Second annual report for the Highland Rocks Project for the 2000 field season

Abstract

The report summarises exploration activities during the reporting period that includes regional surface sampling and vacuum drilling over areas of subcrop and shallow cover across EL?s 8970, 8971, 9559 and 9562. Follow on, prospect scale programs was also initiated over EL?s 8970 and 9559, mainly involving soil sampling and limited RAB drilling. Initial reconnaissance lag and rock chips sampling was also begun over EL 9563. Results from Lag sampling at EL 8970 were very encouraging, expanding and defining anomalism highlighted through the 1999 reconnaissance work. In combination with lag sampling, vacuum drilling and composite rock chip sampling, five gold and arsenic anomalies have been identified (Skye, Minch, Targe, Dirk and Claymore). Soil sampling within the Minch line returned broad strong arsenic peak values 50,7ppm and 79.2 ppm. Targe returned numerous low order gold anomaly (1-3ppb). Best results from RAB were obtained at the Minch (30m @ 27ppb Au) with a strong arsenic halo of 100-650 ppm continuing to the surface. At Dirk only one hole returned anomalous values (6m @ 138.5 ppb Au). Lag sampling at EL 8971 failed to verified previous Lag anomaly, the best results were 0.8ppb Au and 0.4 ppb Au. Composite rock chip sampling produced some significant results in the region of the subsequently named 'Mankeeper' prospect towards the eastern end of the lease. Soil sampling program revealed an 800 m long NW-SE oriented Au (1-4 ppb) and Cu (7ppm) anomaly coincident with a regional magnetic trend. The results from vacuum drilling program identified isolated low order anomalous results, but majority of the area remains untested. No significant results were obtained from sampling within EL 9562. Vacuum drilling returned a number of low order anomalous results along the western lease boundary. Aircore drilling returned 2m @ 53ppb Au from 78m and 35ppm As. Exploration within EL 9563 did not returned significant results.