Gunbatgarri Project EL 2857 and EL 4012 Annual report

Abstract

This report describes uranium exploration work undertaken on the Gunbatgarri project for the second year of tenure. The tenements were formerly part of the Arnhem Land West Joint Venture, a joint venture between Cameco Australia Pty Ltd (Cameco), PNC Exploration Australia Pty Ltd (PNC) and the Ngalangak Aboriginal Corporation. Cameco, in 2002, attained management then ownership of the project when PNC withdrew from exploration activities in Australia. Field activities during the report period consisted of eight days of helicopter assisted sampling, mapping and reconnaissance, and ground validation of airborne radiometric anomalies. A majority of the radiometric anomalies were found to be associated with the ferruginous and partially lateritised rubble and remnants of the Gilruth Volcanic Member. Other sampling did not identify any significant U mineralisation. The hyperspectral clay interpretation correlates closely with the sampled PIMA results, and indicates that a basal illitic zone is present within the Gumarrirnbang Sandstone overlying the Nimbuwah Complex basement rocks within the basement inlier. Further work is recommended in the area of the basement inlier and also at sampling areas of structural disruption as these may provide fluid conduits necessary for U mineralisation. The Tempest geophysical survey planned for 2004 may enhance the sub-surface dimensionality of the basement inlier area and provide drill targets.