COMMONWEALTH OF
AUSTRALIA
DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU OF MINERAL RESqURCES, GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS
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The information contained in this report has been obtained by the Department of National Development as part of the policy of the Commonwealth Government to assist In the exploration and development of mineral resources, It may not be published in any form or used in a company prospectus or statemeni without the permission in writing of the Director, Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics.
/
11~3/14~ REPORT
WHITE 93 DEPOSIT, R1JM
~lJHGLE~
No T.
by ., .
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RECOP..DS
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IN'rRODUCTIOIf
1
GEOLOGY
1
1
General Structural
.;
Geol~gy
3
Mnn~RALIZNrIOli
The Ore> Bodies
.3
Mineral ~saociationa
t~
WOHKINGS
8
DIAJ:iIOND DRILLING
9
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ORE RESERVES
1 1)
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12
GEOPHYSICAL RESULTS Radiometric'
J.2
Self P
Magnetometa.r· CONOI,USI mrs ACKl'ifOWLEDGBMENTS RBFE.REHC:ElS ,. ~.,
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Plate ....
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Scale.
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Whita 9 s Deposit Rum Jungle N"To
f
Stll"fa6e Geological Iniler'px'eta·- . tiian P1M ..
1 inoh - 40
White's Deposit; Rur1:l Jungle N.11" 50 ft. Level Geological Plan.
1 inch - 40 feet.
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1
II
2.
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:f'ee t"
Whiteis Depos:i.t Rum Jt.1ngle N.'f.·
50tt. Level Geological In terr;re ta t ion l'l:m..
WhlteVs Dep·osit Rvm fTun.gle N~To ~t .. I.: eVE:: 1 Geological map
-100
Interp~etation
6.
Plm1" .
1 inoh - 40 ,feet.
1 inch - 40 :rest.
Whi tag s ~$posi t Rum Jungle N. T. . :1.00 ito tGvel Plan of Ore Bodies ..
1 inoh - 40 feet.
White's doposit Rum Jungle !f.T. Geological Section along plfu~e of .Northwest Crosscu~.
linch - 40 feet.
Whit'e's Depos1t Rum Jungle N.T.
Geological Section along plana !;
ri' t
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of Diamond. Dl"'111 Holes WDP,1!r.rn:.1 9 ' WI, vrr·
1 inch ... 40 feet.
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:rl1TRODtTCrrIo!~ • .......
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Whi tie ~ s Depos1..tj; \'ibJ,cl1 is the original disoovery a. t Hum J'1Ll1g1eg ruld on. which. elcplora ticn has been mainly conc61ltre.tod v has 80 fa.t" pl'OVeo. to be the most important depos 1. t in the tu"ea. I t it:) S 1. tua ted 2 .. ~23 miles on a true beru"ing 01' 28 degrees from RUL't J'l.mgle Railway Sieling and 11es on i;he northern bank 01: the lrirmiss HiVe.!" (East Branch) halfway between Bl"OW!l. ~ s Deposi tv and Dyson vs Find. Following npon t 11<'1 fa ~v'ourable 'resul ts ob tained f'rom diamond dril1J.r!g an.d shaft siIll!~ing in 1950 work was con t iuued a. t tIle clepos it dUI'ing 1951 and 1952. ~rha development wOl"k and explorati,on activities are not yet . comple ted, but availabl.e evidence has sugges ted a control of mineralization, which it 1s hoped will be substantiated by future field
work~
GCi ological and assay plans and s actions of' the mine work.ings 11ave been prepared on a scale of 20 feet to 8n inch fr'om: theodoll to al'lc1 tape surveys and surface geological plans on a scale of Lj.O :fee t to an inch have been produced by plane table and telescopic aledada surveys.
...
A description of the deposit based on results ob tained to the end of' 1952 is given in the f'ollo\ving.
pages"
GEOLOGY.
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GElJERAL
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Regional geological mapping has shoVID. that the carbonaceous slates in which White's Deposit occurs ara pru.·t of the slate for'matton which forms the core of a major dragfold lying on the north westol"'n side of Grant' a Reef Fault (Matheson 1953). Three I'ock formations are present in the vicinity
of the depo,?it namely tbe Quartzite Breccia Formation a Slate l"Drmation and a Limestone Formation" .Q.ua,£!zi te 1?.£eccia li'orma tioD. The quartzite b~eooia is predominantly a reddish rock consisting of irregular angular gragments of milky whi te to tra.nslucant quartz set in a fine grained sandy matrix~ 'l'he rock ll v1hich .1s considered to be of' detrital origin, has Since bElen silicified and hematised. Intersections of the quartzite breccia formation by surface dl'tilling revoo.l that apart from a l'aduction in the amount of' siliciflcation, the nature of the rocl.;: does not alter
with deptho It is possible that variations within the quartz! te bl"eccia will be L>Gvealed by furtheJ:.~ work.·
-Slate Formation. The slate format ton in
the Vicinity of White's Deposit has been broadly subdivided into carbonaceous slates (in part graphitic) and chloritic schistsl' and it 1s expected that further subdiviSions of these rocks may be possible as work contirlUeSo
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. The ca.~bQnaoeou.s fjlatss, 'which comprise the greater portion ot.' the slato fOl~mation!l l"aIlge from llght grey felsp.9.thic l~ocks \vith blac..1<:: ~hal(:)y inclusionsj/ and.
t~1
a dense black fissile Da~bonacaous slatse The slates ara ei ther bloc.ky 01' t'lssil0, the latter often contain blebs, small lenses and winlets of quartz~ Graphitic schists are the metamorphic alteration products of oarbon~ceous slites$ and whore observ0d in the few exposures in the area al"e coated, with secondary cop~er minerals. These schists appear to be tho mos t favourable hos t I'ocl;:s fo.l' (~OpD$r and Ul'lanium depos! tSq mineralizationo' ".
