Report on EL 1510 Mount Todd Area

Abstract

Prospecting continued during the 'Wet' with the advantages

of sampling with water adjacent being offset with bogs, flooding

creeks, repairing roads and crossings. Access to bitumen was often impractical largely to Yenberrie Creek being a fast running creek and too high in flood for most 4x4 vehicles. Creeks near the camp area did not present too great a problem with vehicles either-side, and a dinghy as a last resort for an emergency journey downstream to the Edith River Bridge. During the year hundreds of samples were taken by W. Farwick, a prospector on contract, K. Hyde and myself. An intensive search for deposits similar to those on MC 48D currently producing was in part successful. The extremely rich deposit 5-20 lb yd but limited in size and with an overburden of 8 ft has remained unique and is currently producing concentrates from 2-61b to the yd. Quartz boulders fist size and slightly larger were conspicuous and became the indication to the rich ore. The Front End Loader was employed for approx 15 samples to remove up to 8ft of overburden for sampling purposes in an endeavour to define this type of deposit described in a previous report. The other type which for conveniences sake we shall term 'detrial laterite'is common on much of the EL above the alluvium. Many contain tin in varying amounts but most are on gentle ridges or slopes, (Though up to 1/2 lb to the yd can be found at a fair height on Mount Todd). To date, the maximum depth has been approx 11ft where the value does not drop below 1 lb per yd or bedrock has been encountered. The origin or geology of this type of deposit is not fully understood at this stage, with its combination of smooth apparently waterworn rock types intermingled with their roughly hewn counterparts. This type of deposit tends to be more stanniferous with increased compaction.