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Title: EL 24286 Abner North Annual report on exploration activities year four of tenure period ending 23 January 2010
Title Holder / Company: Gravity Diamonds
Legend International Holdings
Report id: CR2010-0032
Tenure: EL24286
Year: 2010
Abstract: EL 24286 Abner North was granted to Gravity Diamonds Ltd ('Gravity') on 24 January 2005. Gravity, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Diamond Mines Australia Ltd (DMA), had an agreement with BHP Billiton to utilise BHP Billiton's FALCON airborne gravity gradiometer system in diamond exploration in Australia and Gravity established a number of diamond projects in northern Australia applying this innovative technology. The FALCON system has proven effective in detecting kimberlite pipes in Canada, Africa and in Australia. The BHP Billiton - DMA 'Falcon Agreement' allowed DMA to conduct exploration using Falcon with BHP Billiton retaining certain buy-in rights to major discoveries - a right that expired in February of 2009. During 2004, FALCON data was acquired over tenements controlled by DMA immediately to the south of EL 24286. The survey covered approximately 267 square kilometers with north south oriented flight lines 100m apart. flown at a mean terrain clearance of 80m. Gravity gradiometer, magnetics, and laser scanner data were gathered and compiled. Interpretation yielded a number of kimberlite targets and drilling of these targets in late 2004 and 2005 resulted in the discovery of the diamond-bearing ABN021 kimberlite pipe. During the initial years of tenure of EL 24286, available prior exploration data was compiled and reviewed and field work planning commenced. New colour aerial photography at 1:25,000 was flown over the tenement and interpreted and integrated with prior sampling data. Some limited sampling was carried out. In late 2006, a portion of the tenement was covered by an airborne Hoistem MkII survey. Several targets were identified by an independent geophysicist and further sampling was carried out during year 3 of tenure. Attempts were made to identify a viable vehicle access track onto the 'West Plateau' area of the tenement, however no suitable route was found and helicopter sampling has been required. Intense sampling was planned for the tenement for the 2008-2009 season along with a possible helicopter FALCON gravity gradiometer survey - however a crash involving the helicopter system during 2008 (pilots safely rescued and unharmed) and the advancing global liquidity crisis severely curtailed the programme. In April 2009 Gravity signed an agreement to sell the EL to Legend International Holdings Inc. Final settlement of this sale was completed in February 2010, considerably delayed over the timing originally anticipated. Regardless, Legend conducted several field investigations during 2009 and minor MMI and heavy mineral sampling programs. Further exploration programmes are already planned for the coming year over the Abner tenement package. Historically, Gravity Diamonds Limited has spent approximately $5.5m on diamond exploration in the Abner Range / McArthur Basin region since it took over management of the project under the exploration agreement with Ashton Mining Limited and others. A number of targets have been identified on tenement EL 24286.
Date Added: 16-Aug-2018
Appears in Collections:Minerals Exploration Reports (MEX)

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