Exploration summary report Little Ben period ending 01-03-1989.

Abstract

A geophysical interpretation was made on the data that was purchased by Metana from Austirex International Limited. An airborne geophysical survey was conducted by Austirex between June & July 1984. The flight lines were spaced by 200 metres, with tie lines separated by 4000 metres. A proton precession magnetometer was used for data collection. This had a resolution of 0.1 nano Tesla, a cycle rate of 0.5 seconds and a sample interval of 30 metres. The interpretation shown on figure 4 indicates that the leases are situated on west north west striking magnetic units. A parallel structural break crosses the north eastern part of the project area, with a fold in the magnetic units on the north eastern side of the fault. There are no obvious 'bulls eye' type magnetic anomalies within the leases. A ground magnetic survey was carried out by Solo Geophysics, over Mineral Claims 388 to 398. Readings were taken at a height of 8 feet at 5 metre intervals along 40 metre spaced grid lines. The contoured results are not given, as the surface noise obviously dominated the stacked profiles. The survey does not reveal any likely magnetic ironstone source. Soil samples were taken on an 160 x 40 metre spaced pattern. From orientation work elsewhere in the Tennant Creek field the optimum size fraction for sampling soil for gold was found to be -180 microns. Samples of this size fraction were submitted for aqua regia/GTA gold analysis only. The maximum assays are spot highs up to 16 ppb against a background of less than 2 ppb. The aeromagnetic interpretation and results from the ground magnetic survey do not suggest the presence of a massive, magnetite/hematite body. Future exploration should include bedrock geochemistry drilled in traverses across all, or selected parts of the lease to determine the underlying lithology and to investigate the potential for shallow mineralisation. Care must be taken to drill to bedrock as the laterite may mask the underlying geochemistry. From experience elsewhere in the Tennant Creek field it is recommended that samples be analysed for selected base metals as well as for gold. Rock chip sampling is also recommended, including samples of laterite.