Annual and final report for EL 27475 Bundara Creek Project for the period 5 March 2010 to 28 February 2013

Abstract

Under the Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy's Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program Western Desert Resources Limited (WDR) was granted funding for the drilling of one vertical 600 m hole east of Elliot. The project area lies near the southern edge of the Beetaloo Basin, which is known to include upper McArthur Basin Mesoproterozoic Roper Group sediments, and possibly the full suite of McArthur Basin sediments. The drill hole, 12BC001, targeted a gravity high outlined by an infill gravity survey undertaken by WDR over an existing regional gravity high previously highlighted by regional government surveys. The conceptual target was stratiform sediment hosted base metal mineralisation within the organic-rich intervals of the Velkerri Formation of the Roper Group, or intrusion related mineralisation. The hole was positioned near a geophysical structure that appeared to be bounding the gravity high which was interpreted as an intrusive. The drill 12BC001 was drilled to a final depth of 605.6 m, with no intrusives encountered. Rather, the gravity high would seem to be explained by intersection of silicified quartz sandstone at 228.7-320.22 m, interpreted to be the Roper Group Moroak Sandstone. As the Moroak Sandstone is widespread and assuming the silicification is regional, the gravity high may be due to the local Moroak Sandstone having the form of a mesa prior to burial beneath the overlying Cambrian limestone. Alternatively, the drill hole did not intersect the source of the gravity anomaly. Silts, mudstone and sands interpreted to correlate with the Velkerri Formation were intersected beneath the Moroak Sandstone (via a transitional conformable 'contact') at 320.22-605.6 m. There was no base metal mineralisation or potentially associated alteration styles noted. There was very minor mineralisation in the form of hematite veins within Moroak Sandstone. Sections of mudstone and siltstone have a pervasive red to brown colouration due to weak hematite alteration. Several samples were cut from the core and submitted for multi-element chemical assay. Assay samples included hematite veins in silicified fractured sandstone, mica-clay as alteration and fracture infill in siltstone, and chlorite altered mudstone with a thin organic layer. No significant assay results were recorded. A commercial contractor carried out wireline logging of gamma, magnetic susceptibility, density, conduction, resistivity and deviation. The aim of taking out the exploration licence was to highlight, through geophysics and conceptual studies, potential subsurface mineral deposits, and then to drill the best conceptual target(s) that arose from that work. This was done, though without commercial success, so the tenement was subsequently dropped.