Australian Mineral Exploration Review 2012 · • Exploration spending in the search for new ... and knowledge which enables government and community to make informed ... 4 AUSTRALIAN

AustralianMineral Exploration

Review 2012

FEBRUARY 2013 Authors: Anthony Senior and Roger Skirrow

OVERVIEW• Explorationexpenditure

intheperiodJuly2011toJune2012roseby$1002millionto$3953million,anincreaseof34%.

• Alljurisdictionsrecordedincreasesinexplorationexpenditure.

• WesternAustraliadominatedexplorationspendinginAustraliawith53%oftotalexpenditurefollowedbyQueenslandwith25%andSouthAustraliawith8%.

• Explorationspendinginthesearchfornewmineralisationingreenfieldsdistrictsroseby 20%fortheyear.

• SomesignificantexplorationdiscoveriesweremadethisyearinnewmineralprovincesincludingtheNovanickel‑copperdepositandtheDampierheavymineralsandsdepositinWesternAustraliaandtheMalleeBullcopper‑silver‑golddiscoveryinNewSouthWales.

EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE REVIEWBasedondatareleasedbytheAustralianBureauofStatisticstotalmineralexplorationexpenditureforthe2011–12financialyearwas$3953million,anincreaseof34% comparedtothe2010–2011financialyear($2951million).Explorationexpenditureincreasesforindividualcommoditiesweregreatestindollartermsforironorewhichwasup73%to$1150.7million,followedbycoal(up61%to$834.3million),basemetals(includingcopper,lead,zinc,silver,nickelandcobalt;up19%to$795.5m),and gold(up 18%to$768million).Mineralsandsexplorationspendingjumped62% to$42.3 million.Althoughexplorationspendingonagroupofothercommoditiesthatincludestungsten,vanadium,rareearthelementsandmolybdenumwas5thoverallat$199million,thisincreasedjust1.5%.Spendingonuraniumexplorationwasdown28% to$153.7million,thelowestsince2006–07.

AllStatesandtheNorthernTerritoryrecordedincreasesinexplorationspendingin2011–12relativeto2010–11.OnceagainWesternAustraliareceivedthelargestexplorationspendingat$2106.8million(up33%).QueenslandincreaseditsshareofAustralianexplorationspendingto25%inthefinancialyear(up46%to$967.5million),andNewSouthWalesspendingjumped58%to$242.2million.SolidincreaseswerealsorecordedbySouthAustralia(up29%to$328.4million)andtheNorthernTerritory(up8%to$210.4million).SpendinginTasmaniaandVictoriashowedmodestincreasesof5%(to$39.3million)and2%(to$58.4million),respectively.

Substantialincreasesinexpenditurewasrecordedfor2011–12comparedtothepreviousfinancialyearatbothexistingdeposits(brownfields,up42%to$2710million)andatnewdeposits(greenfields,up20%to$1243million).Totalmetresdrilledalsoincreasedatbothbrownfields(up23%to7709kilometres)andgreenfieldsprojects(up 8%to3700kilometres).

GEOSCIENCE AUSTRALIAGeoscienceAustraliaisaprescribedagencywithintheResources,EnergyandTourismportfoliooftheAustralianGovernment.TheMinisterisTheHonourableMartinFergusonAMMP.

GeoscienceAustraliaisaworldleaderinprovidingfirst‑classgeoscientificinformationandknowledgewhichenablesgovernmentandcommunitytomakeinformeddecisions about:

• theuseofresources,

• managementoftheenvironment,

• communitysafetyand

• protectionofcriticalinfrastructure.

Online Version: www.ga.gov.au/cedda/publications/1200

AUSTRALIAN MINERAL EXPLORATION REVIEW 20122

Figure 1: Australianmineralexplorationexpenditureinconstant2011–2012dollars(BasedonAustralianBureauofStatisticsdatadeflatedbyConsumerPriceIndex).

GeoscienceAustraliaprovidespre‑competitivegeoscientificinformationthatsupportsandfacilitatesmineralandenergyexplorationinAustralia.Thisisachievedthroughintegratedprogramsofdatagatheringandassessment,conductedatthenationalandregionalscales.

SELECTED EXPLORATION RESULTS 2012ExplorationresultsovertheperiodDecember2011toDecember2012havebeenselectedbyGeoscienceAustraliafrompubliclyavailableinformationsources,basedontheirlikelyfuturesignificancefortheAustralianexplorationandminingindustries.

Theresultsarelistedbycommodityinalphabeticalorder:basemetalsandsilver,bauxite,copperandcopper‑gold,gold,graphite,heavymineralsands,ironore,lithium,manganese,nickel,phosphate,rare‑earthelements,tin,tungsten,and uranium.

Foreachcommodity,theresultsarepresentedinalphabeticalorderofStatesandtheNorthernTerritory.Thelocationsoftheexplorationprojectsareshowninthefigures.Explorationprojectsdiscussedinthetextwithsignificantdrillholeintersectionsornewlyupgradedmineralresourcesarealsoidentifiedinthecentrefoldmap.

BASE METALS AND SILVER New South Wales

Silver Mines Ltd’sdiamonddrillingprogramattheWebbssilverprojectintheNewEnglandregionwillassistwithgeologicalinterpretationofthedepositandprovidedrillcoresamplesformetallurgicaltestwork.Reportedresultsinclude:

6.45 m @ 200 grams per tonne (g/t) Ag, 0.33% Cu, 1.57% Pb and 1.23% Zn

7.8 m @ 464 g/t Ag, 0.78% Cu, 2.17% Pb and 1.69% Zn

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltdannounceda40%increaseinmineralresourcesatitsBowdensprojectwhichislocated240kmnorthwestofSydneynearthevillageofLue.The totalresourcenowstandsat:

88 Mt @ 47.4 g/t Ag, 0.29% Pb, 0.39% Zn, 64.4 g/t for 134.1 million ounces of Ag

Northern Territory

Rox Resources Ltd advisedthatassayresultsfromthere‑samplingoftwohistoricdrillholesfromthenewlyidentifiedTeenazincprospect,located10kmwestoftheworldclasszinc‑leadMcArthurRiverdeposit,haveconfirmedTeenaasasignificantmediumtohighgradezoneofZn‑Pb‑Agmineralisation.Bestresultsofthere‑samplinginclude:

11.3 m @ 10.9% Zn +Pb and 14 g/t Ag

8.6 m @ 9.84% Zn + Pb and 23 g/t Ag

Kentor Gold Ltd reportedshallowCu‑Ag‑Pb‑Zn‑AumineralisationfromRCdrillingattheirJervoisproject,confirmingtheopenpitpotentialofthedeposit.KentorGoldLtdisplanningtocommenceminingin2014.Resultsfromthedrillingwere:

33.8 m @ 1.79% Cu, 0.28% Pb, 0.34% Zn, 28.48 g/t Ag and 0.29 g/t Au

Kidman Resources Ltdreportedonassayresultsfromareversecirculation(RC)drillingprogramundertakenattheirHome of BullionprojectlocatednearBarrowCreek.The programidentifiedmultiplehigh‑gradepolymetallic(Cu‑Ag‑Pb‑Zn‑Au)intercepts.Mineralisationisclosetosurface.Resultsinclude:

4 m @ 4.7% Cu, 5.1% Zn, 84.6 g/t Ag, 1.3% Pb and 0.52 g/t Au

3 m @ 2.7% Cu, 2.3% Zn, 45.5 g/t Ag, 0.45% Pb and 0.46 g/t Au

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Table 1: A selection of Australian mineral discoveries since 2002

Year State Deposit/Project Commodities Status

2002 WA Jaguar Cu,Pb,Zn,Ag Mine;July2010resource:[email protected]%Cu,0.7%Pb,8.8%Zn,124g/tAg

2002 WA Copernicus Ni,Cu,Co Minenotcurrentlyoperating;June2010resource:6164tNi,4401tCu,255tCo

2004andlater WA AlecMairsorebodies Ni MinewithproductionfromAM1orebody

2004 WA Trident Au Mine;January2010resource:0.9MozsAu

2004 SA Jacinth&Ambrosia Mineralsands Mine;December2007resource:[email protected]%HM

2005 WA Tropicana Au Feasibilitystudies;December2009resource:5.01MozsAu

2005 SA FourMile U DecisiontomineFourMileWest;January2010resource5.7Mt@ 0.34%U3O8

2005 SA Tripitaka Mineralsands Feasibilitystudy;September2006resource:[email protected]%HM

2005 SA Carrapateena Cu,Au Exploration;[email protected]%Cu,0.9g/tAu,11.5g/tAg

2005 WA Caliwingina Fe Exploration;November2010resource;[email protected]%Fe;Channel IronDepositandDetritalore;PilbaraRegion

