Progress reports 1968 to 1969 for AP's 1721-1725 and 1891

Abstract

These APs include part of the Arltunga Nappe complex and numerous known prospects in the Amadeus Basin and Arunta Region. Monthly progress reports are presented, but no data is included other than indicated below. A brecciated gneiss on AP 1721 was sampled and an assay is given. Jenkins Mine was visited. During August, surface geochemical samples were collected across and along a major-west trending fault system in APs 1721 and 1891. Overall results were considered negative, although it was noted that zinc was relatively high with an average of 450 ppm. Gold-bearing lodes of Arunta Complex in AP 1723 appear to be too small and/or too low grade. A similar assessment was made of the Anningie Tin lodes and Home of Bullion copper mine. Shallow pitting was planned to test some eluvial and alluvial concentrations in the Neutral Junction tin-tantalite field. Reconnaissance work on the Central Mount Stuart beds will test for conglomerate-uranium and possible zinc mineralisation. In September, a two-day traverse was conducted over the Winnecke area. The Winnecke and Ciccone's mines were inspected and considered too small and worked over. A small copper prospect north of Bald Hill warrants further work. A breccia separating the Arunta Complex and Bitter Springs Formation near Ciccones workings was spot sampled. Surface geochemistry from AP 1723 indicates that the -20 +80 mesh fraction is best. Dilution due to wind blown sand and dust was noted. Stream sediment samples downstream from Home of Bullion were weak in copper lead and arsenic. Stream sediment samples from near Anningie showed anomalism in the coarse fraction only. Tin mineralisation was found to be vein-controlled and deemed uneconomic. Limonite bodies 50 miles west of Barrow Creek and 12 miles north of Anningie returned 70 to 360 ppm copper and 0.2 ppm gold. The limonite may contain volcanic fragments. Stream sediment sampling was undertaken around Johnnies Reward and work continued on the fault zone in the NE of the AP. In October, mapping and geochemical sampling were undertaken at Sliding Rock where copper occurs in quartzite adjacent to quartz veins. Most of the iron bodies in AP 1723 were found to be laterite. Reconnaissance on AP 1726 indicated that it is unprospective apart from a small area on the southern flank of Mount Swan Granite. In November, results from a stream sediment program at the Pinnacles confirmed that the -80 mesh was the most satisfactory. Systematic stream sediment sampling of AP 1721 continued. Gold-bearing quartz veins at White Range were examined. Re-examination of anomalous copper near Mount Peake north of Anningie Station in AP 1723 are probably associated with weathered basic rocks. Quartz veins previously reported from NE AP 1723 were found less extensive that previously thought. Medium grained hornblende gabbro with pegmatite and leucogranite were found to be responsible for an usual photo-pattern in SW AP 1721. During December, results on AP 1891 were compiled. Geochemical sampling continued on AP 1721, but no anomalies were reported. In AP 1724, the Tommy's Gap - Atnarpa area was reconnaissance sampled. Sands in the Hale River were sampled for their hornblende, garnet, ilmenite and magnetite content. Gridded geochemical sampling was conducted near Mount Peake in AP 1723. Basic rocks returned more than 1000 ppm of target elements. During January and February 1969, results were assessed and a report compiled. Analyses of Hale River sand are given. Several rock chip samples of brecciated limestone gave 340 ppm lead and 389 ppm zinc. March 1969 is the final progress report on record. It refers to a new plot of all geochemical data indicating that 5% of the 274 samples are anomalous (this map and assessment are not given in the progress report). In AP 1724, the Ruby Gap Gorge area was geologically mapped. Brecciated limestone in this area is anomalous in lead. In AP 1891, a further 56 square miles were geochemically sampled with a total of 592 samples collected during the month.