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In the ore zone' the -sls.tes-are generally bleached micaceous and finely brecci.ated and have a grey silky appearance~ "
A bed of slates9 which has be~h given the field name of tlspotted slatea l1 outcroDB OIl the crest of the loV! ridge to the north of the vro.r:kingso II'heae rocks have been exposed tn_the northwest crosscut on the 100 feet level" On the surface they are weathered to a1 light grey colour whel"eas in. theundergroc:n.d workings they are blocky ,black rocks stx'eaked Wi til kaolin. ' iI-
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The slate formation has been brecciated prior to' mineralizationo Excellent exposures can be seen in'drives and crosscuts on the 100 feet level, but only one stit"f'ace exposure (in costean No.H) has been mapped. In Noo 2 , Northwest crossc~ton the 100 feet level the braciated slabs of mineralised slate commonlyattal~ dimensions of 2 reet by 1 foot by 6 incheso Seams of pyrite have been observed to pass· from one slate fl"agment to another wi thout any dlsplacernento . , The chlor.ltlc, schists are mOl"'e susceptible to weathering than the carbonacaohs slates and do not outcrop strongly at the surface. '.rhey are talcose to the south v and vary from a light to dark greenish rock ill. the primal"Y
zone, to a. f'lesh or' f'avm coloured rock in the oxidised zone
whel"'e th,ey con tainS' in places, nodular masses of magnes i te 'I11-tlie undel.'ground workings of the 100 feet level the
Q
chlol'i tic sehis ts are gens.J;'ally gr'eenish colouI'ed p but when crushed, s-iliclfied' and hematised assume a local dark purple to black eolollro In diamond drill hole-intersections belOW the 100 feet level the chlori tic schists ape of- a sll1c~l grey greenish colou.rand'-~ontain patches of hematite and carbonate veinletso ' '
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The limestone formation, which does not outcrop near the workings has been exposed by drives to the south·· west-from the main southeast crosscut offNoo 4 shaft. I t cons is ts of' masses of recrystallised limes tone and impw."I6 grey shaley limes tone aasoc ia ted Wi th -chlori tic and . carbonaceous schiGts. Secondry silicification of the calcareous rocks has occurredD Pyrite and chalcopyrite
, mineralization MS been observed wi,thin the formation.
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In the Rum Jungle area thislimeetone formation between t he slate formation and the quartzi te b'.recc is. forma tion~ but, near Whi te' s Depos it. there ai,J[Jear's to be a local lensing or pinching out.. Nn t(,is ar'sa tho bOLllld,a.L~Y between the'quartzite_breccia p..n.d the slate ::('or~mation is soil eovtH'ad but surface mopping indicated that, the limestone f'ol"mation narrowed from more than 1,000 feet near Browll W s Deposit to a possible 50 root in width at White's DepOSit.
usually
OCCUl"S
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SubseqUl]nt dif'Ji10nd, a.rilling from the sLJJ?fac6 ana. tIle 1.00 fee t lovel showed tha t a thin band of chlori tic sohia iss occlJ..r'red
a t the june 'ilion of the qUl:u.?tzi te breccia and slate :t'ormati ons and it is thou,g11t that this rn8.Jr ponGibl~r represent a me tarnol'phosed imptU"s oarbona te .pocko re'
STRUCTURAL
Gl~OLOGY. ~~
The geologioal structu,t'6 at
'.
oomplex.
Wh~ tat
s Deposi t is
Regional geological mapping has shovm that WhiteVs Deposit 1s Situated near the nose of a fold in tha alate core of a regional northeas terly pi tehing an. t ielineo In the mine the ore bearing beds are folded into an anticJ.lne g which pllUlges at an angle ot: about 40 degrees to the east. Reversala in pi tch due to movemen~ along shear planes arc frequ\3nto i
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I t was previously t;-,ought that the axial pltl.rl.e shear of tho'Giant's Reef Dragfold passed through the mine. However development work on the 50 feet level in the latter part of 1952 suggests that shearing parallel to the axial , plane of the Glan tV s Reel' Dragfold has taken f)lace al Jng the limbs of the foldo This shearing along the libs of the minor folds within the mine workings 1s illustrated 1n plan (Plate ,4) and in seotion (Plate 6 .. ) . The general trend of the shears is in an easterly direction end their dip is approximately verttcalo The shearing pattern formed dm:lng movement along Giant's Reef' !i'ault has been complioated by later fatilltingo 'rho most important fault is one which has a north strike and a dip of 60 degrees eas to !l'his faul t has trunoated the ore body and it is thought the western extension of the orebody .:i.e situated in the Soil covered area knOWl as White's south deposit on the southern bank of the ];'inniss Ri ver (East bra.'1.ch). On the information available it 1s diffioult to
interpret the geological structure and evaluate the controls of minoralizationo MINERALI ZA '{IQfu.
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THE ORE BODIESe
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Exploratory work undertaken after the discovery of secondary uraniwa minerals at the surface has disclosed that oopper and Ul?anium 01"6 deposition has taken place at Whlte V s deposit within favourable bods of the slate f'ormation& The outline of the ooppep erebody closely adheres to the 'folded and faulted slate beds between Noso 1 and Noo 4 shafts (Plate 5)0 It is not yet knov.f!l whether the or'e deposition oocurred during the Giants Reef period of faul tingll Ol~ at an earlier date and laterconce:atrated by dynamothermal metamorphism at the 110se of folds within the slate formation. Faul ting both pal~allel and at l:'ight angles to the axial plane of Giants Reef Dragfold has caused displacements of the orsbody. On the 100 feet 107e1 of the mine" development wor1": has revealed (Plate 4) the presonce of two areas of copper minel~f:llization wi thin an area of' copper mineralization. 'rhe Western area of uranium mineralization is s1 tuated to the Vies t of' the nor thwest cros scuto 'fhe oas tax'n area of w:anlurn mineralization which was first interseeted in the Noo 1 shai't south crosscutt extel1ds about L~O feet to the west of this cltiossouto
- ·4 _., The WGS te.l;>n section. has an average length of 150 feet and width of 30 f0et.. Diamond cJx-i).ling (Plate 7) has shown that this Ol1>e bo
.:fr.
