Final report on EL 23047 and EL 23111, for period 02-12-2002 to 09-08-2007, Roper Project

Abstract

Exploration Licences 23047, 23048 and 23111 were 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 three tenements covered approximately 874.25 sq km and abuted and complemented an existing large tenure holding (EL's 22478-480; 2,231 sq km) to form a collective but non contiguous Roper Project Area. Group reporting status was approved by the Department of Business, Industry & Resource Development (DBIRD). The Project Area overlies Roper Group stratigraphy in the Bauhinia Shelf tectonic element of the western McArthur Basin and envelopes extensively mapped eroded ilmenite-bearing source rocks with considerable potential for large tonnage 'insitu', eluvial, colluvial and downstream detrital heavy mineral (HM) accumulations. Titaniferous dolerite sills intrude Adelaidean Roper Group sediments at a number of exposed stratigraphic horizons. The dolerites have been subject to prolonged weathering and erosion during the Tertiary and Recent epochs through to modern day wet season cycles. In late November of 2007 a decision was made not to renew the licenses comprising the Roper Project in EL23047, EL23048 and EL23111 but to surrender EL23047 and EL23111 while retaining a portion of EL23048. Annual Reports for these EL's have been lodged along with expenditure advice and notification of the sub-blocks to be retained in EL23048 after partial surrender. ERD PL is currently undergoing a complete restructure necessitating these reductions and relinquishments. This report then deals with all exploration activities and associated expenditures on the area of EL 23047 and EL 23111 that comprised the Roper Project. EL 23048 will continue to be reported on under separate reports. The 3 original tenements, originally covered approximately 874 sq km of Roper Group stratigraphy in the Bauhina Shelf tectonic element of the western McArthur Basin, envelope extensively mapped eroded ilmenite-bearing source rocks with considerable potential for large tonnage 'insitu', eluvial, colluvial and downstream detrital heavy mineral accumulations. Titaniferous dolerite sills intrude Adelaidean Roper Group sediments at a number of exposed stratigraphic horizons. The dolerites have been subject to prolonged weathering and erosion during the Tertiary and Recent epochs through to modern day wet season cycles. Orientation sampling of the regolithic (lateritic) soil profile developed on the sills and associated eluvial horizon has indicated the presence of significant quantities of ilmenite and locally titanomagnetite. The titanomagnetite is amenable to simple magnetic separation from the ilmenite when occurring as a mixed concentrate.