Annual report for Moonlight EL 28027 for the period 23 November 2010 to 22 November 2011

Abstract

An extensive literature review was completed by Remote Area GeoScience. A field trip to the Moonlight prospect was also completed. This trip confirmed that linear features seen on the satellite imagery are bulldozed lines and that they correspond with those made by Tin Creek Mining in 1971. Costean 2 was found, too. Therefore, Tin Creek Mining's data were reclaimed into the GIS dataset with moderate confidence of their location. During the field visit the area was described as 'remnant ferruginous hills in a relatively flat landscape.' The hills are densely vegetated. The depressions between the hills are clay-rich with abundant grey termite mounds. The ironcapped hills also have termite mounds perhaps suggesting a shallow incomplete iron cap. The surface of the iron cap is unconsolidated iron-rich rock of reasonable density. Seven rock chip samples were collected. An aqua regia digest was chosen to test how much leachable vanadium was within the samples. All samples returned between 0.20 and 0.64 percent V2O5. Some interesting observations were made. At sample site MOO11001 two samples were collected; Sample A was described as a 'slightly purple siltstone with manganese-rich fractures and coatings.' and Sample B was described to have 'some whole-scale conversion to haematite.' Sample A returned 0.24 percent V2O5, whereas sample B returned only 0.21 percent V2O5. These results contrast with what was thought when sampling, and confirm that vanadium is not necessarily enriched with the iron. Indeed the best results of 0.62 percent V2O5 was from some rather dull looking lag.