Partial surrender report for EL 1924 Cape Ford, for the period ending 19 September 2005

Abstract

EL 1924 Cape Ford was applied for by Ashton Mining Limited and Ashton Operations Australia Limited ('Ashton') on 8th September 1978 and was granted on 28th July 2003. The tenement is located 150 km south southwest of Darwin on the Daly River / Port Keats Aboriginal Land Trust and consequently is processed under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1975 (ALRA). This partial surrender report describes the exploration completed up to the 19th of September 2005. This is the first relinquishment with a total of 151 sub blocks relinquished and 94 sub blocks retained. The project area covers part of Palaeozoic Bonaparte Basin which is potentially lateritized and prospective for bauxite. Exploration was focused at locating bauxite on the large flat area of the Dashwood Plains and included: Review of previous exploration; Completion of consultation meetings and site clearance surveys; Interpretation of existing TM data; Establishment of an exploration camp; Clearing access for a small drill; Drilling 12 auger holes; Drilling 14 NQ aircore holes. The results show that there has been no enrichment of alumina in the patchy laterite and this has downgraded any possibility of bauxite occurring on the Dashwood Plains. An area in the east of the tenement has not been assessed and a limited programme is planned for year 3.