EL 4196 Mount Shoobridge MCN's Annual report 1987-1988

Abstract

EL 4196 was granted to RM Biddlecombe on the 20 May 1983. The initial licence covered an area of 14 graticule blocks (45km square). Talmina Trading Pty Ltd were the operators of a joint venture from 1983 to 1986. The EL has since been reduced to 2 blocks, covering an area of 6km square. Access to the EL is via a number of dirt tracks which run south, off the Old Stuart Highway, in the vicinity of the Bridge Creek crossing. BHP Gold Mines Limited entered into an option agreement with RM Biddlecombe in July 1987. An extensive mapping, costeaning and percussion drilling programme, to test for significant gold mineralisation, was carried out from July to December 1987. BHP Gold Mines Limited subsequently purchased 51percent of EL 4196 from RM Biddlecombe in April 1988. One of the two remaining graticule blocks that now comprise EL 4196 was to be relinquished on 16 July 1988. The Department of Mines and Energy have approved reduction to be deferred until 19 July 1989, to allow BHP Gold Mines Limited to complete its exploration programme which was severely hindered by the wet season.