1967 Final report on AP 1533 Redbank Copper Field

Abstract

Surface geochemical sampling, diamond and rotary percussion drilling were undertaken. The ore-bodies in the Redbank Copper Field have been shown to be small, isolated, fairly high grade, flat pods of secondary copper minerals. These in themselves are too small to interest Placer, and in the absence of any other economic mineralization in the A. to P., the area is considered to be of no further interest to us. It is therefore recommended that no further work be carried out and that the option be relinquished. Authority to prospect No. 1533 held by Granville Developments Pty Ltd. Surrounds and includes the Redbank Copper Field. This property was offered under option to and accepted by Placer Prospecting Pty Ltd. who carried out an appraisal of the area during the latter half of 1967.

Within the area, the important rock unit is the Gold Creek Volcanics, a member of the Masterton Formation. This unit contains all the known significant copper occurrences within the A to P and thus the investigation was concentrated upon these volcanics. The programme included geology, geochemistry, geophysics and diamond and rotary dilling. No mineralization of any economic significance was found. It is therefore recommended that the option be relinquished. Authority to Prospect No. 1533 encompassing 370 square miles in the Northern Territory was offered to Placer Prospecting Pty Ltd. by Granville Developments Pty Ltd. 1 Bridge Street, Granville, N.S.W. through Mr I. Schulman of Vancouver, B.C. This offer was accepted and work commenced during June, 1967, under the direction of T.S. Smith and subsequently under R. Graylin. Field work was concluded during October.

The main area of interest centred on the Redbank Copper Field, which includes three former mines, the Redbank, the Azurite and the Prince plus several prospects. These had produced a few hundred tons of carbonates grading over 30 percent copper between 1916 and 1961 while owned by Mr. W. Masterton who lived at the mine site. Granville Developments claim to have shipped 2,000 tons of 15 percent copper in 1965-1966 and stockpiled a further 10,000 tons of 5 percent copper ore. In the current programme geological and geophysical surveys followed by diamond and rotary drilling, were used to evaluate the potential of this field. Concurrently with this work, a regional stream sampling programme was undertaken to check for any other mineral occurrence within the A to P.