Exploration Activities

A helicopter-supported reconnaissance mapping and sampling campaign was completed on the project during May 2011. This work targeted a series of geophysical anomalies identified on the basis of recent geophysical surveys (comprising 18 magnetic anomalies, 7 uranium anomalies and 1 potassium anomaly). Each of these anomalies was briefly visited to determine what causes each anomaly and if any interesting alteration or mineralisation is associated with the anomalies. Work completed during this reconnaissance survey included the following:

• 260 soil samples collected on lines across each anomaly (nominal 80m spacing),
• Geological observations (lithology, structure, alteration, mineralisation),
• Geophysical observations (scintillometer and magnetic susceptibility readings),
• 131 rock chip samples of typical rock types, interesting alteration and mineralisation.

In addition to these ground surveys, a large but disjointed package of tenements in the south and southeast of the project area were overflown as far south as the Rio Loa canyon to provide some idea of ground access, exposure level and basic geology. Finally, the Red Hill area (at the far north of the project) was overflown and geological observations plus sampling was completed over a series of old workings associated with a prominent NW-striking fault segment of the Salar Grande Fault.

 

Based on the geophysical work and the follow-up field checking and geochemical sampling, four areas of interest have been selected. It is recommended that each of these areas be subject to a follow-up soil sampling and prospect-scale mapping and geochemical sampling.