Annual report for exploration licence EL 24552 for the period ending 25 August 2006

Abstract

The Harts Range Project lies in the southeast of the Northern Territory, roughly 100 to 140 kilometres northeast of Alice Springs (170 to 260 km by road, via the Plenty Highway). The project covers much of the central Harts Range, which is comprised of the Riddock Amphibolite Member of the Arunta Block. The lease area is underlain by gneisses and amphibolites of the Riddock Amphibolite, part of the Early Proterozoic Harts Range Group, in Division 2 of the eastern Arunta Block. The project also covers adjacent rocks, predominantly also Harts Range Group. The Harts Range was a major area of pegmatite-related mica mining in the early 20th century. Other mining in the lease area has generally been very small scale, targeting semi-precious gem minerals. High grade copper-gold mineralisation was investigated by Tanami Gold NL at its Copper Queen group of prospects in 2001-2005 and Power Nuclear Corporation of Japan (PNC) explored the area for uranium in the 1990s. The Oonagalabi copper-lead-zinc deposit was extensively investigated in the 1970s. The Jervois copper deposit(s), more than 100 km to the northeast, occurs in similar or related rocks to those in some parts of the tenement area and were mined intermittently from the 1960s to 1980s. The Harts Range ruby deposit was found in the late 1970s and mined from then into the early 1980s by Hillrise Properties and Mistral Mines. Barfuss Corporation has mineral claim coverage of the ruby mine, which is surrounded by EL 25063, and has its site office and camp located there. Barfuss Corporation is in discussions with the Central Lands Council regarding the establishment of an ILUA covering all of the company's Harts Range Project leases. This has delayed work on the project, but a substantial amount of non-invasive work has still been possible. Available 1:250,000 topographic and geological GIS (geographic information system) data has been compiled, a review of air-borne radiometric data has been made, reconnaissance investigations have been made to areas in several parts of the project, rock-chip samples collected for assay and ground spectrometer surveys have been conducted over several areas of potential interest. A number of areas warranting further investigation were identified from the radiometric data, the ground spectrometer surveys identified some anomalies needing further investigation, and the rock-chip assays include some highly anomalous results.