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¥it thin the mine» . tb.e chlori tic schist-carbonaceous slate contact exposed in the. eas torn oncl of the 100 fee t lovel is thought to be the faulted continuation of the chloritic schist-carbonaceous slate contact in No .. 1 shaft south Cl'osscUt aboat 7 feet :from the shaft.. Exposures on the 50 :feet leV'sl conf'orm to this correla t1on. The eas tern orebody appears to have been. deposl ted in. a different slate horizon :f'l"'om the western orebody (Plates 4,6)$ This is supported by the absence of a chlori tic schist band neal' the hrulging wall of the .eastern orebodyo I.rhis bancl of chlol.'i tic schist is adjacent to the hanging wall o:f the wes tern orebocly and has been proved from the sUI'i"'ace to the 300 :rest level (Plate 7) •
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The downward extension of the eastern orebody has not been found by sUl"f'ace drill holes WDQ and W4t nor can it be correlated with the ore on the 50 feet :Levalo
The anticlinal structure in v/a.ich the ora hO.t'izons are
folded is well illustrated by results obtained from development
o
on the 50 fee t levEll (Plate 3). On this level ore occurs :tn both the northern and southern limbs of an east pitching anticl Shearing along the limbs ot' the folds has displaced the beds favourable for urani.um mlndt' alizat1ono LateI' f'aul ting has caused reversals in pitch which may account for the presence of ore in UDDH No. 16~ Anticlinal folding in the beds favourable for uranium mineralization is viSible on the 100 feet level in No. 4 'shaft south crosscut •
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MINERAL ASSOCIATIOJ,'{S.
Mineragraphic examinations of' the ore have been carried out g and the primary and secondary uranium minerals
described (Stillwell, 1951 & 1952)
The following table indicates the types and principal location of minerals occurring at Whiteis deposit.
TABLE!.
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Uranium
...
Primary
Metals
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Uranin1te found on 50 ft. :rtolevel workings and in di&aond drillholes W.. D.P .. ,Wolo W.3 •
ana.-"loo
Secondary. Torberni to
Meta torlJerni te
CorrmlOn in l\jo. 1 Shaft within 15 fto of col1al~ and on 50 ft. level!'J.10s.l2hour8n~Tl i te abundan t near surface e. t Noo2 shaft occurring in costean GAO and No.3 shaft Post Uina Mlneralso Yet to be identified.
~p.le
..1 og,nJj;-'
,
. . .___._,_.____ ..
~a..
Copper
.'~--
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_.._..___..........._.. _.
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~£.2:l2rY+:1.t.£~
As ""dis semina tiOn.8 snd replacemanta'in oi;;;/lding also in fissure veins (massive veins' up to 2 ft~ wide on 100 fto level wi till quartz and borni te) trU'oughout the workings.
iE BotU'l1oni te
BOi~i tE/
t,
bedding
f
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as Oll
replacement of 100 :t: t" level and
in ftssure veins with Quartz and chalcOPY1"i te .. , , Covellita in Quartz vein at '9""'r'f:t. in 8 outh Cl"OBscut from,
f
No..
4
Malachi t,o Azuri ta
Paeudomalach1ta Dyhldrite Oorneti te .. Native Copper in 50 :reet levr:;:rai'so in Uo 2 shaft at 28 foe t ..
.
Chalcocttie • '
shaf'fj.
------------------------------------------------------------------Iron,
H~llati
te
Limoni te
t
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............. Cerussite at surfaoe in s'mall' cos tean ,
Lead
ii,
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==-8;;:::;,•
co,orda (290E, llSN.) ..,'
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Cobalt
Erythrite No .. l Shaft south crosscut 50 ft.
level
Nickel
Bravalte
u ~uronitao
Bournontte has been recognised (Stillwell, 1951) assocla'ted wi th chalcopYI"i te, what a.ppears to -be bournoniiie also,occurs in the massive :form at 50 feet level of No. 1 Shaft. Some doubt has bean expressed however as to whethEH' or not this massive mineral is really chalcocite, and ,mineral determinations are in progress • ..-....
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:c.Ta,. I-aha.ft was
8Ulll~
on showings of torbernl. te
and
phollphl.ll"anyll tea exposed in Ho .. 2 Costea.."l.., These minerals
we.l'·a associated "vii th mala-chi ta and were confined to a bed of carbonaceous slate whi9h was syncl1nally ~agged an a faultwith an east strUce. With the structural termination of the' ala-tes £lecon-dary uranium mineraliza t ien oeQ.sedo A crosscut to -the south.at the'50 feet level in No.1 shaft revealed a ioealised zone of' high l"&clio-aetivity within 15 feet of the shatto 'rhi6 indica tee that 8 1 blanlcet of ,non-radlo-act iva l'ook one toot thi.ck can offectlvoly concealhlgh radio-aotivity,; Torberni te and u1:'ooln:l te were associated. VIi th mass i ve bOUl'noni te (7) mulach1teand quartz ill_this zone of high ,radio-activity_' The mineralized zone, \"vhich attained a maximum width ot 2 ft. 6 inches and vms confined to the back of the orossoutjt in (a'ushed talcose chlori tic elates.
DUl'ing 1951 asse.ya of uranium samples taken'from the Vlorkingson the 50 feet level had a low U30 g content and the minarallzatlon o:ppearod to, be patchY" FU.cti1,e.t' df.l'velopment on thE) 50 feetteval durl,ng 1952 revealed the ·presence of high gl.'ad6 primary uranium are associated wi th copper sulphides" and secondat'y minerals of' copper and uranium ..
