Combined partial relinquishment report for EL 23047 and EL 23048, for period ending 02/12/2002 to 01/12/2004

Abstract

Exploration Licences 23047 and 23048 were granted to Exploration & Resource Development Pty Ltd (ERD) on the 2nd December 2002. ERD Pty Ltd, a Darwin based resource sector company, is the designated Project Manager. The two contiguous tenements covered approximately 1,561 sq km (499 sub-blocks) in the southern portion of Urapunga 1:250,000 map sheet. Following rationalisation of tenure holding, a statutory 50% reduction of 190 sub-blocks (EL 23048) and 60 sub-blocks (EL 23047) was made at the end of year 2 (1st December 2004). The relinquished portions of EL 23047 and 23048 cover approximately 782 sq km of parts of largely concealed Roper Group stratigraphy in the Bauhinia Shelf tectonic element of the western McArthur Basin. The area was considered to have potential for detrital heavy mineral accumulations. Exploration activities within the relinquished portions incorporated office studies, helicopter supported field reconnaissance and drilling of five auger holes for a cumulative 30.4m. EL 23047 - The relinquished area largely straddles the Roper River floodplain. Published mapping and field inspections reveal a dominance of undifferentiated alluvium, colluvium, gravels and sands together with mud-rich floodplain sediments. Subordinate outcrops of quartz sandstone of the Hodgson and Bessie Creek Sandstone and ferruginous siltstones and fine- grained sandstones of the Munji Member of the Corcoran Formation (Roper Group) are mapped in the eastern sector. No ground intrusive activities were conducted on relinquished portions of EL 23047. EL 23048 - The tenement largely incorporates Kyalla Formation mudstones and siltstones and alluvial floodplains of the Roper River, Maiwok Creek and Flying Fox Creek in the central- northern area and arenites of the Moroak Sandstone and lutites of the Velkerri Formation in the western sector. Reconnaissance auger drilling (5 holes; 30.4m) was undertaken along a fence line north of the Roper River and on a station track east to north-east of Mt Patterson to test for indications of alluvial HM. Thick (>10m) pughy clay was encountered in the 4 holes north of the Roper River with trace visible HM. Low tenor results (0.1% HM) report from the fifth hole from clayey gravels overlying sandstones and siltstones at 4m depth. Potential for a palaeochannel alluvial play is considered remote.