EL 8051 Mount Ringwood Annual report year two of tenure 28 April 1994 to 27 April 1995

Abstract

Soil sampling (-2mm) was conducted as a first pass test of the tenement. The sampling was carried out on a nominal 800m x 200m pattern with samples being sieved in the field to collect about 1 kg of soil. At each site a hole is dug through the obviously transported material to gain access to in-situ soil. In the case of mud plain areas holes were dug until a notable colour change (grey to orange-brown) was recognised and then a sample taken. All samples were dispatched to Amdel (Darwin) for low level gold analysis by fire assay and arsenic analysis by XRF. Some samples were also analysed for Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Bi, Mn and Fe by AAS. A total of 50 samples were collected in the program. The results for the sampling were generally low with a peak response recorded for gold being 5ppb. Results for As and base metals were also low. A short program of lag sampling was also completed over the south-eastern part of EL 8051 in order to test the validity of sampling in the predominantly covered areas. A total of 13 lag ( +2mm to -6mm) samples were collected from suitable sites on a nominal 800m x 200m pattern. The samples are collected using a heavy duty broom to sweep up surface material which is then sieved in the field to the correct size fraction. All samples were sent to Amdel for Au, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Ag, Bi, Mn, and Fe analysis by AAS. The results received for the sampling was again subdued with all results for gold returning below detection. From the sampling completed it has been concluded that the nature of the regolith in the south-eastern part of EL 8051, ie. generally transported, is not amenable to surface sampling techniques and that all results received from these areas are suspect.