2006 SA Gullivers Mineralsands Exploration;PartofEuclaBasinMineralSandsProject

2006 QLD MountCarlton Au,Ag,Cu Feasabilitystudy;October2009resource:22.8Mt@1,60g/tAu,51g/tag,0.3%Cu

2006 NSW McPhillamys Au Feasibilitystudy;July2010resource:3MozsAu,61 000tCu

2006 WA CooljarlooNorth Mineralsands Scopingstudycompleted;Currentresource:[email protected]%HM

2006 QLD Rocklands Cu Feasibilitystudy;September2010resource0.51MtCu,43 160tCo,0.34MozsAu

2007 WA SpottedQuoll Ni Mine;December2010resource:108 120TNi

2007 SA Dromedary Mineralsands Exploration;EuclaBasin

2007 WA Cyclone Mineralsands Exploration;[email protected]%HM;EuclaBasin

2008 VIC Chewton Au Exploration;June2008resource:0.57MozsAu

2008 VIC Stavely Cu,Pb,Zn,Ag,Au Exploration;June2010resource:480 300tCu

2008 QLD Merlin Mo,Re Exploration;August2010resource:6.7Mtat1.34%Mo,23.2/tRe

2008 WA Bentley Cu,Pb,Zn,Ag,Au Developingmine;November2010resource:[email protected]%Cu,9.8% Zn,0.6%Pb,139g/tAg,0.7g/tAu

2008 NT MountPeak V,Fe,Ti 160Mtgrading0.3%V2O5,5.0%TiO2and23%Fe

2009 WA DeGrussa Cu,Au,Ag Pre‑feasibilitystudy;November2010resource:[email protected]%Cu,1.9 g/tAu,15g/tAg&[email protected]%Cu,0.5g/tAu

2010 SA Maldorky Fe AdvancedExploration;December2011resource:[email protected]%Fe

2010 NT BarrowCreek P AdvancedExploration;253Mt@15%P2O5

2012 WA Nova Ni,Cu AdvancedExporation

2012 WA Dampier Mineralsands Exploration;[email protected]%HM

2012 NSW MalleeBull Cu,Ag,Au Exploration;September2012

HM =Heavyminerals

Resource =Mineralresource(measured,indicatedorinferred).Pleaserefertocompanyreportsforfulldetails.


STATE AND TERRITORY GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES SUPPORTING MINERAL EXPLORATION

Northern Territory

NorthernTerritoryGovernment’s7year(2007–2014),$25.8millionBRINGINGFORWARDDISCOVERYinitiativeisdesignedtohighlightandpromotetheTerritory’sunder‑exploredmineralandpetroleumpotential.

BringingForwardDiscoveryincludesextensiveregionalgravitysurveysandfield‑basedgeologicalmappingandprospectivityassessments,withanemphasisonunder‑exploredgreenfieldsregionssuchastheAruntaregionandAmadeusBasinincentralAustralia.Theinitiativealsoprovidesfundingforcollaborativedrillingwithexplorers,alongwithcollaborativefundingforregional‑scalegeophysicalsurveysandimprovingweb‑baseddeliveryofinformation.www.minerals.nt.gov.au/ntgs

Western Australia

TheMay2012WesternAustralianStatebudgetincludedacommitmentintheforwardestimatestocontinuethehighlyregardedExplorationIncentiveScheme(EIS)fromJuly2013untilatleastJune2016.Thiswillmeanthatbymid2016,thegovernmentwillhaveinvested$138millionover

sevenyearsintoencouragingdiscoveryofresourcesingreenfieldareasoftheState.

MajorcomponentsoftheEISincludethecompletionoftheState’scoveragebyairbornemagneticandradiometricsurveysat400 morlesslinespacing,amajorexpansionoftheareacoveredbygravitysurveys,governmentco‑fundingofinnovativeexplorationdrillingbycompaniesinunder‑exploredareas,stratigraphicdrilling,deepseismiclines,and3Dgeologicalandmineralizationmapping.

UsingEISandAustralianGovernment(CarbonCaptureandStorageFlagshipsProgram)funding,GSWAwillpublishpre‑competitivegeoscienceinformationrelatingtothepotentialtostoreCO2inthePerthandCanningBasins.AspartoftheWesternAustraliangovernment‑initiatedKimberleyScienceandConservationStrategy,GSWAhasbeenprovided$3millionoverthreeyearsbeginningin2011–12toundertakebaselinegeophysicalsurveys(gravityandmagneto‑telluric)andregolithmappingandsoilgeochemistrysurveysoverthenorthwesternKimberleyregion.www.dmp.wa.gov.au

South Australia

PACE2020buildsonthegloballyrecognisedPlanforAcceleratingExplorationinitiative(2004–2011;$30.9 million)byprovidinganadditional$10.2millionspecificallydesignedtodriveforwardminingdevelopment,unlocknewareasofSouthAustraliaforexploration,furtherstreamline

theprocessfromexplorationtominedevelopment,andprovidefirstclassdatadeliveryservicestotheresourcesindustry.PACE 2020willcontinuetoactastheprimarymechanisminbuildingSouthAustralia’sinternationalprofileandstrengtheninginvestorconfidenceintheState’sresourcessector.Anticipated2012releasesincludenewmappingfromtheMusgravesprovinceandStatewidepaleochannelmap,a3DcoversequencereconstructionanddepthtobasementmapoftheEastern GawlerCratonplusthereleaseofaStatewideASTERdataset.ThenewreleaseofSARIGwillbeexpandedtoincludenewinfrastructurelayers;seismicimageryandmorediversifiedgeophysicaldatalayers.PACE2020willalsobenchmarktheState’sexplorationandminingpolicies,guidelinesandapprovalsprocessestoensureworld’sbestpracticeforSouthAustralia.CollaborativeopportunitiesarediversifiedthroughPACE2020withPACETargeting(collaborativegeophysics)andPACEGeochronology(mineralsystemdating)joiningthehighlysuccessfulPACEDiscoveryDrillingprogram. www.pir.sa.gov.au

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Queensland

In2012theGeologicalSurveyofQueensland(GSQ)completedtheannualminerallandreleaseinnorthwestQueenslandandtheprovisionofnewgrantsforinnovativeexplorationactivitiesundertheCollaborativeDrillingInitiative.Italsoreleasednewgravity,magnetic,andradiometricgeophysicaldataovertheGalileeBasinandThomsonarea.TheGSQworkedincollaborationwithCSIROtoproduceamineralmapusingASTER

satellitedata;geologicalagedatingofQueenslandrocksusingzirconSHRIMPdatingdoneincollaborationwithGeoscienceAustralia,aswellasAr/ArdatingofsamplesfromtheHodgkinsonBasinbytheUniversityofMelbourne—SchoolofEarthSciences.TheGSQalsoappliedahighresolutioninversionmodelforprospectivityanalysisontheLawnHillplatformandhasbeenworkingwithTheUniversityofQueenslandtocompilegeochemistryandgeochronologydataacrossQueenslandfrompost‑graduatestudies.AprojecthascommencedredefiningthesouthernThomsonOrogenincludinggeochronologyincollaborationwithGeoscienceAustralia.WorkhasalsocommencedondepthtobasementanalysisofthesouthernThomsonOrogenandRedRiverProvince,includingaprospectivitystudyofRedRiver.www.dnrm.qld.gov.au

New South Wales

TheNEWFRONTIERSinitiativeisanexplorationenhancementtofurtherstimulatemineralandpetroleuminvestmentinunder‑exploredterranesofNewSouthWales.NewFrontiersbuildsonthe

successesoftheExplorationNSWinitiative.NewFrontiershasbeenextendedbythreeyears(2008–2011)tocontinuethegovernmentprogramofpre‑competitivefundingofgeophysicalsurveys,datacompilation,mapping,datainterpretation,anddatadelivery.TheNewFrontiersprogramfocusesonapplyingnewtechnologiesandinterpretativeprocessestotheremoteandunder‑exploredregionsoftheState.Theseleadingedgegeophysical,geochemical,andmodellingtechnologieswilllowerriskandchallengetheexplorationfrontier.www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/minerals

Victoria

Thethree‑year,$9millionGoldUndercoverinitiativewascompletedin2009.Itdeliverednewgeoscientificinformationtohelpexplorers

tosearchforgolddepositsunderthesedimentarycoverinnorthernVictoria.Theprogramaimedto:(a)captureandinterpretnewdataongeophysics,crustalarchitecture,geochronology,geochemistry,mineralogy,andgolddepositmodelsincentralandwesternVictoria;(b)estimateprobableundiscoveredgoldendowment;and(c)improvegeologicaldatabasesandprovidebetteraccesstogeosciencedata.Reportsandassociateddatamaybedownloadedatwww.dpi.vic.gov.au/minpet/store.The fouryear(untilJune2011),$5millionRediscoverVictoriainitiativecomprisedadrillinggrantprojectthatreimbursedexplorationcompaniesaproportionofapprovaldrillingcosts,andthe3DVictoriaprojectthatwillproducea3DmodeloftheState.www.dpi.vic.gov.au/minpet

Tasmania

Detailed3DmodelsofNETasmaniawerecompletedin2012.ProjectsdesignedtoenhancetheprospectivityofWesternTasmaniaundertheWesternTasmaniaGeoscienceInitiativehavecommenced.TheseincludeagravitysurveytoinfillareasofsparsecoverageinNW

Tasmania,aLIDARsurveyintheClevelandminearea,targetedmappingintheSundownandLuinaareasandrefinementoftheTasmanian3DmodeloverthecentralnorthandpartsoftheWestCoast.WorkhascommencedontheSEAustralian3DmodelprojectwithGeoscienceAustraliaandGeoScienceVictoria,whichwillresultinthedevelopmentofaunifiedmodelofSEAustraliabyJune2015.www.mrt.tas.gov.au


Figure 2: Selectedbasemetals,bauxite,copperandcopper‑goldexplorationprojects,2012.

