Report on McArthur River project area 13 July 1989 to 12 July 1990

Abstract

Exploration for base metals and gold has been carried out on 14 Exploration Licences which cover approximately 10,900km in the McArthur River area. These ELs are subject to a joint venture agreement between Noranda Pty Limited, Top End Resources NL and Perilya Mines NL and are classified as a single entity project area (the McArthur River Project Area) by the NT Department of Mines and Energy. They cover sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Proterozoic McArthur Basin, which host the NYC Pb-zn deposit at McArthur River and numerous small Cu, Pb and Zn occurrences throughout the region. This report covers exploration completed during the 1989 dry season and is the annual report for the period 13/07/1989 to 12/07/1990. It includes results for all Exploration Licences in the McArthur River Project Area, regardless of their anniversary date. Follow up on the Mallapunyah Prospect has shown that the anomalous base metal values are associated with the unconformity between the Reward Dolomite and the overlying Nathan Group and a localised silicified karstic surface in the Balbirini Dolomite. It is thought that the possibility of a large sulphide ore body is limited. Work at the Hammer Prospect confirmed a zone of anomalous lead-zinc over a strike length of 1km which warrants follow up by drilling. Results from the Yalco Prospect were generally low. There were some elevated lead values from soil lines YAL 2 and 4. The Yalco area is highly prospective due to its geological setting and has not been fully tested. A drill programme is to be undertaken. No further work is recommended for the Clarke Creek, Mallapunyah, Tooganinie North, Kilgour Gorge, Archies Creek or Mallapunyah North Dome Prospect.