Finniss Range Project, EL 24773, Annual report for the period 11 January 2006 to 10 January 2007

Abstract

First pass exploration for rare element pegmatites conducted on EL 24773 during the reporting period included an extensive soil sampling, rock chip sampling, mapping and RAB drilling program. On EL 24773, 68 RAB holes were drilled for 210 m, and 9 soil samples were collected. Bedrock usually consisted of a well sorted, oxidised (red), fine-grained sandstone interbedded with siltstone. In part, the sandstones have been metamorphosed to weakly foliated quartzite and quartz-mica gneiss. In general, beryllium levels (which usually define broad areas of country rock that host pegmatites) were very low. Similarly, caesium and niobium levels were also fairly low, but still define definite trends. Arsenic values on the other hand appeared to be quite high - and defined numerous continuous anomalies. Tantalum levels, as expected (Ta does not travel far from its pegmatitic source) were generally very low in the sediments, although some good anomalies have been delineated and require further work. In some cases, high Ta values were due to traces of pegmatite in the sample. Rubidium, caesium and lithium display anomalous trends that are most contiguous with elevated Ta levels in soil geochemistry and pegmatite outcrop. A total of five new targets (A3-6, and A28) were generated through the surface sampling program. Out of a total of twenty five rock chips taken from Anomaly 3, eighteen returned encouraging results >100ppm Ta. Despite the (lack of) width and discontinuity of the pegmatites, the results are good enough to ensure that future work will include mapping and possibly RAB drilling. Work to be completed over A4, A5, A6 and A28 will include further ground reconnaissance, mapping and sampling of any pegmatitic outcrop. Should encouraging results be received, a second round of infill RAB drilling (to bedrock) will be undertaken.