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In J~ro", 2 shaf t 9 secondary 1> fluorescen t ~ Ul".9n1.tU'll minerals BeGocia ted wi til malf:l.chi ue 'l."rore f.'oll.'1d U:nd01.' a 13011 cover of six incbes.. Pho8phurenylt t6 oCCUl~ as coatings and 8i3amB 8 :reet below groLUld. levelu Thi!.l radio-activity attained a maxi.mum of 60 times the bacl-:ground count.. Radioactivity if; ,\;\·ea}\: oot'w'Jen B i\;;:~,t a.'ld 25 feet beluw ground 1eve10 The presence of fInely disseminated ur.anium minerals \'ffiS . detected by the minf71"alight" In ordinary light the minex'al appeared as a black s po t i,;vi thin a dar1c gl."ey zona of al te.t'a tion each par t icle occup~rin['; not rtlo:C'e than 002 inchGs in diamo ter. At 29 :feet below the collar (thai; is 25 feet below ground lovel) of }To. 2 shsft, native cO[Jperll sooty chalcocltcp chalcopyrite and oovellite warE) encountered.. Saillples from below this depth assayed greater than 2% U3080 Radiomotric assays of 7% U~On we.i."e ob tained fl"li.1 11{ samples ·of bleaclled g.ruge from a. faulT; £2 inches wide striking N60 degr¥ees Wand dipping 60 degrees N .. E. at the bottom of
NOe
2 shafta
Seconda!'y uranium min.erals oocurl"ad in the carbonaoeous slates of Noo 3 shafta The slates are hero displaced by a fault which stl'ikes Ii 40 degrees E and dips 50 degrees southo Uranium miner'allza tion was. in the sla tes!l along the faul t 8...1").d a few inches in tho chlori tic schists below the :raul t ~:orberni te lil13.a the prec10minant uranium mineral and when mined was a <':leep greeD. in colour, but on exposur0 to, sunlight it ch:mged to a yellow colouro .
.
No uraniUlil mineralization 'i'i$.S encountered in No.4 . shaft in 1951. However in 1952 developnwl1t work on the 100 feet level outlined the uranium orebody and showed tha t 800 ty black uranini te was the only visible pl"imru"y uranilUll mineral. Comple te crystals have not been observed but relict crystals are kno'll"lD. to axis to The S 00 ty na ture of' the uranin! te may be due .to late!' hYd.rotherm.~l aotivity. . . . , ':.> .
Uxoanini te associated wi th PY1'i tl3' and chalcopyri to in. its richest concen'lil"atlons occurs in highly micaceouB Slate
..
bands or finely breccia ted sehia ts. The hos t rocks in the ore zone genal'ally bleached and the uranin! te shows a1 tera t10n r 1ms and red colow'ad nt:'..reoles • Pyrite chaloopyr1to and uornite occur associated wi th quartz in' veins and as disseminatiOlls in the oarbonaceous slates and graphitic schists. Some of the quartz-chalcopyrite veins have been fractured ll the chalcoyyrite filling the ~racture8 in the quartzo Pyrite and chalcopyrite bearing quartz veins are generally absent from the uraniferous po~tion of' the coppe.!:' ul"aniUi.ll orebody. Disseminated born! te alld born:L te-quartz veins appeal" to be coni'i£i.·ad· prinoipally to the hanging wall of the copper-urful1run orebodyo The accompany-ing pl811 (Plate
)
" the zoning of the copper uranium minel'als on the 100 feet lev"e1- It ·has been possible to subd.ivide the u.rani um. ON~b ody in to illu8trat~s
(a)
a zone 10 feet - 20 feet in widtl1 in which the ore grade is) 00 5% U30a
(b)
0
A zone surrounding (a) ,in which the ore gl"s.de is appr'oxlruately 0 .. 2% U30S"
.
It V/a.S thou.ght v!hen. developmt~nt work first commenced . at Whita's deposit that there was a copr.:.er-uranium :rat10 wi thin the upsnlUffi cl'ebody" howevel' subsequent work has shown that such a ratio cannot be established as can be seen from the following table.
•
.' TABLE II
Sample No.
Assay resul tso
Looation·
% Cu(Chemical) B608 B60g
Northwest crosscut n
II·
nbJ.O B611 B612 B613
u
u
It
II
n
38··- 4.3 t 8 1il 9
004
43 8"u - 49 11~ git 49'9 - 55 East wall 52'7" - 54 v 2 n it - 61t 9 tt " 54 9 11" u West wall 56'7 - 6o 9 . u
0.5
~
n tt
II
Westwall
% U3'>8 (Radiometr'ic)4
20 0
10'5 2.1... 6~o
_0 ._.4
Bl 520 B521
No.
"
4n sh.aft Vi
sth .. W. if
~,
H/w Drive at 47 it tl U
B523 B524
II
n
on
tv
n
tf
u,
it
It
II
,~
It
13527 B528
"
~.
tf
n
"
W .~
It
fill
If
.. tt
t'
...
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n II
n VI
"56 u
fto 30" sO\lth o\f cei!.t.pe tt
.
30" north
ft .. 30" south
30" north 66 ft. 30" south tt n 30 Qt north
..
of face
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tt tt
..
tf
It
It
~
"
n
u
~
tt
;lI
~
t9
»
5~3
403 209 1.8 508 6",3
......
0 .. 061
0.393 0094
0.65
00195 209 app!'o;r. ..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~------------------------.'-----
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When thS' d&poa:l t v.'~:u~ a~mm.Ul6d in 1949 (W8.l"'d 1950) th.ere W01:'e tvw sllallow OOG tCt8.I.iJ11I a collaps~d ellS.i't ~~~'l.d
sev'eral potholos.. t
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During 1950 th.e tviO ~hallo\"l cos tOrulS v!GJ,~e cJ.EH.u~@d ou.t and £In add.i Ucmal ten C.08 i.earH.3 ,\:vere dug by manUfll lab 0 {U"9 :r~a;(1a..rO\TS1~
and scoop..
