Rockhampton Downs Project EL 27193 Partial surrender report for the period 26 October 2009 to 25 October 2011

Abstract

EL 27193 is part of the Rockhampton Downs Project (ELs 27193, 27194, 27195, 27891). To meet the end of Year 2 50% reduction requirement, a total of 250 blocks was relinquished from EL 27193, leaving the current retained area of 250 blocks. This Partial Surrender Report is for the period 26 October 2009 to 25 October 2011. The Rockhampton Downs Project, located approximately 90 to 235 km NE of Tennant Creek, is a sub-project of Vale's Georgina Phosphate Exploration Project and covers Cambrian sediments of the Georgina Basin. The sediments of the Georgina Basin range in age from late Proterozoic to early Palaeozoic. Outcrop within the project is limited with basement largely concealed beneath Cenozoic sediments. Phosphate exploration work on the surrendered area of EL 27193 comprised open file literature review; compilation and review of publicly available geological maps; acquisition of NRETAS environmental data; regional XRF analysis of water bore chip samples from historic water bore holes by CSIRO; regional geophysical basin modelling study by Mira Geoscience; field reconnaissance; and rock chip sampling (7 samples). The surrendered area was relinquished due to a lack of priority phosphate targets.