South Australia

Investigator Resources Ltd announcedhigh‑gradesilverintersectionsattheParissilverprospectontheEyrePeninsula.Sixdiamonddrillholesandforty‑threeRCpercussionholeswerecompleted,withthefollowingassayhighlights:

22 m @ 1318 g/t Ag (including 9 m @ 2799 g/t Ag)

3.4 m @ 1564 g/t Ag

Lincoln Minerals Ltdadvisedanewbasemetalsdiscoverycomprisingintersectionsofsignificantcopper‑lead‑zincandsilvermineralisation,fromadiamonddrillingprogramconductedatMinbrienearBungalowontheeastcoastoftheEyrePeninsula.Thedrillcorecontainedvisiblecopper,leadandzincsulphides(chalcopyrite,galenaandsphalerite)observedinassociationwithpyrite‑pyrrhotitemineralisation.FieldportableXRFresultsinclude:

27 m @ 0.71% Cu, 2.8% Pb, 1.9% Zn and 8.5 g/t Ag

7 m @ 1.85% Cu, 6.9% Pb, 2.9% Zn, and 17.3 g/t Ag

Queensland

Red Metal LtdannouncedresultsfromadiamonddrillholeattheirMaronansilver‑leadprojectintheMountIsaInlier.Althoughthedrillholedeviatedfromthetargettwozonesofsilverandleadmineralisationwereintersectedatadeeperlevelwithinbandedironformation.Adaughterholeisplannedtointersecttheoriginaltarget.Resultstodateinclude:

5.1 m @ 6.45% Pb and 35.9 g/t Ag

4.3 m @ 2.59% Pb and 97.5 g/t Ag

Victoria

Synergy Metals Ltdprovidedanupdateontheresultsfromthecompany’sexplorationprogramatthe Forsythprospectlocated4kmfromOmeo.Resultshavebeenreceivedfromaninitialthree‑holediamonddrillingprogramtotalling466m.Theprogramwasdesignedtoobtaingeologicalinformationandtestformineralisationidentifiedinhistoricprospecting.Resultsinclude:

5.35 m @ 334.2 g/t Ag, 4.70 g/t Au, 0.29% Pb and 0.68% Zn

Western Australia

MacPhersons Resources Ltd announcedsuccessfuldrillingresultsatitsNimbussilver‑zinc‑goldprojectlocated10kmeastofKalgoorlie.Drillresultsinclude:

25 m @ 222 g/t Ag and 2.8% Zn (including 1.5 m 1553 g/t Ag and 20.7 % Zn)

16 m @ 161 g/t Ag (including 4 m @ 326 g/t Ag)

5.1 m @ 454 g/t Ag

AusQuest LtdadvisedthatresultsfromtherecentlycompletedreconnaissanceRCdrillingprogramattheDundasproject,100kmeast‑southeastofNorseman,hasidentifiedbroadzones(~30m)ofhighlyanomalousbasemetalmineralisation,withpeakvaluesupto26g/tAg,4200partspermillion(ppm)Zn,772ppmPb,2570ppmCuand101partsperbillion(ppb)Auplusseveralnarrowintersectionsofgold‑onlymineralisationwithvaluesupto4.1g/tAu.Thedrillingprogramcomprised20holesfor

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1916m,andwasdesignedtoprovideaninitialtestofgold(+/‑Cu,ZnandAg)anomaliesoutlinedbyanearliershallowrotaryairblast(RAB)drillingprogram.Drillingdepthsvariedfrom80to100m.Thickzones(upto30m)ofhighlyanomaloussilverandbasemetalvalueswerereportedfromthecentraltargets,andincludethefollowinghighergradeintervals:

5 m @ 14 g/t Ag, 2582 ppm Zn, 594 ppm Pb and 58 ppb Au

11 m @ 2.5 g/t Ag, 434 ppm Zn, 1657 ppm Cu and 16 ppb Au

BAUXITEQueensland

Australian Bauxite LtdreportedonlaboratoryandexplorationresultsfromdrillingandsurfaceexplorationatitsBinjourbauxiteproject,100kmsouthwestofBundaberg.Theprogramof133holesdrilledin2012intersectedathicklayerofbauxitelocatedbeneathasurfaceclayhorizon.Someexceptionallyhighgrade,thickgibbsite‑richbauxitewasdiscoveredincluding:

4 m @ 36.66 % Al2O3

8 m @ 48.78% Al2O3

Western Australia

AnexplorationdrillingcampaignwascompletedattheFelicitasdepositbyBauxite Resources Ltd,northofWundowieontheNorthernDarlingRange,withtheaimofdefiningadditionalbauxiteresources.Thedrillingprogramcomprised3406verticalholesforatotalof22 941m.The dataindicatethatapproximately55%ofholescontainingavailablealuminahavegradesofgreater than or equal to 25% Al2O3 over thicknesses of 2 m or more.The mineralisationispresentwithin0.5mofsurface,andbauxitethicknessesofupto16mwereintersected.

COPPER (INCLUDING COPPER-GOLD)New South Wales

Arks Mines Ltdreportedencouragingcopperinterceptsatshallowdepths,onadrillingprogramatthe100%ownedWirrilahprojectwhichissituatedbetweentheMineralHillandHera/NymageeMinesatNangeryboneintheLachlanFoldBelt.ShallowRCholesweredrillednearoldmineworkingstotestforthepresenceofcoppermineralisation.Copperwasdetectedinthreedrillholesatshallowdepths.Resultsinclude:

27 m @ 0.2% Cu

Silver City Minerals LtdannouncedresultsfromanRCdrillprogramattheGolden KingprojectnortheastofBrokenHill.DrillingintersectedsomeofthebestcoppermineralisationrecordedintheBrokenHilldistrict.Resultsincluded:

22 m @ 0.61% Cu

12 m @ 0.41% Cu

12 m @ 1.34% Cu

Capital Mining LtdreleasedaresourceupdatefortheirMayfieldgold,copper,silver,zincandironprospectbasedonarecentaircore(AC)andRCdrillingprogramwhichhasliftedthegoldgradeofthegold‑copperdominantmineralisationby14%to0.7g/tandtheestimatedcontainedgoldby23%from77 000ozto94 800oz.The resourcesofoxideandsulphidemineralisationinthe JORCInferredandIndicatedcategoriesnowstandas follows:

Gold‑copperdominantmineralisation:4.0 million tonnes @ 0.4% Cu, 0.7 g/t Au, 8.8 g/t Ag, 0.2% Zn and 25.4% Fe

Zincdominantmineralisation:0.9 million tonnes @ 2.36% Zn, 5.9 g/t Ag and 0.1% Cu

Significantinterceptsfromthedrillingprograminclude:20 m @ 6.86 g/t Au, 2.1 g/t Ag, 0.27% Cu and 46.3% Fe

36 m @ 1.81 g/t Au, 4.3 g/t Ag. 0.1% Cu and 29% Fe

Anewgold,silverandcopperdiscoveryhasbeenmadebyClancy Exploration LtdattheirMeritilga prospectatCondobolin.AssociatedwiththepreviouslyuntestedMeritilgaFaultZonethemineralisationhasastrikelengthof1km,muchofwhichremainsuntested.ResultsfromthereversecirculationRCdrillingprogramincludeahighgradegoldshootandabroadzoneoflowergradegold‑copper‑silvermineralisation:

4 m @ 20 g/t Au, 0.26% Cu and 30.2 g/t Ag (including 1 m @ 62 g/t Au and 60 g/t Ag)

31 m @ 0.4 g/t Au, 0.18% Cu and 16 g/t Ag (including 11 m @ 0.8 g/t Au, 0.5% Cu and 19.5 g/t Ag)

Peel Mining LtdreportedverygoodassayresultsfromtheMallee Bull prospectlocated105kmsouthofCobar.Thedrillholeintersectedabroadzoneofstringer/brecciamineralisationincludingahighgradechalcopyrite‑dominantmineralisedzone.Adown‑holeelectromagnetic(EM)surveydefinedanextremelystrongconductorresponse.Copper‑dominantsulphidemineralisationnowextendsfrom 150mbelowsurfacetoatleast600mbelowsurfaceandremainsopeninmultipledirectionsincludingdowndip/plunge.Drill resultsinclude:

69 m @ 3.48% Cu, 34 g/t Ag and 0.14 g/t Au (including a high grade zone of 18 m @ 9.35% Cu, 83 g/t Ag and 0.43 g/t Au)

Northern Territory

Adelaide Resources LtdreportedassaysfromarecentdiamonddrillprogramattheirRover 12 prospectabout85 kmsouthwestofTennantCreek.Thedrillingprogramhasconfirmedthepresenceofgoldandcoppermineralisation.Mineralisationishostedwithinironstonealthoughthehighestgradesarehostedbyashearzonesub‑paralleltotheironstonebody.Theironstonesystemisopenatdepthandtotheeastandwest.