Two CQB tef.1ns ~ A and H, were bUlldozedo
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Of
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aeool1daJ~y
,t't0sultso
1950 and t\'W Cl"OS;;;cu.ts 't'Va.l. e f;ut out i·.l.~omtne ahatt, onG to the nOl..·th at the 30 fG9 t l'7vI~1 for a dls tauce oj: 15 fee t and one to the south at the ,50 f'ee t level for a d i stru:lCe oJ' 18 fee to 1
rIoQ' 2s1'l.a1";t· was opened np in Ho .. 1 Costean. whcJ.'le exoeptionally rioh ehowing:,:; 01' ur::.raium ochres had been Gxpos'edo ~(,h1s sl1of!';g aunlc on an incltnation. of 80 cleg.reos 1s 43 feet below the collru."f.> By the eXHl ot: .;::To "ember 19::)':) a dr 1ve 1.3 fee t long had. bee.Ll ope:ued up to the eas tat the 50 :t'eet leval oi~ .Holl 2 sl1.8.:t~to
HOe ;; sh.a:rt which is about 100 fee t 'W6'S t of' Noo 1 shaft wae sunk to a dep th of' 12 fee t in 1950 on ra ther llich sw,...face indioations ot: rso.io-actiVo minax'ala whicb, due to faulting did no psrsist at depth.
In 1951 the crosscut 04 the 30 fe0lt level of Noo 1 shaft VlSS extended to 30 fee t f'I'om thc"$ shaft and driving 1'o.t-. 20 fect to the wost and. 15 feet to the east was lmdertaken t'x'om the and 01' the crosscut.. At the €las tern and of the dt· tve til C.l~OSSCI.l t WfJi:') ez tended 6 :fee t to the south" In the south. wall of the ~O :f<3et levtSll drive 8 ja.c1thamr~:er holes we,t\e drilled to test th0 wetll l'onk :for- radio-aotivity. ~Vl1en dJ:>i'Ving 11a(1 boell.termln;:...t;ed on tho ,50 i'eet level SiJl1c1ng .. tn Hoo 1 shaft \'/8.8 continued to thE~ 100 f'S(ftt levalo By the end of 1951 a south east croGf)cut. at the 100 feet level
~"':
I' "
.;
Elhai't wns sunl: in ;,iOD 2 cos toan on sho\'ilngs urantum mlneraJ.(;j whLdl gav-e h.1gh .t'adlomo tria HOI> 1 sh,;'l:tt was f.lUnk to a dopth of 5:) feet dUl?ing NOo 1
f
,. 1
--
revealed the pr6SellCG of the o.rebody at a. distallce of 10 fest fl"om the shaft. In. 19510 No. 4 shaft Was Sl.l£ik to a vertical clopth. of 100 fee t below the top 01' the shuf t colla.t'. and a crO(:H3cut 97 .fee t in lang th was extended. to the sou th at tIl@ 100 :f',se t level in ol"der to 1n..tersec t t.he o.l."ebody loon ted by .!:lo. 2
shaft and diamond drilling"
It l
..
~
t J
I
~L'he
pw."poae of' mining wO.l."k in 1952 'was to de tel"mine
the shape oi' tIle oreboa.y
iJll
the 50 filet and ).0:) feet levels.
110 this end ttriving andCi."osscutti1'lg was cOl1tj,nued and by
January' 1st, 1953, 103-0 feet 01' ul1.derground dev01o'Ljment on the 100 fee t level anel 277 .. 5 fee t of dl.~velolJi!l0n t OIl the 50 feet levol h.~a. beGn completed.. A winze was s 1 tod to intersect . the wes tern or-ebody betvlCwn the 150 :reG t and. 200 I'ea t levels and to' provide an early ope ·.-d.ng :t:01.' Vtlll t ila t ion~·Hl.rpo8e8 when COl'l't~ccted at the 200 feo tlevGl with the neVi main sha.ft • cr'he winze had been mmk to a. dep th of' 40 feot by the end 01' 195~o
t
- 9 ....
I'
ri
f
I ~ I
l
!r
Diamond drilling opax'stions at Whi te~ s Deposi t commenced. in late Septembe!"~ 1950 undGr the direction. of' the Bu.reau of' Mineral Resou.rees.. Up to the 31st Dect~mber, 1952 a to tal of' BJl!.8 fee t had been dl'illed to test the orebody at White's Deposit. The details of holes drilled at; White's Deposit are listed in tables IV and V.. .
~ !
.•.
I
I'
!
t
i~
.
I
In mir-.i."ying out thedrilJ.lng opel"'atlona the rollowing drills were available for
,r,
(a) Stu'face
i
t
Drilling~
dri1ls~-
Screwfeed
Mindrill ElOO~ Goldfields 7 and Mindi"i11 A.3000
. Noo I,
Hydraulic feed dril1a:- Sullivan HoDo 220
(b) Underground drilling:
A1rfeed dri11s:-
Sul11v·an Do 6 alld Mindrill XR350
The d.istribution of footage is sho'W!l in tbe ..:fol l. owing table. !ABLE
f
r
_ _ _ _ _ _ _._ _S~Ir(£AC1.LDR.IL1JJ;ill_.___. _ _ _ _ _ _-..:.t.UN~DEIoifI."EJiolIolY:::f.i~w..;QIJ~·'tim DR IIJoIiiJG·
I
t
I
J I:};
Year
I
19,50
Mirid.l:'i11
E100
Goldfields Mindrill Noo 7. A3000
290 ft.
1952 (Jiy-Sept) 51605 ftc>
May 172 ft.
1606 ... 5 ft ..
462 :rco
991 ft. 1QTA~
.
Sullivan Mindr1l1 D.6. XR350
(Jly-NoV). (June-Dec)(Feb-Sept)(Sept-Dec) 991 ft. 2241 ft. 215205 ft. 695 ft~
-
.~
H.Do22
(Sept-Dec ) 485 fto
1951 (May-Hov ) 605 ft.
. TOTALS
Sullivan
2241 ft.
FQQ1§GE
..,.-~
215205 ft. 695 fto
8148 feeto
..-
,
.!-..-:-.
