Final relinquishment report on EL 9840, 23 July 2002 to 14 September 2007

Abstract

This relinquishment report details exploration activity for diamond bearing kimberlite intrusives carried out by North Australian Diamonds Limited (NADL) and previous explorers over Exploration License EL 9840 for the period 23rd July 2002 to 14th September 2007. The target for exploration within this lease was diamond bearing kimberlite intrusives. Exploration Licence 9840 is situated on the Bauhinia Downs (SE53-03) and Calvert Hills (SE53-08) 1:250,000 mapsheets, and the Glyde and Surprise 1:100,000 topographic mapsheets in the Batten Region of the Northern Territory. It is located around 100 kilometres south of Borroloola and is accessed via existing unsealed tracks leading east from the Merlin Mine. Ashton Mining has previously undertaken exploration in the area covered by EL 9840 during the 1980's and 1990's and their reconnaissance and infill sampling returned several diamond and indicator mineral occurrences that have not been followed up in detail. The license was granted to Rio Tinto in July 2002, however, Rio Tinto did not undertake any field activities prior to NADL acquiring ownership of the EL in 2004. NADL undertook a desktop review of available data relating to the EL and carried out field reconnaissance although no samples were collected. The license was subsequently surrendered at the conclusion of Year 5. (A previously mentioned study of uranium potential was presumably not pursued)