8 AUSTRALIAN MINERAL EXPLORATION REVIEW 2012

Theshearzoneremainsopenalongstrikeandatdepth.Typicalresultsinclude:

Shearzone:4 m @ 1.22% Cu and 5.57 g/t Au

Ironstone:17 m @ 0.76% Cu and 0.02 g/t Au

Emmerson Resources LtdannouncednewhighgradecopperandbismuthresultsfromadiamonddrillingprogramattheirGoannaprospectneartheGeckomineintheTennantCreekgoldfield.Theseresultsconfirmthatmineralisationremainsopenatdepth.Drillresultsinclude:

24 m @ 1.95% Cu (including 9 m at 3.18% Cu and 984 ppm Bi)

24 m @ 2.18% Cu and 29.3% Fe (including 4.7 m at 3.37% Cu and 0.13 g/t Au)

Queensland

AdiamonddrillingprogrambySyndicated Metals LtdattheirAndy’s Hillsprojectlocated60kmsoutheastofMountIsahasidentifiedawidezoneofintensealterationwithdisseminatedandveinstylechalcopyriteandsignificantrare‑earthelementmineralisation.Drillingreached494mandterminatedinalteredandmineralisedrock.Initialassaysreturned:

1.3% Cu, 0.5 g/t Au and up to 0.21% lanthanum

Ina31‑holeresourcedefinitiondrillingprogrambyIvanhoe Australia Ltdatthe Starra 276 prospectinthesouthernCloncurrydistrictoftheMtIsaInlier,significanthighgradecopper‑goldintersectionswereidentifiedinthreedrillholes,including:

20 m @ 2.56% Cu and 0.75 g/t Au (including 1.6 m @ 9.45 Cu and 1.62 g/t Au)

18 m @ 2.01% Cu and 0.91 g/t Au (including 2 m @ 4.5% Cu and 3.51 g/t Au)

Copper explorer Coppermoly Ltd announcedsuccessfulcompletionofathree‑dimensionalinducedpolarisation(3DIP)geophysicalprogrammeattheSeftonprospectintheNewEnglandFoldBelt,identifyingasignificantanomaly.TheIPanomalyisinterpretedtoberelatedtoiron,andpossiblycopperandmolybdenumsulphides,centredonaporphyryintrusionatdepthbeneathathinlayerofgravels.A1300mby400mcopper‑in‑soilsgeochemicalanomalythatoccurspartlycoincidentwithandsouthofthesulphidetargetlikelyrepresentstransportedmineralisationinthenear‑surfacegravels.

ActivEX LtdannouncedresultsofRCdrillingatWhite HorseintheEskTroughJointVentureareawithCoppermoly Ltd.ThedrillingprogramispartofaprogramaimedtotestporphyryprospectsintheNewEnglandFoldBelt.WhiteHorsewasidentifiedinhistoricaldrillingandrefinedbyrecent3DIPsurveys.Thedrillprogramconsistedof9holestotalling654m.Highlightsoftheprograminclude:

26 m @ 0.85% Cu

28 m @ 0.96% Cu

92 m @ 0.36% Cu (including 15 m @ 1.09% Cu)

South Australia

Adelaide Resources LtdannouncedassaysresultsfromaRCdrillingprogramattheWillamulkaprospectlocatedintheMoontadistrictofthesoutheasternGawlerCratonontheYorkePeninsula.Drillingconfirmedthepresenceofshallowcopper‑goldmineralisationovera1200mstrikelength,andincludesashootofthicker,highergrademineralisationlocatedinthesouthwesternpartoftheprospectwithastrikelengthofatleast550mandashallowplungetothesouthwest.Itpersiststothebaseofthincoversedimentsonsomedrillsectionsandremainsopenatdepthonmostdrillsections.Explorationatthisprojectison‑goingwithACdrilltestingofnorthernextensionsofthemineralisedzone.Two diamonddrillholesweredesignedtotestifmineralisationpersistsbelowthedepthreachedbypreviousACdrilling.Assaysfromthedrillinghighlightedanumberofsignificantintersectionsincluding:

11 m @ 0.98% Cu and 0.93 g/t Au

10 m @ 0.7% Cu

14 m @ 1.04% Cu and 0.32 g/t Au

OZ Minerals LtdreportedexplorationresultsfromaninfilldrillingprogramaimedatconvertingInferredResourcestoIndicatedattheirCarrapateenaproject,100kmsoutheastoftheOlympicDamCu‑U‑Audeposit.Thenewdrillingextendsthemineralisationatdepthbeyondthecurrentresourceboundary.Resultsinclude:

1131 m @ 1.52% Cu and 0.63 g/t Au (including 111 m @ 2.96% Cu and 0.4 g/t Au)

1492 m @ 0.9% Cu and 0.38 g/t Au

Tasmania

AsignificantcopperdiscoveryhasmadeattheMt Jukesproject,ajointventurebetweenJaguar Minerals LtdandCorona Gold Ltd.TheMtJukesprojectislocatedintheMt ReadVolcanicssouthofQueenstown.Thefirstdiamonddrillholereachingthetarget,amagnetichigh,interceptedcoppermineralisation,withfurtherholesawaitingassay.Resultsfromthefirstholeare:

122 m @ 0.4% Cu

Western Australia

Encounter Resources LtdhasidentifiedalargescalecopperoxideanomalyattheirBM7projectinthePatersonProvince.TheprojectislocatedattheintersectionofthenortheasttrendingQueenFaultandtheregionallyextensiveMcKayFault.MineralisationhasbeendefinedbyACdrillingovera3.5kmstrikelengthalongtheQueenFaultandremainsopenatbothextremities.ArecentdiamonddrillingprogramatBM7intersectedextensivezonesofcopper‑cobaltsulphidemineralisationwithresultsincluding;

9

227 m @ 0.22% Cu and 338 ppm cobalt



Integra Mining LtdhascompletedadrillingprojectattheirImperial prospect,located500mnorthwestoftheMajesticgolddeposit,50kmeast‑southeastofKalgoorlie.MineralisationishostedwithinthesamegranodioriteunitasthathostingtheMajesticdeposit,andsimilarporphyrydykesarepresentatbothMajesticandImperial.TruewidthofthemineralisedzoneattheImperialprospecthasnotbeendetermined,andisopenalongstriketothenorth.Assaysfromdiamonddrillingincluded:

19 m @ 4.39 g/t Au (including 6.2 m @ 13.43 g/t Au and 1.5% Cu)

AnRCdrillingprogramof20holeshasbeencompletedbyHorseshoe Metal LtdattheRinaldiprospectintheGascoyneregion.Thisprogramdefinedcoppermineralisationalonganorth‑southorientatedfaultzone.Mineralisationwasobservedin17ofthe20holesandthecompanyisplanningafollow‑updiamonddrillingprogram.BestresultsoftheRCdrillinginclude:



Riedel Resources LtdreportedassayresultsfromanextensivesoilandrockchipgeochemicalsamplingprogramattheirMarymia projectslocated30kmeastofSandfireResourcesNL’sDeGrussacopper‑goldmine.Thesurveycomprised1832soilsamplesand21rockchipsamplesinpreviouslyunexploredorunderexploredareaswithintheexplorationlease.Futureworkisplannedincludinginfillgeochemicalsampling,detailedgeologicalmappingandACdrilling.Thegeochemicalsurveyyieldedsignificantgold,copper,silver,tungstenandironoreresultsincluding:

Soilsamples:247 ppb Au, 117 ppm Cu and 3.71 ppm Ag

Rockchipsamples:45.9% Fe and 61.9 ppm W

GOLDNew South Wales

IntheMajorsCreekGoldfield,Cortona Resources Ltdadvisedthatrecentdrillinghasintersectedfurtherhigh‑gradegoldmineralisationattheRuby Lode,150mnorthoftheDarguesReefMainLodeatCortona’sflagshipDarguesReefproject.ThelatestresultsincludeshallowinterceptsfrombothoftheholesdrilledatRubyandhaveextendedthemineralisationatRubyLodealongstrikeandatdepth.TheseresultshaveenhancedthepotentialtofurtherincreaseresourcesandreservesincloseproximitytotheplannedminingoperationatDarguesReef.Drillresultsinclude:

2 m @ 12.3 g/t Au

5 m @ 6.77 g/t Au

Rimfire Resources LtdreporteddrillresultsfromtheirSorpresa projectthatproducedthehighestgradegoldintersectionssofaridentifiedintheproject.Drillholeintersectionsincluded:

14 m @ 24.4 g/t Au (including 2 m @ 118 g/t Au)

White Rock Minerals Ltdhasmorethandoubleditssilverresourcesandlifteditsgoldresourcesby50%atitsMt CarringtonprojectnearDrakeafterasuccessfulresourceexpansiondrillingprogram.Keyfeaturesintheresourceupdateare:

Total gold resource is 284 000 ounces (oz), Indicated Resource of 153 000 oz Au and an Inferred Resource of 131 000 oz Au.

Total silver resource is 23.3 (million ounces) (Moz), Indicated Resource of 4.3 Moz and an Inferred Resource of 19 Moz.

Sovereign Gold Company LtdhaslocatedtheoriginalhistoricminingshaftatFrasers FindintheRockyRiverUrallaGoldfield.Thisshaftislocated2.8kmalongstrikefromanotherhistoricshaftconfirmingthelargescaleofthenewlyidentifiedmineralisedsystem.SovereignGoldisplanningadrillingprogram.Assaysofsamplescollectedfromthemineralisedhigh‑gradesulphidevein(quartz,arsenopyrite,pyriteandgalena)havereturnedthefollowingrangesofgold,silverandleadvalues:

18 g/t to 77 g/t Au

214 g/t to 1110 g/t Ag

0.9% to 5.46% Pb

Northern Territory

ABM Resources NLannouncedresultsfromitsphase3samplingprogramattheOld Pirateprospectwhichispartofthecompany’sTwinBonanzaGoldCampProjectintheTanamigoldfield.Thesamplingispartofanongoingsystematicbulksamplingandlongitudinaltrenchingprogram,andtargetedquartzveins.Anadditionalmineralisedzonewasidentifiedinthetrenching:

24 m strike length @ 83.9 g/t Au

Thisresultextendstheidentifiedzoneintrenchingto:

582 m strike length @ 23.98 g/t Au

ABM Resources NLalsoreporteddrillingresultsfromitsHyperiongoldprospectintheTanamigoldfield.GoldmineralisationatHyperionisprincipallyhostedinstructurallycontrolledquartz‑carbonateveinsassociatedwithfelsicdykesanddoleritewithinasedimentaryrocksequence.Thedrillprogramconsistedof20RCdrillholesforatotalof3354mofdrillingforextensionalexplorationandresourceestimationpurposes.Drillresultsinclude:

26 m @ 2.95 g/t Au (including 17 m @ 4.36 g/t Au)



EXAMPLES OF MAJOR MINERAL EXPLORATION RESULTS 2012

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MAP LEGEND

Map: ThismapofAustraliashowsmajormineraldeposits(circles)ongeneralisedsurfacegeology(colouredareas;seelegendabove).Thegreyscalebackgroundrepresentsaeromagneticdata(0.5firstverticalderivativeoftotalmagneticintensity).


