Yeneena Project
(E45/2500, E45/2501, E45/2502, E45/2561) - Encounter earning a 75% interest from Barrick Gold of Australia
Encounter is earning a 75% interest in the 1500sq km Yeneena project in Western Australia from Barrick Gold of Australia. The Yeneena project is situated in the world class Paterson mineral province between the Nifty copper mine and Rio Tinto's Kintyre uranium project. The project area is considered highly prospective for unconformity related uranium mineralisation, for SEDEX lead-zinc mineralisation and Nifty/Isa style copper mineralisation. The project has not seen systematic modern exploration for uranium or base metals.
The project area captures the northern margin of an area of anomalously thick Yeneena Group sedimentary rocks. This margin replicates the geological setting seen on the southern margin some 40kms to the south, where the Kintyre uranium deposits are located (Figure 1).
Within the Yeneena project, the favourable unconformity position is preserved and interpreted to be present beneath a thin veneer of Yeneena Group sandstones. The area is largely under sand cover with limited outcrop. The overlying sandstones are also considered prospective for base metals with the Nifty copper mine hosted in the same stratigraphy, 45km to the north west of the Yeneena project.
During the year, initial efforts focused on the assimilation of historical exploration data into the Encounter database and the evaluation of that data.
Encounter completed multi-element re-analysis of over 5400 drill pulps from 18,000m of historical drilling completed by Barrick. Assay results received show areas of anomalism in the regolith that are one to two orders of magnitude above background for uranium and base metals. The data is currently being compiled and interpreted.
In addition, a program of end-of-hole hyperspectral logging was completed utilising the aircore and RC chip trays provided by Barrick. The results of the hyperspectral logging will be used in conjunction with the multi-element analysis to assist in prospect prioritisation.
A Tempest© Airborne EM survey was also completed during the year. Results are expected to be received in the coming weeks. The 1000 line km survey is designed to infill the regional Paterson EM survey currently being completed by Geoscience Australia as part of the Federal Government's Onshore Energy Initiative. The area of the infill survey will focus on the northern margin of the Yeneena Sub-Basin.
Co-incident structural, geochemical and/or geophysical anomalies will be followed up with detailed ground geophysical programs in the coming year.
Figure 1: Magnetic Image of Paterson Province WA
