Partial relinquishment report for EL 9768, 10 September 2002 to 9 September 2007

Abstract

This partial relinquishment report details exploration activity for diamond bearing kimberlite intrusives carried out by North Australian Diamonds Limited (NADL) and previous explorers over a relinquished portion of Exploration Licence EL 9768 for the period 10th September 2002 to 9th September 2007. The exploration licence is located on the Bauhinia Downs (SE53-03) 1:250,000 map sheet and the Glyde (6164) 1:100,000 sheet. Access to the licence is via a 64 kilometre formed gravel access track from the Carpentaria Highway to the Merlin Diamond Mine, the turn-off is approximately 6 kilometres south-west of the McArthur River Mine turn-off. The licence was granted to Ashton Mining (a subsidiary of Rio Tinto) on 10th September 2002 for a period of six years and originally comprised 44 blocks for a total of 144 km2. NADL acquired the licence from Rio Tinto in 2004. NADL collected thirteen stream samples and seven loam samples over the relinquished portion of the licence. These samples were not processed. This partial relinquishment report covers 22 blocks of the original 44 blocks.