1954 Geochemical Prospecting, Copper Prospect, Waterhouse Range.

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to set down the results of exploration for copper-nickel deposits in the Western MacDonnell Ranges Central Australia during the month of December 1953. This report refers, in particular, to the Waterhouse Range dome where exploration has initially commenced. This asymmetrical dome lies in the north-eastern corner of the concession. The Authority to Prospect area was shown to the Company by Mr. C.J. Sullivan, who suggested the possibility of Rhodesia-type copper deposits as explained in my Preliminary Report. A brief survey of the prospects by the writer led him to a similar conclusion although comparison with Rhodesia-type deposits by him was based solely on perusal of literature. Early in December, 1953 a diamond drill bole site was selected in an endeavour to locate copper values in the sulphide zone, because it was realized that with such a type of deposit, i.e. syngenotic, the whole future of the enterprise hinged entirely on the assay results in this zone. However we would have to be extremely fortunate to discover payable grade ore in our first hole; nevertheless the information so obtained will be extremely valuable. J. Green and H. Gregson contract drillers were hired for the job. During the initial stages of the drilling, I remained on location and supervised handling of core, and sludge's from the hole. Whilst the drilling was in progress a team of Australian aborigines under the supervision of Mr. W. Pearson of Henbery Station, carried out trenching in selected places. No 1 and No 2 trenches were completed in the excitement of the initial stages of the work, but then the traditional lethargy of some overcame their enthusiasm and trench No 3 was not completed. Some time was spent in traverses in different parts of the Waterhouse Range and in a detailed plane table survey, of the near-environs of the diamond drill site.