First Year Report Exploration Licence EL 32839 Helen Springs for the period 6 April 2022 to 5 April 2023

Abstract

Exploration License EL 32839 was originally obtained to explore for manganese due to prior exploration and geological similarities to the Bootu Creek Mine. Literature research however, revealed that adequate drilling had been carried out and the potential for economic deposits of manganese mineralisation was low. Consequently, the potential for non-manganese mineralisation within the Exploration Licence was investigated. Mining at the Bootu Creek Mine exposed oxide copper mineralisation within the upper Attack Creek Formation. Other zones of copper mineralisation are reported in the region including a hypogene copper occurrence in an area southwest of Banka Banka Station, possibly related to splay faults (Simpson 2000). Together, these copper occurrences indicate that the general region may be prospective for copper mineralisation, especially in the upper parts of the Attack Creek Formation. Areas within the Exploration Lease were identified which should have Attack Creek Formation at or the near surface. The current 1:250 000 Helen Springs Geological Map depicts a small outcrop of Attack Creek Formation in the core of a shallow anticline in the centre of the exploration license. If confirmed, this would indicate a large extent of prospective Attack Creek Formation at shallow depths. As a result of the area's prospectivity for copper, a reinterpretation of previous electromagnetic surveys was done to identify potential copper and other sulfide mineralisation. Although the 2007 airborne EM survey is dated, its reinterpretation yielded several EM anomalies which are slated for follow up using ground geophysical surveys to locate potential copper mineralisation.