Geophysics at the Hawsons Iron Project, NSW – Eastern Australia’s new magnetite resource

John Donohue; Quentin Hill; Doug Brewster

doi:10.1071/ASEG2012ab210

ISSN: 2202-0586
E-ISSN:

oa Geophysics at the Hawsons Iron Project, NSW – Eastern Australia’s new magnetite resource
Authors John Donohue^a, Quentin Hill^b and Doug Brewster^c
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^a Senior Geophysicist Carpentaria Exploration Ltd, Brisbane, , Queensland, [email protected] ^b Senior Geologist Carpentaria Exploration Ltd, Brisbane, , Queensland, [email protected] ^c Exploration Manager Carpentaria Exploration Ltd, Brisbane, , Queensland, [email protected]
Publisher: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Source: ASEG Extended Abstracts, Volume 2012, Issue ASEG2012 - 22nd Geophysical Conference, Dec 2012, p. 1 - 6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/ASEG2012ab210
- Published online: 01 Dec 2012

Abstract

Summary

A JORC inferred resource of 1.4 billion tonnes at a magnetite Davis Tube Recovered Grade of 15.5% was defined at The Hawsons Iron Project near Broken Hill in western New South Wales making it the largest magnetite iron ore resource identified to date in eastern Australia.

Reconnaissance surface exploration in 2009 identified the area’s potential for magnetite iron ore fifty years after it was last considered an iron ore play prior to the discovery of Mt Tom Price.

Neoproterozoic Braemar Ironstone Facies sediments host the magnetite mineralisation which generates aeromagnetic anomaly amplitudes greater than 6000 nT. Five target areas for magnetite iron ore were identified from the open-file aeromagnetics.

A realistic Exploration Target was estimated from selective 2.5D magnetic modelling and image processing of the airborne aeromagnetic data. The inferred resource was established within 18 months of commencing the exploration program drilling 72 holes into the five aeromagnetic targets.

The monotonous sedimentary host sequence of siltstones and sandstones with few marker beds makes detailed geological interpretation extremely difficult. A magnetic stratigraphy was constructed from recognizable patterns in wireline magnetic susceptibility traces and correlations of the mineralisation could then be established down dip and across strike.

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References

Brewster, D.C., Hill, Q. S., and Donohue, J. G., 2009, The forgotton Hawsons iron prospect – Is there significant magnetite iron-ore mineralisation in the Neoproterozoic at Broken Hill. Broken Hill Exploration initiative: Abstracts for the 2009 Conference 28, 12-21: Geoscience Australia: Canberra).
Brownlow, J.W., Burton, G. R., Ferguson, A.C., Glen, R.A., Lishmund, S.R., MacRae, G.P., Malloch, K.R., Oakes, G.M., Paterson, I.B.L., Pienmunne, J.T., Ray, H.N., Watkins, J.J. & Whitehouse, J., 2007. Industrial mineral opportunities in New South Wales. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Bulletin, 33.
Hoskins, W.L., 1993, Placer Exploration Limited. Exploration Licence 3983 Hawson’s Knob, New South Wales. Final and Annual Report for 12 months ended 24 July 1993. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Report, GS1992/290 (unpublished).
Klein, C. & Beukes, J. 1993, Sedimentology and Geochemistry of the Glaciogene Late Proterozoic Raptian Iron-Formation in Canada. Economic Geology. 88, 542-565.
Lottermoser, B.G. & Ashley P. M., 2000, Geochemistry, petrology and origin of Neoproterozoic ironstones in the eastern part of the Adelaide Geosyncline, South Australia. Precambrian Research. 101, 49-67.
Miller, H. G. and Singh, V., 1994, Potential field tilt – a new concept for location of potential field sources: J. Appl. Geophys., 32, 213-17.
Rose, G., 1967. Menindee 1:250 000 Geological Sheet, SI54- 03. Geological Survey of New South Wales.

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Article Type: Research Article

Keyword(s): Braemar Ironstone; Broken Hill; Davis tube recovery; magnetic susceptibility; Neoproterozoic; tilt derivative.

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