Figure 3: Selectedgoldexplorationprojects,2012.

AustraliangoldproducerTanami Gold NLannouncedthatthesecondholeofamajorstep‑outdrillprogramattheirGroundrushdeposittargetingthedown‑plungeextensionoftherecentlyannouncedintersectionshaslocatedtwobroadzonesofintensealterationandveiningwithvisiblegold.Significantresultsinclude:

17 m @ 109 g/t Au (including 0.6 m @ 3000 g/t Au)

25 m @ 3.2 g/t Au

18 m @ 3.3 g/t Au

1.8 m @ 53.9 g/t Au

Additionally,Tanami Gold NLhasconfirmedsignificantmineralisationattheirRipcordprospectintheTanamigoldfield.Afirst‑passRCdrillingprogramyieldedintersectionsof:

52 m @ 2.1 g/t Au

11 m @ 4.0 g/t Au

12 m @ 2.2 g/t Au

Queensland

Centius Gold LtdreportedthatithascompletedanextensivemappingandsamplingprogramattheHomeward BoundprospectintheCroydonregion.The sampleswerecollectedatthisprospectandalongthePrideoftheHillsridgeline,includingthedumpsalongsidethe147historicworkingsattheprospectandfromoutcrops.Encouragingresultsincludedseventy‑twosampleswithgreaterthan1.0 g/t Auandvaluesgreaterthan14.0 g/t Au

fromthemajorityofthesamplesinthenorthoftheprospect.The targetextendsoverazone200mlong.Basedontheseresults,Centiuswillfocusitsongoingdrillingprograminthis zone.

Roar Resources LtdreportedonaninitialdrillcampaignatanewgolddiscoverynamedTriumphintheMiltongoldfield.Thedrillprogramcomprisedsixdiamonddrillholestotalling2134.6m,andfocusedona1.7kmtrendidentifiedfromrockchipsamplingandsurfaceInducedPolarisation(IP)geophysicsin2011.Theprogramwasdesignedtotestforgoldmineralisationatthreeprioritytargetsinthesouthofthenewlydefined~15km2Triumphgoldsystem.Intotal,drillingreturned70≥1minterceptsat≥0.1g/tgoldwhichemphasisesthebroadnatureofmineralisation.Theresultshaveconfirmedgoldmineralisationoccursinsheetedquartz‑sulphideveinsassociatedwithanintrusivephaseandremainsopeninalldirections.Significantintersectionsinclude:

6 m @ 3.85 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag (including 1 m @ 21.5 g/t Au and 44.6 g/t Ag)

1 m @ 5.98 g/t Au and 16.1 g/t Ag

South Australia

Mungana Goldmines Ltd announcedresultsfromadrillholeatitsTarcoolaprojectinthecentralGawlerCraton.ThedrillingformspartofaprogramcurrentlyunderwaytoestablishamaidenJORCresourcefortheprojectandalsoservestoprovidematerialformetallurgicaltestwork,confirmoxideoredensities,andvalidatehistoricaldrillresultsinthePerseverancearea.Theholetargeted


13

adomainofknownhigh‑gradeoxidemineralisationinweatheredsedimentsaboveanirregulargranitecontact.Thedrillholehasconfirmedtheexpectedhigh‑tenorofthegoldmineralisation.Significantintersectionsinclude:

20.4 m @ 21.49 g/t Au

20.4 m @ 8.36 g/t Au

Archer Exploration LtdhasidentifiedanewgoldsystemattheirBartelprojectontheEyrePeninsulainthesouthernGawlerCraton.Goldupto2 g/twasreportedwithinalargehydrothermalalterationhalo.Mineralisationispolymetalliccomprisinggold,silver,arsenic,copper,molybdenumandcerium.Furtherexplorationisplannedforthearea.

Renaissance Uranium Ltd reportedresultsofaninfillmulti‑elementsoilgeochemistryprogramovertheCutanaprojectneartheWhiteDamgoldmineintheCurnamonaProvince,whichconfirmedthepresenceofamajoranomalousgoldzone.Upto53 ppbgoldwasreportedoveranareaofapproximately2000by500m.ThesamplingcontinuesRenaissance’sprogramofgeochemicalassessmentofprospectivegoldareaswithintheCutanaproject.

Western Australia

DiamonddrillingatthenewlydiscoveredCorona prospectownedbyAlacer Gold Corporationhasintersectedlaminatedquartzveinswithabundantfreegold.Thisprospectislocated2.5kmtothesouthoftheHigginsvilleProcessingPlantintheEasternGoldfieldsoftheYilgarnCraton.Drillresultsinclude:

2.35 m @ 658 g/t Au

1.9 m @ 225.2 g/t Au

Bulletin Resources Ltdannouncedresultsfromongoingreconnaissanceexplorationatthe Paddock Well prospect40kmsouthwestofHallsCreek.Rockchipgeochemicalsamplingwasundertakenaspartofanextensiveprogramofgeologicalmappingandsampling,aimedatvalidatingnumerousdocumentedgoldoccurrencesaswellastestingconceptualtargets.TheresultsoftherockchipsamplingextendthestrikelengthofthePaddockWelltargetto1km,andincludevaluesupto:

10.5 g/t Au

Rockchipsamplingalongsubsidiarystructuresreturnedresultsof:

24.1 g/t Au and 11.3 g/t Au

Sirius Resources NL announcedithaddiscoveredhighgradegoldmineralisationinitsfirstRCdrillingprogramattheEarlobeprospectatitsPolarBearprojectintheEasternGoldfieldsoftheYilgarnCraton.ThedistributionofgoldintersectionsontwolinesofdrillingattheEarlobeNorthzonesuggeststhatthereareseveralgentlytomoderatelyeast‑dippinglodesthatareopendown‑diptotheeastandalongstrikeofthedrillingtodate.Keyinterceptsare:



Integra Mining Ltd reportedresultsfrominitialRCdrillingattheMt Monger Reefsprospect.ThedrillingtestedanomalousgoldresultsofpreviousACdrilling.The Mt Mongerprospectislocated13kmnorthwestofIntegra’sRandallsgoldprocessingfacilitylocated50kmsoutheastofKalgoorlie.ThegoldmineralisationappearstobeasimilarstyletothatattheneighbouringDaisyMilanoMineandisinterpretedtobehostedinsplaysoftheGoddardFault.Mineralisationoccursalongtwonorth‑northwesttrends,whichremainopenatdepthandarecurrentlyunconstrainedalongstrike.AssayresultsfromtheRCdrillinginclude:

5 m @ 2.84 g/t Au

4 m @ 2.12 g/t Au

MRG Metals LtdannouncedthecompletionoffurthersoilgeochemistrysamplingatitsKalgoorlie Eastproject.SamplingwasconductedasinfilltoanomalousareasidentifiedintheMRG’Sprevioussoilsamplingprogrammeandfromfurtherreviewofhistoricalexplorationcompletedinthearea.A totalof1495sampleswerecollectedalongeither40mx20 mor50mx50mGPSlocatedgrids.A numberofanomalousareasforbothAuandNihavebeenidentifiedfromthesoilsamplingresults,includingeightgoldandfiveNitargets.Oftheeightgoldtargets,sevenarelocatedwithinthemainKalgoorlieEasttenementareawhilstonegoldanomalywasidentifiedwithinlicence,locatedafurther10kmeastofthemainarea.MRGMetalsLtdplanstotesttheAutargetswithinitialRABdrilling,whereasgroundelectromagnetics(EM)willbeusedtotestanumberofcombinedgeochemicalandgeologicaltargetsfornickelsulphidemineralisation.Twenty‑fiveofthe1495 samplesreturnedassayvaluesabove100 ppb Au,with thehighestsoilgeochemistryvalueof:

547 ppb Au

Vector Resources LtdannouncedthatithasreceivedassayresultsfromanRCdrillingprogramatitsGwendolyn EastprojectintheSouthernCrossregion.Mineralisationremainsopeninalldirections.Significantinterceptsinclude:

5 m @ 253.33 g/t Au (including 1 m @ 1165 g/t Au)

1 m @ 56 g/t Au

1 m @ 17.99 g/t Au

2 m @ 16.6 g/t Au

12 m @ 8.38 g/t Au

Kalgoorlie Mining Company Ltd (KMC)announcedtheresultsfromrecentdrillingatits100%ownedBullantproject50 kmnorthwestofKalgoorlie.TheprogramwasdesignedtofollowuponthesuccessofapreviousdiamonddrillprogramconductedbyKMCinJune2011.TheprimaryaimwastotestforextensionsoftheBullantLodessouthfromcurrentundergrounddevelopment.Thetargetareaislocatedapproximately500msouthoftheBullantMine.Threedrillholeswithatotalof323mofRCpre‑collarswith922mofdiamondcorewerecompleted.Resultsinclude:

