Partial relinquishment report for EL 9893 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 EL 9893 for the period 10 September 2002 to 9 September 2007. The exploration licence is located on the Bauhinia Downs 1:250,000 map sheet and the Glyde 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 is located a further 15km east of Merlin and accessed via a minor vehicle track. The licence was granted to Ashton Mining (a subsidiary of Rio Tinto) on 10 September 2002 for a period of six years and originally comprised 17 blocks for a total of 55 km2. NADL acquired the licence from Rio Tinto in 2004. NADL collected thirteen stream samples and thirty loam samples over the relinquished portion of the licence. A total of five samples were processed for recovery of kimberlitic indicator minerals and diamonds. Results were negative. The remaining samples have not been processed. This partial relinquishment report covers 8 blocks of the original 17 blocks.