EL 1319 Annual report for year ending 7 August 1980

Abstract

EL 1319 (Nicholson River) covers an elongated rectangular area of approximately 1250 km2, stretching westward from the Northern Territory-Queensland border towards Bemnara station. It is bounded by longitudes 138.00'E (Queensland border) to 137.l0'E and latitudes 17.50'S and 18.00'S. The EL was due to expire on August 7, 1980. 239 square miles of the EL were renewed on July 1, 1980. The new area is divided into two parts, access to the EL is by a four wheel drive track from Doomagee Mission about 1OO km east of the Queensland border, or by a similar, less well--maintained track from Benmara station, about 30km west of the EL boundary. Vehicular access within the area if often restricted by rough topography. Road access is generally not possible during the wet season. EL 1319 was granted to Australian Ores and Minerals Ltd (AOM) on August 8, 1978 and is currently a joint venture between AOM, Otter Exploration NL (Otter) and Esso Exploration and Production Australia Inc (Esso). The area was selected as having a similar geologic setting to the Alligator River uranium province, with Pruterozoic vein uranium as the main exploration target. This potential has been downgraded by subsequent exploration. In the process, an area with McArthur River type stratiform base metal prospects has been delineated. Additional work is planned.