First annual report for SEL 23662 Cave Hills for the period 3 April 2003 to 2 April 2004

Abstract

During the reporting period, exploration included soil surveys, an aircore drilling program over Titania North and a RAB drilling program over the Challenger 1 prospect. Work completed during the reporting period comprised:605 soil samples, 2591 m of aircore and 2719 m of RAB drilling. The SEL was also included in a Tanami-wide regional structural mapping project. This project commenced in October 2003 and is still in progress. In conjunction with the structural project, ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) satellite imagery has been purchased, and is currently being interpreted to provide regional lithological, structural and mineral alteration signatures. It is proposed that future work will involve the evaluation of prospect areas defined by target generation from the regional structural and ASTER studies. Conceptual targets outlined will be assessed using surface geochemical sampling and/or aircore / RAB drilling, depending on the particular geological and regolith settings. Other work carried out at Titania has involved the further investigation of the prospect with a view to mining in 2005. This work was deemed necessary due to the significant technical problems associated with pit wall stability, pit dewatering and economic access identified in earlier work. The work required multiple consultants and contractors over a period of eight months, to date, to carry out work in the fields of Environmental Flora and Fauna studies, Geotechnical analysis of possible final wall stability, Ore and Waste characterisation and possible access routes. Also being carried out is a dewatering study to determine the system required to ensure dry mining conditions and identify a suitable water disposal technique.