EL 25288 Annual report, 12 March 2009 to 12 March 2010

Abstract

Manganese and gold exploration was undertaken using a metal detector and rock chip sampling. Manganese - High grade pyrolusite floaters were found to extend a further 100 metres north along strike from my original discovery (Sample No. 326) on the access track to the Margaret Diggings. The first of the new floaters was discovered while using a new U.S. made high frequency metal detector (COLD BUG 2 ) which responds extremely well to pyrolusite. Further large floaters were then found on the surface. The reef probably extends further north under the black soil flat. This extends the length of the pyrolusite floaters to two kilometres along the western side of the 'Ardnarca Hill' ridge. However, there is a big section in the centre where no floaters are evident, probably because of the overburden from the steep doleritc ridge to the East. Fulher detailed exploration was carried out on the northern block of the EL but nothing of interest was discovered in that area. A small outcrop of high grade manganese was found near the south end of the reef, however it was only 400mm wide (Sample No. 337). Because the price of manganese has not significantly recovered from last years slump, I did not apply for substantial disturbance to do any trenching. I was also informed by OM Mining that their previous offer to explore and mine the reef has lapsed. I have recently purchased a new electric jackhammer and generator and will apply for substantial disturbance during 2010 to trench the reef by hand in a shallow area. If this work shows significant width of the deposit, I will then apply for substantial disturbance to use an excavator to explore the strike length, width and dip. Gold - Several reefs were sampled for gold. Because of the nuggety nature of the gold in the area I did not submit most of them for assay. I milled the samples in my portable rotary hammer mill and panned the pulp in clean water with detergent. No gold was evident. One of the samples that I did submit for assay (No. 127853) gave a result of 1.09 ppm Au from a Qtz/Fe reef cutting across a dolerite dyke approximately 700m East of Ardnarea Hill. Further exploration will be carried out in this area in 2010. An area approximately 200m to the north was previously drilled by Freeport about 20 years ago as a follow up from stream sediment sampling for gold. Six screened (-6mm) gravel samples were also taken from various gullies and panned. The best result was one small speck of gold, (approx .0l gm). This leads me to believe that the source of the gold on the old diggings is not on this EL or the Margaret Diggings in general. The presence of pyrolusite floaters in the alluvial gravel throughout the diggings may also support this view. Myself and others have previously detected water worn nuggets on top of ridges in the area. There has obviously been a lot of deep erosion. After complaints by the pastoralists of Mt Kingwood and Mt Keppler Stations, we decided to cease giving prospectors/detector operators access to our Great Northern claims. I have also had three prospecting/detecting articles published in the locally produced North Australian Fishing & Outdoors Magazine. This resulted in local and interstate people wishing to fossick or detect and asking me for permission. All were allowed onto this EL and most visitors found small nuggets. The Northern block of this EL has permanent water and good camp sites and gold in the creeks. I applied for a waiver of area reduction so that detecting etc by the public can continue until a Public Fossicking Area is declared in the Top End. The waiver was approved.