Annual report EL 3607, period ending 06-10-1985, Helen Springs South, NT

Abstract

E.L. 3607 is being explored in conjunction with E.L. 2835 which the leaseholders believe is contiguous to the north for McArthur River-Mt. Isa style shale hosted base metal [ Zn, Pb, Ag,(Cu) ] mineralisation. Ashton Mining Pty. Ltd. are continuing the diamond search. A total of 1348.4 metres of drilling was conducted during the year on E.L. 3607 composed of 845.0m of rotary percussion and 502.8m of diamond core drilling. Diamond drilling has confirmed the presence of a sequence of pyritic bituminous tuffaceous dolomitic siltstones with interbedded sandy turbidites and underlying and interbedded tuffs which correlete with the Barney Creek Formation of the McArthur Group which is the host to the major McArthur Zn, Pb, Ag deposit. Underlying dolomitic sediments correlete with the Teena Dolomite. Mapping and geophysics have been confined to the Willieray Block where Barney Creek Formation dips east towards the Willieray Fault in favourable structural positions. Deep weathering and cover of Roper Group (?) Nathan Group and Cretaceous age sediments and Quaternary sand severely hampers exploration. Strong emphasis is being placed on geophysical methods, especially RMIP. An Airborne Magnetometer survey has been conducted by Aerodata to outline basement structures which may control the localisation of mineralisation. A basement magnetic low coincides with the Willieray Fault. RMIP geophysical surveys were conducted over the Willieray South and Deep South areas by Scintrex. A conductor was outlined which was subequently proved to be caused by Barney Creek Formation. A Landsat Lineament Analysis was undertaken by M.J.Longman & Associates, Perth. Landsat and NOAA images are being examined. Areas of higher lineament density were outlined in the Willieray South and Deep South areas. Drilling has confirmed the presence of pyritic bituminous tuffaceous dolomitic siltstones. The Willieray Fault is a syndepositional structure. RMIP surveys will continue.