Roper Project EL's 22478, 22479 and 22480 Group annual report for second year 10 August 2002 to 9 August 2003

Abstract

Exploration program over the project area was targeted for heavy mineral (HM) deposits enriched in ilmenite and titanomagnetite. Regional sampling program identified two mineralised regimes, an ilmenite-rich assemblage and a titanomagnetite HM assemblage. To test the mineralisation further, extensive auger hole drilling campaign was conducted. It also included excavation and processing of 150 cubic metes of mineralised soil from 7 macro-samples. Exploration program has identified three prospects namely BMC, BBan and Buka. At BMC prospect average grade of mineralisation is 2.97% HM with 87% ilmenite. A resource of 32 million tonnes has been estimated. A combined resource of 62.4 million tonnes has been estimated at Buka with no cut off grade. The ilmenite ore is comprised of brick red pisolitic laterite, red brown lateritic soil developed over doleritic bedrock, dark brown clays with abundant rounded sandstone and dolerite clasts and hard brownish black sandy clay gravels. Metallurgical studies showed that pisolitic ore from Buka and BMC is easily recoverable. The concentrate produced was a quality ilmenite with expected recoveries in excess of 95%. A flora survey of the project area was also conducted.