1.66 m @ 20.98 g/t Au

3.21 m @ 5.65 g/t Au


Victoria

Catalyst Metals LtdannouncedthatarecentlycompletedACdrillingprogrammeintersectedanewzoneofgoldmineralisationeastoftheknownzoneattheFour Eaglesgoldproject,intheBendigogoldfield.Thereconnaissancedrillingprogrammeof49holeswascompletedforatotalof4275m.TheresultsconfirmthatgoldmineralisationoccursclosetotheprojectedpositionoftheWhitelawFault.Visiblegoldwasobservedinadrillholeinquartzrichgravelsjustabovethebasementcontact.Drillholeresultsinthezone include:

3 m @ 0.41 g/t Au

3 m @ 1.1 g/t Au

3 m @ 5.18 g/t Au

GoldexplorationcompanyNavarre Minerals LtdannouncedafurtherhighgradedrillinterceptontheTomorrowLineofquartzreefattheTandarraprospect,partoftheBendigoNorthproject,located40kmnorthofBendigo.Navarre’s25 000mRCdrillingprogrammetargetedshallowgold‑bearingquartzreefs,withtheaimofdefiningamineralresourceattheprojectbytheendof2012.DiamonddrillingalsohasbeenundertakentohelpdefinethegeologyoftheTandarraprospect.Resultsinclude:


Synergy Metals LtdannouncedassayresultsfromadrillingprogrammeatGlen WillswithintheGlenWillsgoldfield.Resultsofdrillingindicatethatmineralisationextendstothenorthofthecurrentareatested.Resultsinclude:

0.70 m @ 6.14 g/t Au and 1.47 g/t Ag (including 0.39 m @ 10.85 g/t Au and 2.50 g/t Ag)

2.60 m @ 3 g/t Au and 1.93 g/t Ag (including 0.95 m @ 5.67 g/t Au and 2.50 g/t Ag)

GRAPHITESouth Australia

RCdrillingbyArcher Exploration LtdattheCampoonaproject12kmnorthofCleveinthesouthernGawlerCratonconfirmedthepresenceofadiscretehighgradegraphiticshearzonehostedbylowergradegraphiticproto‑gneiss.Thehighgradegraphiteunitaverages10mtoover40mintruewidth.Thehangingwallsectionisparticularlyhighgrade,averaging>15%graphiticcarbonandcarryingvisibleflake.The firstassaysfromthedrillingreturnedthefollowinghighlights:

27 m @ 18.5% total graphite count (TGC)

20 m @ 13.3% TGC

28 m @ 17.1% TGC

Lamboo Resources LtdadvisedoftheconfirmationofstrongflakegraphiticschistattheirMcIntoshprojectintheEastKimberleyregion.AugerdrillingofTarget2hasconfirmedthepresenceofhighgradeflakegraphitewithfieldestimatesofat least 30% flake graphitewithintheholes.Target2extendsoverastrikelengthof2kmandcontainsflakegraphiteschisthorizonsoverathicknessof50m,basedonhistoricRABdrilling.

HEAVY MINERAL SANDSVictoria

Metallic Minerals LtdannouncedamaidenmineralresourcefortheRioTintoownedGlenaladaledepositattheGippslandheavymineralsands(HMS)projectof:

1.7 billion tonnes @ 2.2% total heavy mineral (THM) containing 38 million tonnes of heavy mineral (HM)

Western Australia

MineralsandsexplorerSheffield Resources LtdannounceddrillingresultsfromitsDampier HMSprojectintheCanningBasinnearDerby.TheThunderbirddiscoverywasthefirsttargettobedrilledbySheffieldResourcesLtdwithintheDampierHMSprojectarea,andrepresentsasignificantdevelopmentintheCanningBasinintermsofboththegradeandscaleofHMSmineralisation.Resultsfrom47holeshavereturnedhighgrademineralisedintervalsincluding:

32.1 m @ 10.1% HM (including 28.5 m @ 10.9% HM)

40.5 m @ 7.8% HM (including 18 m @ 13.4% HM)

41.5 m @ 7.3% HM (including 32.5 m @ 8.6% HM)

42 m @ 6.3% HM (including 31.5 m @ 7.6% HM)

Forge Resources LtdannouncedasignificantmaidenJORCcompliantHMresourceestimatefortheMcLarenHMSdepositwithintheEuclaWestMineralSandprojecttenements:

470 Mt @ 4.6 % HM (21.5 Mt of contained HM)

IRON ORENorthern Territory

Western Desert Resources Ltdreportedassayresultsfrom2011RCdrillingattheRoper BarironoreprojectintheMcArthurBasin.Scoutdrillingin2010establishedthepotentialofthisnewareatoyieldadditionalhematiteresources.Assaysfrom133holescompletedin2011confirmthethicknessandtypicalgradeofthemineralisation.Thehematite‑richhorizonisopeninalldirectionsandfurtherdrillingwasplannedtoquantifythelateralextent.Resultsofthe2011drillinginclude:

5 m @ 47.7% Fe, 22.9% SiO2 and 2.9% Al2O3

4 m @ 46.7% Fe, 25.6% SiO2 and 1.9% Al2O3

South Australia

Apollo Minerals LtdreportedondiscoveryofironmineralisationatSequoiainthecentral‑northernGawlerCraton.Geophysicalsurveysidentifiedaseriesofmagneticandgravityanomalies.Drillingoftheanomalieswasundertakenandmineralisationremainsopenatdepthwithgeophysicsindicatingthathighergrademineralisationcontinuestodepthbeyond400m.Drillingresultsinclude:

66 m @ 38% Fe

24 m @ 41.0% Fe

6 m @ 42.4% Fe

8 m @ 40.2% Fe

15

PepinNini Minerals LtdundertookreconnaissancesurfacesamplingattheirKalabityprojectandidentifiedthreeprospectareas:Billeroo,IronstoneandDomeRock.Thecompanyviewstheshalloworat‑surfacemagnetitemineralisationattheseprospectsashavingpotentialfordirectshippingore(DSO).TheBillerooprospectcomprisesfourdiscontinuousiron‑richoutcropsupto300minlengthandupto40mwideacrossaneast–westtrendofapproximately3km.IrongradesfromsamplescollectedattheBillerooprospectarevariableandrangeup to 65.7% Fe.AttheIronstoneprospecttwodiscontinuousoutcropsupto200minlengthand15minwidthandseparatedbyapproximately1kmhavebeenidentified.AllthreesurfacesamplesfromtheIronstoneprospectreturnedhighgradesofgreater than 67.3% Fewithlowlevelsofcontaminants.TheDomeRockprospectcontainsdiscontinuousoutcropsupto300minlengthand40minwidthcoveringatrenddistanceofapproximately5km.SamplesfromtheDomeRockprospectreturnedvariablegradesrangingfrom47.9% Fe to 55.5% Fe.

Western Australia

Brockman Resources LtdannouncedassayresultsfromreconnaissancediamonddrillholescompletedattheSiriusprospectwithinits100%ownedOphthalmiaprojecttenements,located15kmnorthofNewmaninthePilbararegion.MostoftheholeshaveintersectedthickzonesofDSOgradehematiteironoremineralisationwithbetterintersectionsincluding:

99.15 m @ 62.0% Fe

70.05 m (cumulative thickness from two zones) @ 60.6% Fe

Enterprise Metals LtdreceivedexplorationdatafromitsBooylgoo Rangeairbornemagnetic/radiometricsurvey,and rockchipresultsfromreconnaissanceoutcropsampling.WA GeologicalSurveymappingandhistoricalairbornesurveyshadpreviouslyoutlinedthemainbandedironformation(BIF)unitsintheBooylgooRange.Enterprise’snewhighresolutionsurvey(100mlinespacing,50mmeanterrainclearance)hasmoreclearlydefinedtheknownBIFunitsandareasofdemagnetisationwhichhavepotentialtohosthighgradegoethiteand/orhematitemineralisation.Approximately28 kmstrikelengthofmultipleBIFunitswasmappedbytheairbornedata.Non‑systematicoutcropsamplingofmagneticBIFontheeasternandwesternlimbsofthesyncline(18 samples)returnedassaysofbetween25–40% Fe.However,2samplesfromoutcropsofBIFenrichedinironbygoethitealterationhaveassayedbetween 59% and 62% Fe.