".:
-
-.
~
-"...
.
.
-
.
_
.'
.'
..
1:.:~l!bfLU' . :J Ul" ['11110
---..-.-
DI'1111
i--I ,~
~-mA
rr,y()f3 or dr i '-.----- ,
11.
1950
Minar!ll ElOO
'.
ii
Ilg-:"'---' '--' ~-'-'-""",---"""",,,,---.,,,,,--~---~~-~-~ RoduC0d
.,!~_?I'.
,
V ~~<
;.
.
l~'ole
Eo
I...,
Go-ordina te,,~.
...
Bore
!~f)V-
c1 of' site
Beal~ing
iE.. ~0et.
Na€Qlgiic
Inclina-ti.on.
.
176n
142E
313
1550
~Oo
-
~~
.-,
......no-, __ •..,_.__ .. __ , ... ., ........
L •••
'~.:_
••
_ - ' T ... ,. •
.--.-~
__
Recove~¥.
Bit SJ.=&s ..
94·5
1905
IBe3
EX
16413
80 1
EX
clepth in feet ..
I~
Core
WDn
n'
w
16605H
89E
312
155 0
60°
92
WJXJ
"
t1
173.5N
113m
313
155 0
60 0
89Q5
304
EX
¥iDE;
vt
it
2111J
160.5]4
314
162 0
60°
10905
2900
FJt
WDF
if
ti
30205E
321
171 0
60 0
99,,5
2.7 6
w
.,
2110sn
45E
311
155 0
60°
100
5~6
RK
9E
311
155
0
60°
100
600
. EX
15.31if
6705E
312
l.55°
60 0
70
1951
ViDa.
1411I
~~DH
Goldi'iG1ds No.7 .,122. 5If
WDI
M1ndl"ill E100
T ...
:"'t..... _
~o,)'u
WDK VlDL
WDM
WDa 'ilDP ~lir:\(~ wlJ.iJ~
186oa5N
228m
316~
145°
60°
100
9G.J.~
~
to
2.510 51lT
296E
316.6
1290
60 0
1.32
4009
n
!1
23105N
387E
It
It
323
15700
2L~3N
~
tJ
905ri
41J+o 5E 193E
32209
157 0 162
45° 45°0 60
100 190
225·58
31106
298°30 0
i15°
298°.30 9
316
103
26 6 0
~':'\'}.
1!i..fL
EX.
l107,
~
1952 ~
9
eD
Goldfields Ho.,70221H
ViDN
904,
17''''' •• U~.
EX
.
., EX
29 .. 6 24 .. 0 500
EX EX.
172
16 .. 6
BK
45°
412
2501
..
Sulll van HD22
2 .. 5S
409E
313.1
.
2.58
413E
31301
336 0 30'
50°
544
50.0
311.6
337°30 (
_60°
l03
907
46°30~
108
10 .. 4
AX
"
~t
0
2.702
~{
EJ.
1; .. 8
EX
WDR
Mindrl11 ElOC
loor~
WDS
Minclril1 A3000
47 .. 51'f _496E
313 .. 1
298°.30 '
444N
125E
329.7
1.55°.30~
60°
176
1709
me
372N
5101ii
335.8
157 0
60°
137 .. 5
4106
&1£
V;DT
11
wnu
u
E~OO
,.
172E
~~~:~.,
% Cure Recovery in are ~~Ql}e.:o
<;1
Oon to
L"
..
.'
. . .~'-."--'
'
. .... ,.. ...
Wl
19.52
Mind.t' ill A3000
W2
u
fi3
~~
JJ100 A3000
w4
Su.llivan
W5 w6
"
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W7
t:t
HD22
~
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''"'5~ G. I.,
259H
360 .. 5:8 ~'i 6'~ ~ •..;" 1,'<
-,
8
298030~
10°
365
7,1!., .;4' .....
32701
1570
60°
.l.VU
"'i
25,,5
~ 5,J.,)0
r~'"
'1
.36.2lif
441 .. 2E
314 .. 1
298°30 9
45°
518
34 .. 1
5N
50205E
315
336°30 9
50°
551,
54
5\h5S
388E'
312073
~08°.30t
45°
85
.10
~
,32S
.300E
31208
29so3Qe
60°
252
14
til
B2S
313 .. 8
298 0 30 t
60°
397
39.,2
550E
.,._....
#
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,PL1TE V
Red.uced Lev-
Hole
Bore
%..
7-& COl'S
01 of. sito Beul"ing Inclina- Depth in 001"0 Recovez>y in Bit Yasl'l ... f..t.... No. ::...;;...;_--.;;.;....;",;;.; _____ :;vp~·e~o;.._;f;;..,.,,;;D;..;;.r..;;i_=1;.:;1..:;.o_C,;:;..o.;;;.-_o;;.:r;..:;d;;,;1:.;r_ .. a;...:t;..;!};.;:s_.._ _ _ _-=ill:......::f:.;:.e::.;::.a:;..:t~._...-=:M.=;asgn:.::.,!3~t_:.ia:::..D:.....-_=t~i:.;:.9;:::.;.n::.::.s:..:;.o___'"".~:t:~e;:;:.e.::.t;;..~_._...:R::..;~;;,::.9.9veI'1!.:_~£.~~az.§.le~_ _..,,: ..ru{.?o._..._,~
~-.
DDlil
-
1952
Sullivan .D6
82f1
11
218 .. 9
212.9147°
235
0
150
5
2
1611'T
>~O. 9E
3
183N
3.301$
4
. 150N
.22.00 .5E
5
16o .. 5N 279E
6
140N
264E
·212
14.2
0
1881ll
.,22
220 .. 9
322
0
215
5·1
219.7
3220
185
8e6
21706
142°
155
18 .. 9
192
.36.• 7
:206
29 .. 8
201
16.4-
200'
lflo 7
158
29,,1
198.5
62.0
213.6
7
10°
8
21J7N
401.58
213.2'
9
203N
406.5E
213:6
88°45'
10
20ar
407~
21306
112°30'
11
331N
lJ.4E
222
20,5N
406.5]:
21308·
330N
107E
222
321°15'
122
50.8
114 •. 5E
217 .. 3
233°15 9
215
20~8
116.5E
217.. 2
168°45'
195
6 .. 3
27503
35'-+
0
187
8.1
12
13
14 15
16
·fl
24U
."32.5°
60°15'
40 lill.
