Annual report ERLs 46-55 period ending 17 November 1996

Abstract

The Bigrlyi Prospect was discovered in 1973 and since then, most exploration effort has been uranium-oriented. During 1990 there were significant increases in the price of vanadium which, although short-lived, prompted a re-appraisal of the Bigrlyi Prospect as a vanadium source. One area of particular interest is the extraction of vanadium which, although in principle relatively straightforward, needs also to be compatible with any other extraction procedure adopted for any other element. Several tests were done in 1992-1993 and these were completed in late 1994. Ongoing tests on the vanadium mineralogy were completed during 1995. The Bigrlyi Prospect ERLs 46-55 were renewed in September 1993 for a term of five years following application to the Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy in the middle of that year. Preliminary enquiries in regard to funding a geostatistical study for the Bigrlyi Prospect have been in abeyance for most of the year. Approaches to the Bryan Research Unit at the University of Queensland met with an initial acceptance of the idea, however, a change in the administration and the delay in the appointment of a new director meant that there has been little progress towards finding a student. Also, the cost of complete funding of a MSc student for a detailed study may be beyond the scope of the current and future budgets and discussion will continue with BRU and perhaps other institutions as to how the project can be accomplished within the budget available. In the meantime, the conversion of the drill-hole data and analytical results for the Anomaly 15115 Ext areas to a digital data format suitable for the work envisaged has commenced on a contract basis. It is anticipated that the base data-set will be largely completed before the end of the year.