SEL 7439 (Finniss Range Project), annual report and supplementary annual report for period ending 20-05-1992

Abstract

An exploration programme was undertaken during the reporting period to prove up additional resources so mining and treatment can commence. Corporate undertook testing work on primarily eluvial type deposits with a view to attempting to correlate results stated in previous reports by others on the project area, and in an attempt to prove up sufficient tonnage to commence a smaller scale mining operation. This work involved regional traversing for locating new pegmatites, which produced 140 samples. In addition sampling involved the collection of 57 rock samples (from 8 mineralised pegmatites), 209 eluvium samples and 6 alluvial samples during the year. The regional sampling work only resulted in the location of two new pegmatites. These pegmatites contained minor tantalite and less tin with tourmaline as an accessory. The programme of pegmatite eluvium sampling has corroborated previous years sampling and mining results. The alluvial sampling programme has been least successful as results did not produce any significant Ta2O5 or SnO2 values. Due to the commodity prices at the time of reporting it was decided that it was not sufficiently profitable to commence mining with the resources available. However the project is considered to be a substantial assett of the company, and an ongoing exploration programme is warranted to prove up additional resources so mining and treatment can commence.