetic anomaly (HR24/2, EL 6948) was selected for ground magnetics and percussion drilling. Modelling of ground magnetics data indicated an inhomogeneous, broad (<250m diameter), probably flat lying source at less than 20m depth. A single percussion hole (PD9OHR1) tested anomaly HR24/2 to a depth of 36m. The anomaly was found to be sourced by magnetic gravels from 20 to 30m. Radiometrics data acquired with the magnetics were not processed. Inspection of the analogue plots indicated no anomalous radiometric responses. EL's 6963 and 6964 were not included in the detailed aeromagnetics survey. Within these tenements, a total of 37 gravel samples and 72 4km spaced grid loam samples were collected. All samples were observed for kimberlitic indicator minerals. A total of 54 chromites were recovered from 8 of the gravel samples. No indicator minerals were recovered from the loam samples. The chromites are not considered to be of kimberlitic affinity. The diamond potential of the combined areas of EL's 6948, 6957, 6963 and 6964 has been adequately tested without sufficient encouragement to justify further diamond exploration. Detailed literature review was completed to assess the base metal potential of the tenements. Adelaidian to Early Cambrian sediments and carbonates within the combined tenement areas are considered prospective for stratabound base metal mineralisation. Preliminary exploration for base metals was carried out within Todd River EL 6964. A total of eleven -80* stream sediment, six -40* stream sediment, three -40* soil and four rock chip samples were collected from within EL 6964. A single rock chip sample was collected from EL 6957. All samples were submitted for multi-element geochemical analysis. No anomalous results were returned. Stream sediment samples appear to have been heavily contaminated with fine aolean silt and as such the results are not conclusive. A coarser stream sediment fraction will be required to avoid contamination from aeolian silt.Airborne survey specifications 80m terrain clearance 300m line spacing 4km tie lines.