Annual report EL 3144 Barite Resources of Kirkimbie Station NT.

Abstract

The 3rd anniversary of EL 3144 occurred on March 1, 1985. Prior to that date A.J. and C.E. Turner lodged an application in writing dated February 2, 1985 to the Secretary reapplying for 6 blocks as shown in the enclosed block diagram. A cheque for $120 in support of the application for these 6 blocks was attached. Further details of the area reapplied for are shown in the enclosed report. During the last annual period to March 1, 1985 for EL 3144 the writer visited the locality and conducted a preliminary geological and logistical assessment of the commercial viability of a large scale Barites mining and milling project based at Kirrkimbie Yard, Inverway Station and using some ore mined from the Bingy Bingy Springs area of EL 3144. Previous assessments in the early 1970's resulted in an attempt by the company, South Australian Barytes Pty Ltd to establish a viable mining operation on site to supply ore to a milling plant in Wyndham Western Australia. from the KirrkimbieYard area in EL3239 some 40km to the east. For reasons primarily relating to overriding political and economic factors, this project was abandoned in 1973. These factors are improving slowly, primarily due to the increase in oil exploration activity in the Bonaparte Gulf and Timor Sea areas immediately to the north and the Canning Basin in the South West. Market studies are now continuing in this more favourable local climate and also with the view to studying the possibility of exporting large tonnages of crude ore to Singapore. A further geological and ore reserve assessment of the area is being made and the attached report 'up-dates' these figures and provides a basis for further mine cost evaluation studies. Two steeply dipping barite veins occur approximately 20km north west of Kirikimbie Station Homestead and 43km west of Kirrkimbie Yard Barite Deposits. Access to the area is along station roads from Kirrkimbie Station and then along prospecting vehicle tracks. Access is also possible from the Duncan Highway. The two veins are roughly parallel and are approximately 1.5km apart. The most eastern vein crosses the headwater of Lee's Creek and is referred to as the 'Lee's Creek Lode'. Its average strike is N.N.W. and it has a total length of 4.7km. The western vein crosses the headwater of Forrest Creek and is referred to as the 'Forrest Creek lode'. Its average strike Is N.W. and its total length is 6km. Both Lodes appear to be .lenticular, with numerous well defined lenses along their length. For the convenience of survey work, each Lode was divided into Sections (a), (b), (c) etc. starting from the southern end of each ..ode, and proceeding northerly.