Third annual and final report for EL 23635 McArthur, for the period 4 July 2003 to 6 March 2006

Abstract

Exploration Lease 23635 'McArthur' covers an area of 278km2 and is located within the McArthur Basin near the Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Territory, approximately 30 km southwest of Borroloola, on the Bauhinia Downs 1:250,000 map sheet. Anglo American Exploration (Australia) Pty Ltd was granted the lease on 4th July 2003 for a period of six years. The lease formed part of a regional exploration project that Anglo American Exploration (Australia) Pty Ltd was undertaking within the Batten Fault Zone. The exploration target was sediment hosted massive sulphide Zn-Pb deposits. Results of previous exploration by Rio Tinto Exploration in the area had confirmed the favourable geological setting and Zn-Pb prospectivity of the Batten Fault zone. During the first year of the lease work conducted was comprised of a review of all previous exploration in the Batten Trough dating back over 40 years, reinterpretation of this data and selection of suitable target areas with the potential to host 'world-class' orebodies. This involved data gathering and review, geoscientific desktop studies, organising ground access and logistical preparation for the following field season. 2004 field activities had been delayed until June due to an excessively long wet season; this fieldwork had originally been planned for April. Permission was received in March 2004 from the Director of Mines, Northern Territory Government, for drilling evaluation of the Project to commence. Exploration activity during the second year of the lease was comprised of a TEM survey, which had not shown any bedrock conductor responses, which met the exploration criteria. No further fieldwork, during the third year of the lease, has been conducted, as exploration efforts were concentrated on other leases within the Batten Trough Project. It has now been decided to relinquish this lease due to changing company exploration priorities. Keywords EL23635, McArthur, Middle Proterozoic, McArthur Basin, Batten Fault Zone, Zinc, Lead, Base Metals, Emu Fault Zone, Batten Subgroup, Umbolooga Subgroup, Roper Group, Reward Dolomite, Caranbirini Member, Hot Spring Member, Donnegan Member, Lynott Formation, Yalco Formation, Stretton Sandstone, Limmen Sandstone, Mainoru Formation, Crawford Formation, McArthur River (HYC) Zn-Pb-Ag deposit.