Our Exploration Projects are as follows:
North Darling Range Project
23 ELS COVERING APPROXIMATELY 3,200KM²
The North Darling Range project encompasses the tenement areas that lie north of Perth in relative close proximity to Kwinana Port. This covers part of an area in the Darling Range which was the subject of major exploration programs completed in the late 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s by,
• CSR / Pacminex;
• Project Mining Corporation (PMC);
• Bridge Oil Pty Ltd; and
• Vam Ltd.
CSR/Pacminex, PMC and Bridge Oil all conducted extensive exploration programs, in summary:
• Over 10,000 drill holes comprising 172,000 feet drilling carried out;
• 87,950 samples were taken;
• 1971 State Alumina Refinery Agreement reached (now lapsed);
• In excess of $2million (circa in the order of $40m in today’s terms) spent up until 1971 on the CSR/Pacminex Project, with a completed feasibility study for an Alumina Refinery;
• Additionally, BRL has ELs in areas adjacent to previously explored ground.
Tenements held by the Company in the North Darling Range Project area also cover significant areas with bauxitic laterites indicated from the Geological Survey of Western Australia 1:250,000 scale geology map sheets. Field verification by the Company confirms extensive bauxitic laterites within its ELs and applications. To the knowledge of the Company, no exploration to assess the economic potential of these additional bauxitic laterites has been carried out to date.
The bauxitic laterites are largely preserved on plateaus and form outcropping ridges. Historical drilling identified bauxite mineralisation from surface to a maximum depth of 12 metres averaging three metres in thickness. The bauxitic laterites overlie a distinguishable saprolite clay zone.
Historical data, reconnaissance mapping and surface sampling has outlined a number of potential target areas that will be the focus of resource definition drilling, subject to procurement of all necessary land access arrangements and regulatory approvals. These are now significantly advanced with planned drilling underway in a number of areas.
Drilling commenced in the Bindoon region focusing on previously explored areas and further drilling is planned to focus on areas identified by CSR/Pacminex that contains potentially economic bauxite mineralisation serviced by existing infrastructure. Ongoing surface mapping and sampling is likely to identify additional new target areas.
Bauxite Resources Ltd announced in January that an assessment of BRL’s Bindoon and Avon granted and pending exploration licences in the Darling Range, Western Australia, hosts a JORC-Compliant Inferred Resource of 18.2 million tonnes at 43.1% Total Al2O3, 31.6% Available Al2O3 and 3.2% Reactive SiO2.
The Resource has been estimated by Ravensgate Mineral Industry Consultants and represents a major step forward for the company in achieving its Stage 1 objective of exporting Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) bauxite at an initial rate of 1 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) in 2009, increasing to 3Mtpa in 2010.
South Darling Range Project
41ELS COVERING APPROXIMATELY 8,400KM²
The South Darling Range project encompasses areas that lie south of Perth in relative close proximity to Bunbury Port. This project covers large areas of both state forest and privately owned land within the Alcoa State Agreement area, and now following further exploration licence applications, significant areas of ground adjoining Alcoa and Worsley Alumina’s mineral leases. These areas extend from Jarrahdale in the north through to south of Manjimup.
The project area contains significant bauxite mineralisation identified by previous exploration in the 1960’s and 1970’s conducted by;
• PMC;
• Vam Ltd;
• Alcoa;
• Bridge Oil Pty Ltd.
PMC and Vam conducted exploration programs over the project area, in summary:
• Greater than 7,500 holes were drilled; and
• Greater than 20,000 samples were analysed.
Further, additional bauxite laterites are reported by the West Australian Geological Survey within the project area. To the knowledge of the Company no exploration to assess the economic potential of these additional bauxitic laterites has been carried out to date.
Significant areas covered by the Company’s ELs have the same environmental land category classification as those areas where Alcoa and BHP are currently mining bauxite. These mining operations are conducted according to established environmental principles and world’s best practices which have enabled the Darling Range to become the world’s leading bauxite producing region on the virtual doorstep of the State’s capital city Perth.
EL70/3312, in the Manjimup area of the South Darling Range, covers parts of areas which were previously explored for bauxite by Vam Ltd from 1969 to 1973. Drilling by Vam Ltd of the residual Tertiary/Quaternary lateritic bauxites overlying the Archaean granitic and gneissic basement had been completed with 2,368 Scout holes for 6,891 metres. The Scout drilling was completed along tracks and areas which were selected visually on the ground and from monochromatic aerial photographs.
