First annual technical report for the period 20 April 2012 to 19 April 2013 EL 23287 Blue Mud Bay 2

Abstract

Exploration Licence EL 23287 (Blue Mud Bay 2) was granted on 20 April 2012 to Rio Tinto Aluminium Limited. This tenement was originally part of application ELA 1163 (Blue Mud Bay) and was split out as an application in its own right on the 27 June 2001 following the granting of a reconnaissance exploration permit by the Northern Land Council (NLC) under instructions from the traditional landowners in October 1998. EL 23287 was granted over an area of 107.1 km2 (32 sub blocks) which is approximately 15 percent of the original application (ELA 1163). Rio Tinto Exploration (RTX) has an agreement with Rio Tinto Aluminium whereby RTX manages and explores the licence areas. The main target mineral is bauxite. The tenement is located approximately 120 km southwest of Nhulunbuy in north-east Arnhem Land and are processed under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1975 (ALRA). Exploration completed during the reporting year was restricted to reviewing the previous exploration, developing a work programme and conducting an on county Work Programme Meeting convened by the NLC. No ground work was conducted.