Final report AP 2356 Clay Pan Well

Abstract

A magnetic anomaly designated Pioneer 30 was checked on the ground. Previous attempts to auger drill the target had been unsuccessful. A separate radiometric anomaly was also field checked with a scintillometer and by lowering the scintillometer down six auger holes totalling 189 feet. Soil samples from the holes were assayed for uranium; the highest recorded was 12 ppm. Both the magnetic and radiometric anomalies proved to be due to surface affects. The area lies several kilometers west of Tanami, with the new graded road from Tanami to Hall's Creek running through the middle of the area. It is delineated by a series of fairly high, generally, north-south ridges and low laterite hills. There is no water west of Tanaiai for about 160 kilometers, but there are several old wells and rock holes on the old road from Tanami to Gordon Downs. A magnetic anomaly in the northeast part was looked at late last year and the airborne radiometric anomaly in the western part was investigated this season. Initially the radiometric prospect appeared quite favorable, being sited near the unconformity, with the possibility of sedimentary uranium in the basal beds of younger sandstone however, auger drilling showed the effects of laterite surface concentration again, and the low readings from the bottom of the holes indicates that any source cannot be very significant. In considering the work flow all the radiometric anomalies studied, it seems that the weathering profile in the area is capable of concentrating smaIl amounts of radioactive material into its surface layers. The title was relinquished.