Sheffield Resources Ltd announcedbroadironintersectionsfroma25holeRCdrillingprogramatitsThree Poolsironoreproject,20kmnorthofNewmaninthePilbararegion.Atotalof1212mwasdrilledatfive prospects.Significantresultsinclude:

TopForgeProspect:50 m @ 57.5% Fe

42 m @ 57.6% Fe

CrucibleProspect:52 m @ 56.9% Fe

46 m @ 56.2% Fe

Chrysalis Resources Ltdreportedarecent37hole,2214 mRCdrillingprogramhasidentifiedsignificantwidthsofchannelirondepositsattheirWest AngelasprojectinthePilbararegion.Resultsinclude:

22 m @ 48.1% Fe

28 m @ 55.5% Fe (including 12 m @ 51.3% Fe)

12 m @ 51.3% Fe

Padbury Mining LtdandAurium ResourcesreportedencouragingresultsfromadrillingprogramatTelecomHillEastprospectwhichispartofthe Peak HillprojectintheRobinsonRangeIronFormation.Thedrillingshowedthatmineralisationiscontinuousoverastrikelengthof1300mandextendsbeneathcoverandremainsopentothewestandsoutheast.Resultsinclude:

34 m @ 57.3% Fe

27 m @ 57.8% Fe

Golden West Resources Ltdannouncedresultsfromamaiden21hole,1608mRCdrillingprogramundertakenattheWoodleyproject,located600kmnorthofPerthinthemid‑westregion.Resultsinclude:

12 m @ 55.8% Fe

10 m @ 58.2 % Fe

16 m @ 58.8% Fe

LITHIUMNorthern Territory

Lithex Resources LtdreportedgeochemicaldatafromrockchipsamplescollectedattheirMoolyellaprojectwithinthePilbararegion,includinghighlyanomalousvaluesforlithiumaswellasanomaloustin,tantalumandabroadsuiteofheavyrare‑earthelements.Bestassayresultsforlithiumrangedfrom:

0.49% to 1.82% Li2O

Western Australia

Altura mining Ltdannouncedthaton‑goingRCdrillingattheirPilgangooraprojectwithinthePilbararegionoutsidethecurrentdefinedresourcehasexpandedthemineralisedzoneby250msouthwards.Drillintersectionsinclude:

35 m @ 1.35% Li2O


Figure 4: Selectedgraphite,heavymineralsands,ironore,lithium,manganeseandnickelexplorationresults,2012.

MANGANESENew South Wales

Bligh Resources LtdannouncedthatanumberoftherockchipsamplescollectedfromthehistoricalmanganeseworkingsattheManillaprojectreturnedhighgrademanganeseassays.Thesamplingprogramconfirmedthateconomicgradesofmanganesewereproducedfromthehistoricalworkings,thehighestgradesbeing46.5%Mnfrom theBendemeer2Mineand45.4%Mnfrom Manganese Mountain.

Western Australia

Brumby Resources LtdannouncedpromisinggeochemistryresultsfromsurfacerockchipsamplingatthepreviouslyuntestedTayaprospectwithinthecompany’sOakoverproject.Elevensurfacerockchipsampleswereobtainedoverastrikelengthof530m.Thehighestassaywas42.1%Mn,withsixofthesamplescontaining>30%Mn.

Zenith Minerals Ltdreportedresultsoffollow‑upRCdrillingcompletedattheRed LakemanganesediscoveryintheEaraheedyBasin.Atotalof43holesweredrilledfor1674 m,withinfillofthediscoveryareatonominal100mdrillcentresanddrilltraversestothenortheastatapproximately400mintervals.Resultsinclude:

3 m @ 34.8% Mn (including 1 m @ 42.3% Mn)



NICKELWestern Australia

AssaysreportedbySirius Resources NLfromthefirstofseveraldrillholesatitsNovanickel‑copperdiscoveryconfirmsthepresenceofthickintervalsofhighgradenickel‑coppermineralisation.TheNovadepositisablinddepositconcealedbytransportedsedimentsandislocatedintheAlbany‑FraserprovinceonthesoutheastmarginoftheYilgarnCraton.Adrillholewithanintervalcomprising5.9 mofdisseminatedsulphides,3.9mofstringerandbrecciasulphides,5.4mofmassivesulphides,andfinally4.4mofbrecciaandstringersulphides,returnedthefollowingassay results:

13.3 m @ 3.9% Ni, 2.0% Cu, 0.12% Co and 3.7g/t Ag (including 7.15 m @ 5.1% Ni, 2.35% Cu, 0.15% Co and 4.0g/t Ag)

Panoramic Resources Ltd announcedthediscoveryofnewmineralisationattheSkinnerorebodywhichispartoftheLanfranchi project,42kmsouthofKambalda.Sixdrillholesreturnedbroadintervalsofdisseminatedandmatrixstylenickelsulphidemineralisation.Themineralisationremainsopenbothupanddownplunge.Best resultsinclude:

39.5 m @ 1.79% Ni

34.18 m @ 1.93% Ni

46.72 m @ 1.84% Ni

17

PHOSPHATENorthern Territory

Rox Resources LtdreportedRCdrillingresultsfromitsMarquaphosphateprojectlocatedintheGeorginaBasin,300kmsouthwestofMountIsa.A29hole,1900mRCdrillingprogramwasundertakentoconfirmhighgradeareasofmineralisation.Phosphatemineralisationextendsovera30kmstrikelength.Drillingassayresultsinclude:

3 m @ 29.8% P2O5

4 m @ 28.8% P2O5

3 m @ 22.6% P2O5

1 m @ 21.8% P2O5

DrillingbyNupower Resources LtdattheArganaraprospectextendedthephosphatefootprintandmineralisationtoanareameasuring4kmby4.4km,whichremainsopentotheeastandsouth.Assayresultsfrom63 holesincludehighgradephosphateintersectionsof>30%P2O5.Betterintersectionsinclude:

5 m @ 29.3% P2O5 including 2 m @ 33.9% P2O5

6 m @ 26.7% P2O5 including 3 m @ 32.5% P2O5

Rum Jungle Resourcesannouncednumeroushigh‑gradeP2O5interceptsinaprogramofclose‑spaced,50mdeepdrillholesattheBarrow Creek 1phosphatedepositintheGeorginaBasin.Thesenewinterceptswillprovidethedatatoestimateanewresourceforthiseasilyminedmaterial,withtheaimofdelineatingsufficientorematerialtoprepareaninitial,low‑cost,directshippingphosphaterockproductpreparedbysimplemechanicalbeneficiation.Resultsinclude:

6m @ 29.2% P2O5

2m @ 34.0% P2O5

3m @ 33.7% P2O5

4m @ 30.7% P2O5

RARE-EARTH ELEMENTS (REE)Northern Territory

Crossland Uranium Mines LtdadvisedthataJORC‑compliantestimateofIndicatedandInferredResourceshasbeencompletedfortwoareaswithintheextensivealluvialREE‑bearingheavymineralsandsdepositsatitsCharley Creekproject,located100kmnorthwestofAliceSprings.

Total Indicated Resource of 387 million tonnes containing:27 275 tonnes xenotime

160 900 tonnes monazite

195 580 tonnes zircon

Total Inferred Resource of 418 million tonnes containing: 30 690 tonnes xenotime

167 235 tonnes monazite

219 980 tonnes zircon

TUC Resources Ltd reportedresultsofa16‑holeRCdrillingprogramattheirStrombergprospectinthePineCreekregion.Thedrillingconfirmedthepresenceofsignificantnear‑surfaceheavyrare‑earthelement(HREE)mineralisationinflattabularbodies.Mineralisationremainsopenincrosssectionandalongstrike.Significantintersectionsinclude:

5 m @ 0.43% total rare-earth oxide (TREO) of which 81.9% is heavy rare-earth oxide (HREO), and including 1 m @ 0.92% TREO

3 m @ 0.52% TREO (88.6% HREO/TREO)

Queensland

Chinalco Yunnan Copper Resources LtdandGoldsearch LtdannouncedresultsfromaregionalscoutdiamonddrillingprogramattheElaine2and3prospectsthatformspartoftheMary KathleenjointventureprojectintheMtIsaregion.Thefivedrillholestotalled725.4mandfocussedontheevaluationofcopper,REEandthoriumpotentialofareastargetedonhistoricdrilling,groundscintillometer/radiometricandsoilgeochemistryanomalies.Highlightsinclude:

19 m @ 2050 ppm TREO, 0.17 kg/t ThO2 and 0.04 kg/t U3O8



Krucible Metals LtdannouncedgeochemicalresultsfromsurfacesamplingoflargesvanbergiteconcretionarynodulesnearPigeongahwaterholeatCoorabulka,located330 kmsouth‑southeastofMtIsa.Assayresultshavereturnedvaluesofupto:

1.2 kg/t yttrium oxide, 4.02 kg/t neodymium oxide, 1.08 kg/t praseodymium oxide and 0.23 kg/t dysprosium oxide

Western Australia

Northern MineralsannouncedearlyexplorationandmetallurgicalresultsfromitsJohn GaltprojectintheHallsCreekmobilezone.Theresultsincludeexceptionalgradesofupto42% TREO including 3.68% dysprosium oxide (Dy2O3) from rock chips,withthemajorityofsamplesreturningconsistenthighgradesabove1%TREO.TheREEdistributionisdominatedbytheHREE,withapproximately95%oftheTREOasHREO.PetrologicalstudiesofrockchipsamplesconfirmthesimilarityofthemineralisationstyletothatoftheBrownsRangeproject,withxenotimeidentifiedinquartzveinsandquartz‑arenitebreccias.

Rare‑earthelementdeveloperNorthern MineralsannouncedresultsfromdrillingatitsBrowns Rangeproject,whichhaveconfirmedexcitingnewmineralisedzoneswithhighgradeHREEmineralisation.Thedrillingdeliveredparticularlyencouragingresultsfromthenew


Figure 5: Selectedphosphate,rare‑earthelements,tin,tungstenanduraniumexplorationresults,2012.