Historical data and reconnaissance mapping is being utilised to prioritise exploration targets and has outlined a number of priority targets areas for drilling. Work on the procurement of all necessary land access arrangements has commenced and is focussed on areas close to existing infrastructure and the Bunbury Port. Drilling commenced during the quarter on the Shenton Ridge and Martin Road prospects and the program is ongoing. Results from this drilling were very encouraging with intersections of 5 metres at 41.0% Total Al2O3, 34.8% Available Al2O3 and 2.6% Reactive SiO2 at Shenton Ridge and 4 metres at 30.7% Available Al2O3 and 3.7% Reactive SiO2 at Martin Road.
Work will focus on surface mapping and sampling of target areas followed by resource definition drilling upon procurement of necessary regulatory approvals.
The South Darling Range project area has been identified as having the greatest potential to support a DSO project out of the Bunbury Port. Some of the tenements cover areas that may relate to Alcoa and BHP Alumina State Agreements. The terms of the State Agreements may affect the Company’s applications to explore for bauxite, in which case the Company intends to negotiate with the relevant parties in an effort to secure bauxite exploration and mining rights to these areas.
East Darling Range Project
12 ELS COVERING APPROXIMATELY 3,300KM²
Following a comprehensive review of the Darling Range Projects, the Company has elected to increase the Darling Range projects by establishing the East Darling Range Project. This area relates to the tenements lying to the east of the BHP Alumina State agreement area, and covers areas in the vicinity of the Northam-Albany rail line.
The underlying rational for the new project area is that the North Darling Range Project is serviced by three northern rail lines which lead to Kwinana Port suited to a DSO operation.The South Darling Range Project is serviced by the Perth-Bunbury rail line, Bunbury-Collie rail line, Bunbury-Manjimup rail lines and Bunbury Port. The recently established East Darling Range Project is serviced by the Northam-Albany rail line and the Albany Port which could accommodate a separate DSO operation.
The East Darling Range project encompasses areas that lie to the east of the Alcoa and BHP Alumina State Agreement mineral leases east of Perth. This project covers large areas of broad-acre privately owned farmland in the vicinity of the Northam - Albany railway line providing direct access to the Albany Port.
The project area contains significant bauxite mineralisation identified by Broken Hill Propriety Company Limited (BHP) in the 1960’s and 1970’s. BHP conducted exploration programs consisting of geological mapping, surface sampling and reconnaissance drilling. Reconnaissance exploration conducted by BRL confirms that remnant laterite occurs over much of the project area where historic drilling intersected substantial thicknesses of bauxitic laterite. Better intersections from historic drilling in the Williams region include 7.9m at 32.7% Available Al2O3 and 7.3m at 36.1% Available Al2O3.
West Australian Geological Survey maps of the region display extensive areas of bauxitic laterites and to the company’s knowledge these additional laterites have not been explored to assess the economic potential.
Work on digital capture of historical data is proceeding and will be utilised to prioritise exploration targets. Work will focus on surface mapping and sampling of targets followed by reconnaissance drilling, subject to procurement of necessary regulatory approvals.
Kimberley Range Project
3 ELS COVERING APPROXIMATELY 460KM²
In keeping with the Company’s prescribed, staged business development, BRL has formulated a business strategy to accommodate its Kimberley tenement holdings. The Company strategy is to focus on the Darling Range Project in the short term for the establishment of a DSO operation, while securing tenure over highly prospective targets in the Kimberley. Work related to the Kimberley project will involve building a comprehensive geological database of bauxite occurrences in the Kimberley region and target generation.
The Company continues to review potential ground for acquisition and inclusion into the project area.
Northern Territory Project
2 ELs COVERING APPROXIMATELY 390KM²
BRL have recently acquired two new applications totalling 122 blocks (393 square kilometres) over bauxitic laterite outcrops in the Northern Territory. These tenements are for the Company’s longer term staged business development. The present strategy is to focus on the Darling Range Project in the short term for establishment of a DSO operation, while securing tenure over highly prospective targets elsewhere.
