Final report for EL 9710 Singleton

Abstract

The West Davenport project area is situated in the southwest Davenport Province in the central part of Northern Territory, 150 kilometres south-southeast of Tennant Creek. Gold mineralisation was discovered in the nearby Kurinelli goldfield area in 1898 by prospector/explorer Davidson (Davidson, 1905) but the region has been subjected to only limited, spasmodic attention since that time. Current activity by local prospectors in the area is directed towards recovery of gold nuggets from shallow alluvial and colluvial deposits using metal detectors. Several hundred to several thousand ounces of gold are estimated to have been recovered in this way over the past 10-20 years. Historical exploration centred on gold mineralisation within quartz veins which characteristically occur within interbedded sandstone/siltstone (Rooneys Formation) and conformable gabbro/dolerite sills. The two main mines were the Kurinelli Mine (former MCC59) and the Dempsey's Choice Mine (MCC191). Historical production was about 400 ounces of gold. The units which host the gold mineralisation also occur elsewhere in the Davenport Province but no significant gold mineralisation has been discovered to date in these areas. Despite this, historic exploration activity has indicated traces of gold mineralisation in streams and rock chips from several other locations, including the West Davenport project area. The adjacent EL 9745 also hosts the Silver Valley Pb-Ag prospect, and includes trace Cu and Zn? mineralisation. The abandoned Wauchope Field Tungsten deposits are about 10 kilometres northwest of EL 9710. Although companies have held tenure in the Davenport Province in the past, most work has been superficial, and drilling is notable for its almost total absence away from the old mining centre at Hatches Creek, which is about 20-30 kilometres south of the Kurinelli field. No on-ground exploration activities were completed in EL 9710 by Arafura Resources during the licence term. As a result no samples were collected and work was limited to office and desktop studies alone. Arafura's gold exploration efforts in the Davenport Ranges concentrated on the nearby Kurinelli goldfield in AC74. Limited work was completed in adjacent EL 9745. No rehabilitation is necessary as no exploration activities were undertaken in EL 9710.