First annual report for EL 25151 Mulga Park year ending 24 September 2007

Abstract

Work carried out consisted of a number of field reconnaisance trips to find the location of a potential gem quality deposit of Manganese Andalusite with the name Viridine. Viridine is a rare gemstone with only limited stones of generally less than 1 carat (cut) coming out of Brazil, commanding a good price. This particular deposit was discovered and noted by the NTGS during mapping work on the new Ayers Rock 1:250,000 Geological map sheet. The Viridine deposit was located and the area in general carefully scoured for any and all rock types of interest. We encountered Fuchsite scattered over a small area and an unusual sample with an unknown silver coloured mineral. This mineral was sent to Pontifex & assoc. for indentification and analysis. It turned oput to be a Hematite with Rutile enrichment probably of a pegmatitic origin. The Viridine outcrops are on the surface in fairly thin, highly weathered schist layers. Most of the crystals examined are so weathered to be of no value, however a few crystals appear to be reasonably sound, but as yet have not been tested for hardness. The schist is a mass of Viridine crystals and there are literally 10's to 100's of thousands of crystals scattered around. It is believed there may possibly be sound, unweathered crystals within the schist host, but trenching with a large excavator is required to determine this.