EXT
The ore
.t"0ser-V'(!H:l
and grade at white's Deposit
ax'odismISf:led in the geIlGl'9.1 l"'eport on. tho aoti;.rities in
the
RUEl
Jungle area (Matheson$) 1953)
0
•
A stwfacG plan showing the ~e.dlometrlc oon tours . of thedepoB1 t was prepared in October 1949 by D"Fo Dyson of tho Geophysioal Section.
Surface oontamination resulting
from costeanlng ll shafting and diamond d.l:·illing has not permitted fUL~ther radiometric contouring.
Radiometric profiles of coeteans and diamond drillholes andradiomotric contour plans and sections of the undergrowld workings are available from the Geophysical Seotion,
-
','
The limits of the orebody are based on radiometric assays of all min.e samples and diamond d1'ill sludge 'scunpleso 'rhess assay results arG subject to revision as variations due to lnequilibriurn of' the standard samples sometimes occurredo Ar'rangements are being ma:de for oheck chemical assaYSq At presan t the corl"elation of radiometric l"'esul ts Hovlever it is expec ted that continued work at R~~ Jungle will eventually establish a basis of correlation~ .
wi th mine geology is difficul t.
.§&T.F
POTENTI.At~J1l?StJLT§.
Results of a self potential survey conducted in 1950 (Allen 5 1950) indicated that four anomalies were present in the vicinity of WhlteOs Deposito However some doub t vlasexpr6ssed as to whether the anomalies were created by graphitic schists present in the areao The presence of s ta"ong sulphide mlnert-'tliza tion on the 100 fee t level of the mine Guppor.ts the belief tha t the self po ten tial anoma11es are indioative of sulphide mineralso Diamond drilling of self potential anomalies has not proved that copper sulphides are the sole cause of these anomalieso When t he extent of pyri te mineralization is determined. it will be possible to assess the value of the self potential work.
.." '
MbGlffiTOMETER SURVEYS • . \
.~
.,.
,.
Results of magnetometer surveys in the vicinity of Whlte i s Deposit are not ya·t available but it 1s hoped . that they will be of use in the, interpretation of the geological structureo
I i
~
/. t
It i
, 1
..
.~.
I I
f ~
CONCLUSIONS. .........
~
~.t\imary uranium minerals have been found associated wi th c opper minerals in favourable beds wi thin a ala to formation which forms the core of a regional anticline wl1ich pitches about 35 degrees to the north east shearing parallel to and trans'.rersa to the ax1al planes of the folds has caUsed 'displacement of the urruliferous bedso The main orebody which 1s approximately 150 feet long ana. 30 feet wide on
i
1,3:: .... I
the 100 1'86 t level has b6en pr'oveci from the aUl"'faot;l to th.e 350 ft31et l.e·VE,l.. li'U.l::>tb.e:t.l o.:ti:'l.mcmd (,'il~illing to tt)st the (lownw8.l."d <.;:xten t of' U::.e ol"'~bod.y on. the 4.50 fee t levej" and cleyelopmell t 'wC>l'k on the 200 feet level t 0 outlin~f the oJ."ebody 1s ,p€:commen.d6d,,, t
t
i
I I
I I
r . t·
~rhe wri tar vilas assisted in. the mine geolog~cal wO.l'k at v8.1'ious times by -G" Sle-is)I E.K. carter and Do.M~ Smith~ and their co-operation and a.ssistance is very much
appreciated.
Valuable advice and assistance vms a180 1"ac6i ved o.uring the period 1950 to 1952 :.fl"'om Ro';:;o MathesOllp Senior Geologist~ hoJ. Cookjl Mining Engineer;W Rae, Dl'ill1ng Superintenclent; and DoFo D~lsonSl Gaophysicis~; all of' the Bureau of' Mineral R{~sOurc6S:, EUld i'rool W' ~ ~\I1acdolle.ld at' the Northern 'rex'ri tory Mines Brancho
.
1951~
Geoph;}rsical SU1"Veys of' Urt:ulium field Rum Jt:ngle, H. '1'. 1950. C ~ weal tho BtU'. Min. Res. GeopllYso Records Rapt.
1951/.50 .. 1950g
Repot·t on the Geology of the Rum Jungle Uranium Bearing Are€!. NoT .. C 9 w$alth. Bur. Mill. Rea. Reool"ds
Rspt. 1950/470 Matl1eson R.So
1953:
Rum J'lUlgls Inves tiga tiona 1951 and. 1952 Progress n.epol'" to C t weal tho Bur. Min. R,es. Reoo.r-ds Rept(! 1953/2J-l--.
Stillwell PeLo
1950~
Uranium_ bearing Speoimens trom Rum J"ungle Prospect :NoT. C.SoloR.O • M1neragraprlic Noo 440.
•
Uraninite from East Finniss Deposit
Stillwell F.L.
Rum. Jungle
N.T~
CoS.loR.Oo Min.
InV6stop Special Rept. Stillwell
-.
J
I
..
~ I
.
I'
i
I
I r I
I I'
195:1.:
Uote on Specimens containi.ng oxidiaed Uranium MinGl"'als f,pom Rum Jungle anct F.e!'gu8on Hiver-o C.S.r.R.O. Min .. InV0st. Hept. No. 474.
1951&
Uranini tef'rom Rum _Jtmgle arid Ferguson River N~To C.SoI.R.Oo Min. Invest.~
1950~
Rapt. No. 473.
