Annual report on EL 4082 Cox Peninsula period ending 21/06/1987

Abstract

The Bynoe Joint Venture aim is to establish a viable cassiterite and tantalite mining and processing operation on the Cox Peninsula. Ground reconnaissance located several 'pegmatoidal granites' west and north of the Megabucks deposits. The deposits occupied flat topped quartz scree capped ridges, which were easily discernable on aerial photographs. It was decided to concentrate exploration efforts on the Megabucks deposit as it was the furthest from the Litchfield Complex and the closest to a known mineralised tin and tantalum pegmatite deposit (ie Old Bucks approximately 600-700 m west). A grid was extended over the prospect and the entire area mapped on 1:500 scale. A total of 880 m of trenching was carried out. The trenches were channel sampled over 1.5 - 2.0 m. Each 10 - 15 kg/m sample was 'puddled' in a washing cylinder to disperse clay then trommeled with a 10 mm screen. With the minus 10 mm fraction being processed on

a cone concentrating device. The heavy mineral concentrate from the cone was dried, weighed and sent to the Greenbushes Laboratory for XRF analysis. Exploration concentrated on the Megabucks 'pegmatoidal granite' during the period with extensive sampling with both trench and auger drilling. While the deposit did contain some individually significant results, some of which were associated with contact zones the bulk of the results were disappointingly low. The priority for the evaluation of this type of exploration target is consequently reduced. However there were some 'ore grade' results from Megabucks and the size of these types of deposit justifies further evaluation.