GambitWestprospect,returningwideHREEintersectionswithhighgradesandgoodcontinuity.Themineralisationalsoremainsopenalongstrikeandatdepth,andextendstheGambitmineralisedtrendtoastrikelengthofnearly1 km.Bestresultsfromthedrillinginclude:

32 m @ 1.73% TREO (including 5 m @ 4.36% TREO)



TINQueensland

Consolidated Tin Mines Ltdcompletedadrillingprogramcomprising54holesforatotalof1734matthePinnaclesdepositnearMtGarnet,100kmsouthwestofCairns.The drillinghasidentifiednewnear‑surfacetinmineralisationwithsignificantfluorinecontentaswellasiron,whichisafeatureoftinskarndepositsintheMtGarnetarea.Best resultsinclude:

7 m @ 0.65% Sn

8 m @ 0.69% Sn

9 m @ 0.44% Sn

16 m @ 0.59% Sn

Monto Minerals LtdreportedregionalsoilgeochemistryresultsattheHerbertonproject,70kmsouthwestofCairns.Thesoilgeochemicalsurveyrepresentsthefirstlargesystematicexplorationprogrammetobeundertakeninthearea.TheentireMountMiseryexplorationpermit

areawascoveredby2900soilsamples,collectedon200 mspacedlinesat50mintervals.Twoparallelanomaliesmeasuring1600 mx500mhavebeenidentified,knownastheScandinaviananomalyandCarney’sanomaly,inanareapreviouslynotrecognizedforhardrocktinmineralisation.Tin valuesinsoilacrosstheanomaliesaretypicallyhigh,ranging upto0.39%Sn.

Tasmania

Venture Minerals LtdannouncedamajornewhighgradetindiscoveryattheirBig WilsonprospectintheMtLindsayarea.Amaidendrillholetargetinga1100mlongsoilgeochemicalanomalyintersectedhighgradeskarn‑relatedtinmineralisationaswellasgreisenstylemineralisation:

17.4 m @ 2% Sn (including 4 m @ 5.6% Sn)

Western Australia

Lithex Resources Ltd announcedtheresultsofanaugerdrillingprogramatthecompany’sMoolyellaproject,located23kmeast‑northeastofMarbleBarinthePilbararegion.The objectiveoftheaugerdrillprogramwastoobtainnewandaccuratedatatoprovidethebasistoenhancehistoricalresourceestimatescalculatedbypreviousexplorers.Historicalestimates(notJORCcompliant)existfortailingsstockpilematerial,un‑minedalluvialandelluvialdeposits,andforpegmatite‑hostedtinandtantalumdepositsinthearea.Results include:

13 m @ 667 ppm Sn (including 4 m @ 1218 ppm Sn)


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WA

SA

VIC

NSW

QLD

PERTH

DARWIN

SYDNEY

NT

Stromberg

Marqua

HerbertonWatershed

Big Wilson

Barrow Creek 1

Yanco Glen

Arganara

Pinnacles

MELBOURNE

Moolyella

HOBARTTAS

PERTH

ADELAIDE

BRISBANE

Coorabulka

Browns Range

John Galt

Mopoke Well

Blackbush

Charley Creek

Mary Kathleen

Theseus

Scott Lee

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19




TUNGSTENNew South Wales

Carpentaria Exploration LtdannouncedanewInferredResourcefortheYanco Glenprospectlocated40kmnorthoftheestablishedminingcentreofBrokenHill.TheInferredResourcecontainsmorethandoublethetungstenmetalthanpreviouslyestimated.Thedeposit,whichremainsopendown‑dipandalongstrike,comprises:

3.4 Mt @ 0.11% WO3 (tungsten trioxide) at a 0.05% WO3

cut-off, containing 3950 t WO3

Queensland

Vital Metals LtdannouncedtungstenassayresultsfromadiamonddrillingprogramandtrenchsamplingprogramattheirWatershedproject,located160kmnorthwestofCairns.ThedrillingintersectedmultipleveinswarmstypicalofthescheelitemineralisationfoundatWatershed.The mineralisationremainsopenatdepthandalongstrike.Significantresultsfromthediamonddrillinginclude:

10 m @ 0.41 % WO3

1 m @ 6.37 % WO3

20 m @ 0.22 % WO3

14 m @ 0.39 % WO3

10 m @ 0.25 % WO3

Trenchsamplingacrossaveinswarmyieldedthefollowing results:

13 m @ 1.07 % WO3

30 m @ 0.31 % WO3

URANIUMSouth Australia

Core Exploration Ltdhasidentifiedveryhighlevelsofuraniuminoutcropatits100%owned Fittonproject,located25kmnorthoftheBeverleyuraniummine.A sampleofchloritisedschistwithinashearzonecontained3370 ppm U3O8whichisafour‑foldincreaseontheprevioushighesturaniumvalueidentified.Inaddition,anumberofnewsamplescontainedhighlyanomalousuraniumabove100ppmforastrikelengthofover800m.

Uraniumgradesupto3.8%equivalentgrade(eU3O8)havebeenintersectedindrillingbyUranium SA LtdbelowitsestablishedBlackbushdepositwithintheSamphireuraniumproject,located20kmsouthofWhyallaontheEyrePeninsula.The companyundertookamaidendrillingprogramtargetedonmineralisationinbasementgranites.TheBlackbushdeposithasanInferredResourceof45.5 milliontonnes(Mt)at280ppmU3O8whichiscontainedinsedimentlayersoverlyinggranitebasement.

ThedrillingtargetedgraniteimmediatelybelowtheInferredResourceandpersistentlyhighgradesofmineralisationwerefoundatthesediment/graniteunconformityintheareasinvestigated.Selectedhighgradeinterceptsinclude:

2.0 m @ 0.69% e U3O8

1.0 m @ 1.15% e U3O8

4.0 m @ 0.36% e U3O8

Western Australia

Toro Energy LtdannouncedtheresultsofdrillingatitsTheseusprojectintheGreatSandyDesert.Drillingwasundertakeninthesouthernpartoftheprospect.The drillingprogramhasidentifiedlargenewmineralisedareasupto600–700mwide,2kmlongandopentothesouth.Results included:

4.49 m @ 293 ppm pU3O8

2.22 m @ 477 ppm pU3O8

5.61 m @ 370 ppm pU3O8

2.76 m @ 1347 ppm pU3O8

Energy Metals LtdannouncedexplorationdrillingresultsfromtheMopoke Wellprojectslocated60kmwestofLeonora.One‑hundredvertical,10mdeepholeswerecompletedandconsistedofeleveninfilltraverses(97holes)toincreasethedrilldensityoverthemainmineralisedzone,andthreeholestotestforstrikeextensionstotheknownmineralisation.EachholewasgammaprobedtodeterminetheuraniumeU3O8.Someofthemoresignificantintersectionsinclude:

2.64 m @ 282 ppm eU3O8

3.08 m @ 237 ppm eU3O8

3.64 m @ 197 ppm eU3O8

1.86 m @ 258 ppm eU3O8

2.02 m @ 221 ppm eU3O8


GA

‑12‑

6884

20

CONTACTS FOR AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS

AustraliaGeoscience Australia GPOBox378Canberra,ACT,2601,AustraliaTel:+61(0)262499111Fax:+61(0)262499999Web:www.ga.gov.au

New South WalesDepartment of Primary Industries—Mineral Resources NSWDPI,POBox344HunterRegionalMailCentreNSW2320Tel:+61(0)249316696Fax:+61(0)249316789Web:www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/minerals

Northern TerritoryDepartment or Resources, Northern Territory Geological SurveyGPOBox3000DarwinNT0801Tel:+61(0)889995313Fax:+61(0)889996824Web:www.minerals.nt.gov.au/ntgs

QueenslandDepartment of Natural Resources and Mines GeologicalSurveyofQueenslandPOBox15216CityEast,QLD,4002,AustraliaTel:+61(0)730355208Fax:+61(0)732371534Web:www.dnrm.qld.gov.au

South AustraliaDMITRE, Department of Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy GPOBox1671Adelaide,SA,5001,AustraliaTel:+61(0)884633000Fax:+61(0)884636518Web:www.pir.sa.gov.au

TasmaniaMineral Resources Tasmania POBox56RosnyPark,TAS,7018,AustraliaTel:+61(0)762338335Fax:+61(0)762338334Web:www.mrt.tas.gov.au

VictoriaDepartment of Primary Industries, Earth Resources Division GPOBox4440Melbourne,VIC,3001,AustraliaTel:+61(0)396584531Fax:+61(0)396584555Web:www.dpi.vic.gov.au/minpet

Western AustraliaDepartment of Mines and Petroleum, Geological Survey of Western Australia 100PlainStreetEastPerth,WA,6044,AustraliaTel:+61(0)892223120Fax+61(0)892223633Web:www.dmp.wa.gov.au

GeoCat: 75165

ISSN: 2201-6821

© CommonwealthofAustralia(GeoscienceAustralia)2013

Geoscience Australia

http://www.ga.gov.au/minerals/projects/ current-projects/exploration-promotion.html

Disclaimer:GeoscienceAustraliahastriedtomaketheinformationinthisReviewasaccurateaspossible.However,itdoesnotguaranteethattheinformationistotallyaccurateorcomplete.Therefore,youshouldnotrelysolelyonthisinformationwhenmakingcommercialorotherdecisions.Informationcontainedinthisreviewwascompliedfrompublicdomainsources.Theauthoracknowledgestheinformation,commentsandsuggestionsonthemanuscriptprovidedbycolleaguesinGeoscienceAustralia,theDepartmentofResources,EnergyandTourism,andvariousStateandNorthernTerritoryagencies.


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