Repol~t - on the OCcux'N~nce of' Radio·-
nctive IVlin~H~als in the vicinity of Rum Jllngle' Railway Siding N ,fro c 'weal
Bu.r. Min. Res •. Records Rapt.· 1950/47.
.
1
,t
F.L ..
. .
~
1951:; '$uzrJffiary of Results of Investigattons - at tho Rum Jun.gle Ferguson Hi vel: during 1950. CLwQulth. Bux'. MUlo Roa .. ReCOJ:,o.E. Rep t. 1951/7.
,
t""'''' ... , -or -...
I
-p,
~'~-~+
.
/
. 1.
PLATE I
I
w
o
g
o
/
/ A
aO
0
';~7
...... : '
''''",!
PLATE 2 500N
u.J
o o
.
w
o 52
8
"
.
tt
WHITE'S· DEP.OSIT
N
,
RUM JUNGLE N.T.
FT LE VE~ ~(Reduced leve] 2~,J'
~-----t--- - +-----+-------r-------+------t-----+-----+------t-----1----1
GEOLO G-ICAL PLAN w____oC===S=c=Q=le=~ ________~nn
LEGEND
I Chlorific schist
400N
-+------t-----j-----i
Graphitic schist and
carbonaceous stole fau/t$
-
Geological r --+------- ~---~~-----T_---~
l
• I
•
~O~OJ.:!.N--_+_++_----+_----_r_------ - ._---- ---
- --
- - - --T.
'&O~
bound aries ----..... --....... Dip and 'triAe of beading i6Ci". Faults (POSSible) -~:-
synclinal
~
anticlinal Plunge of fold
-t--
Fold axes
' -- - - t - - -
::::r..
4 0-
b H.I'. WA~O.
:.
- ---r-----'-'-'T--~--___;
IV
o
Z .
I
:i
I
~I
~~ ~~---_1--
t
:1·""
----~-~---4_----~
.'
1
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.
'1
.
/
00
1 • J
, I '
J
Of'
.f toos
o
o
8
0 0
-
~ ;.
, 1'
j
.,
,
UJ
w
1
'of
'
.
uJ
UJ
8
.~
rn
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.
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..
-
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,.
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t,
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f
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0
0
,
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w
0 0
0 0
T
8
0
rO
(IJ
:.
PLATE 3..
I
~
IJJ
'<;t
'()
.~
WHITE'S
I'? '.
t·
,
DEPOSIT
RUM 'JUNGLE N.T.
.
50FT LEVE L (Reduced level 271') I
GEOLO G1CAL INTERPRETATION
,
Scale 20
0
PLAN
40
60 FEET
LEGEND ,.
.
--
ChloriNe schist I~"'''' : I Graphitic schist E~/d "- ' ..:.-- ..,.- ..... _.,. Geological boundaries Dip and strike of beds i 80 Faults Fold axes synclinal antic/inal ~ ~45 " Plunbe of folds """-'--- ' Ore oundaries F·... :." ·: ;": .:.'j Uranium ore
400/'11
I
~o
0
--r-
I
.
,
,
,'
,
-.
.,
'"
•
by H.Y, WARD .
300N
ff -
~
300.. ~
.
~
E
!AI ~
~
z
0
til
:(
z-
OJ
(
0
.
~
ci
::5
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f
.
.
,
,. \..
200N
. r~ I' I ~
,
I
,
- \oot! .
lOON
'"" ,
1 ~,
~ -~
-
~
~
~ ~~~
. f
!
t 00
00
.. .
<
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,
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I
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0
0
9
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to
a
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L
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Ul
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PLATE
DEftbslT
WHITE'S
RUM JUNGLE NIT. 100 FT LEVE L ~
,-,. ,. I
~
.-
~
-!t" " j
;
GE.OLO,GI CAL ) .NTE.RPRETAT10N -'I PL~N ,. Scale
~
-9: '
I
~
-=
.
~
•
ff
(Reduc.ed level 21~')
'.
...........~fE£T
2°. . . . .iO==========3~
~
by H' J .' WARD .
LtGEND
~
: Chlori ti c schi sf
"
I
GraphiTic schist
Limestone (impure) Quartz; Ie
Breccia
• t
Geoloqical boundaries Dip and strike of beds
f
Faults
I. .,.f
~ ~
Fold axes
syncllna! anticlinal
~~--11------~~~~~~~~17~~~~-~~~~~~~~~~~------!-------~~---1 Prunge of ~/ds ~ Ore bound(lr;es Ore
\'
J
I
. "
.
......
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WHITE'S
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DEPOSITe
RU M JUNGLE NJ.
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100fT LEVEL (Reduced level 2.141
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PLAN OF ORE BODIES •
S=c=Q='=e40 . . . . . . ._
2O . . . . . . .0i::::::::::::::
LEGEND
~illN~-----+---------+~------~------,c~---------4~--------~--------~--------~--------r---------T---------; Boundary of copper or~
hOdy '/
1O FE ET .....
~~~
ufflnium ore : .....: ..::::·t~·: bOd!J .:=.:..... ; •••. Uranium ore assaying '1I!D1l6JJ!!fL Extent
•
1-----l-----------:..--+----~+____tL---+----_+_----+_---__t_\_---__+_----i_-----+--------f
of
)O.5%U308~
Northern limit of
... ___ ... _,,hornite..... vis;b~
Faults •
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PLATE 6
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50'
-----+
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WHITE'S DEPOSIT
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GEOLO~~~~~~:;CO~·:lANE OF
NORTHWEST CROSSCUT SCALE
II
2.. 0 _.°=======:540. . ._ _..80 FEET
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SECTION i THROUGH 300E I
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----11-----+- ---r--------
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II Chloriftc
H.J. WARD.
LEGEND [~z
schist GraphiTic schist and corb. slaTe
t: >/d
Geological boundaries Faults Uranium ore
Bedalng trends FaulTs 7poSSibJ1
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PLATE 7 WOP
WDS
W7
