Partial relinquishment report for EL 23111, for period ending 01/12/2004

Abstract

Exploration Licence 23111 was 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 tenement covers approximately 186 sq km on the extreme western margin of Urapunga 1:250,000 Mapsheet SD53-10 abutting Beswick Aboriginal Freehold Land to the west. A statutory 50% tenement reduction of 29 sub-blocks was made on 2nd November 2004. The relinquished portion of EL 23111 overlies largely mud-rich sediments concealing Roper Group stratigraphy in the Arnhem Shelf tectonic element of the western McArthur Basin. Tenement acquisition was based on perceived prospectivity for detrital heavy minerals (HM) shedding from eroded dolerite sills occurring in large catchment areas to the north and west. Exploration activities incorporated office studies followed by an E-W line of 100 metre spaced reconnaissance auger drilling along an existing track cumulating in 53 holes for 292.8 metres. The drilling assessed potential for concealed palaeodrainage development beneath the black soil floodplains. Samples were collected on one metre down-hole intervals and submitted to Tristate Research Laboratory in Mildura Victoria for disaggregation, desliming, sieving and tabling. Laboratory results were of low tenor, averaging 0.48% HM (range 0.02%-2.7%). Clay dominant transported sediments were encountered overlying mudstones and fine-grained sandstones of the Kyalla Formation (Roper Group). No evidence of significantly mineralised palaeodrainages was encountered and this portion of the EL was recommended for relinquishment.