Miscellaneous Uranium Prospects in the
Byrglyri/Napperby - Walbiri - Hades Flat - Barote Springs
Northern Territory
N E Arunta/Yambla - Arnhem Land West - Arrarra - Deaf Adder
Alligator Rivers - Tin Camp Creek - West Arnhem Land
Beatrice South - Cobourg - Docherty Creek - Mount Permain
Kukalak-Myra Falls - Twin Rivers - Snowdrop
Byrglyri/Napperby - Ngalia Basin Region The Byrglyri/Napperby Prospect is located about 150 km north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. It is often confusing with different names being assigned by different companies involved historically at the site. Another name it has been known by is New Well. The more correct way to view the deposit/occurence is a series of uranium occurences across a region about 12.5 km long.
A calcrete-type uranium deposit has been located in the area, within host sandstones subcropping near the surface, although it is quite low in grade. The total resource is estimated at about 6,000 tonnes U3O8 at an average grade of 0.035%, or 2,625 tonnes U3O8 at an average grade of 0.080%. The deposit is owned jointly by Black Range Minerals and Paladin Resources. The deposit is a potential open cut or ISL mine. Further exploration in the vicinity, aimed at finding more ISL-type uranium deposits, is being undertaken by Paladin and Black Range.
Latitude 22 Deg. 12 Min. S
Longitude 131 Deg. 3 Min. E
Walbiri - Ngalia Basin Region The Walbiri Prospect is located about 150 km north-west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. A small uranium deposit has been located in the area, moderate in grade. The total resource is estimated to be between 500 and 1,500 tonnes (U) at grades from 0.1% to 0.3%. The deposit is a potential open cut or ISL mine. Further exploration in the vicinity, aimed at finding more ISL-type uranium deposits, is being undertaken by Paladin Resources.
Latitude 22 Deg. 25 Min. S
Longitude 131 Deg. 35 Min. E
Hades Flat - Pine Creek Region The Hades Flat Prospect is located between the Ranger and Jabiluka uranium deposits, within the Ranger Mining Lease. A uranium deposit has been located in the area, although the grade is unknown (presumably low). The deposit is thought to be between 500 to 1,500 tonnes (U). ERA presumably own the exploration leases.
Latitude 12 Deg. 35 Min. S
Longitude 132 Deg. 55 Min. E
Barote Springs/Ranger 68 - Kakadu Region The small Barote Springs uranium exploration leases, are owned by ERA, just 5 km west of Jabiluka. There are two prospects - Ranger 68, thought to be reasonable in size, and Ranger 4, thought to be small and low grade. The deposits are within Stage 2 of Kakadu National Park, and should be effectively protected from any possible development.
Originally discovered in November 1976, it was first drilled in 1976-78 by Peko Wallsend. The estimate from these days was a resource of 5,500 tonnes U3O8 at an average grade of 0.357%, using a cutoff of 0.1% for the estimate (see Mudd, 1999, PDF).
When Stage II of Kakadu National Park was proclaimed, Peko wallsend, then the explorer for ERA, tried to drill it more extensively in about 1986 but were caught by the National Park Service and the matter went to court under an injunction. A video by Kakadu National Park management allegedly filmed the incident, and was later documented by the ABC (you can ask to see it at park headquarters).
Since the High Court "Newcrest" decision reviving some of BHP's leases in Stage 3 of Kakadu, it is possible that the acquisition by the National park of the Barote Springs across Magela Creek without "just terms compensation" under the Constitution, these too could potentially revive. ERA would dearly love to get at these deposits as they appear to be quite extenesive and are 'rich'. (Note the clandestine extent they went to to drill the deposit to proove it after it became Park).
There was once a proposal to dam off the Magela, and drain it to allow an opencut to access these Barote deposits. The only way that the Barote Springs leases would not revive to their legal status at the time of their acquisition (without just terms compensation) is if they have already revived at the date of the Newcrest decision and the Co. ERA or Peko, did not bother to renew the leases so that they expired like the Coronation Hill lease did (see the Newcrest decision - that decision takes the legal staus of the leases right back to where they stood at the time of acquisition where they were leases under a Conservation Zoning of the national parks Act. That zoning allows for mining activities despite the prohibition in the Act ). The Colong Committee made the reference to the 29 leases reviving in Kakadu during the debate on the Environment Protection and Biodiviresity Bill in June 1999.
Who knows where ERA might show up next after their attempt at Jabiluka !!
N E Arunta/Yambla - Central Australia The N E Arunta/Yambla exploration lease is a relatively new propsect identified by Paladin Resources and Black Range Minerals. It is north-east of Alice Springs, located near granite with anomalous uranium. ISL-type uranium deposits are being targetted.
Arnhem Land West - Arnhem Land The Arnhem Land West exploration lease is a relatively new propsect identified by Cameco (50%) and PNC Exploration (50%). It is located about 250 km east of Darwin. The Northern Land Council has approved the exploration in 1997 and in 1998 agreed to allow the expansion of the lease.
Arrarra - Arnhem Land The Arrarra exploration lease is a relatively new propsect identified by Ocean Resources (33.33%), Genesis Resources (33.33%), and PNC Exploration (33.33%). It is located about 53 km north of Ranger. The Northern Land Council has approved the exploration in early 1998 and final permits from the NT government are pending.
Deaf Adder/Snowdrop - Arnhem Land The Deaf Adder exploration lease is a relatively new propsect identified by Cameco (98%) with provate interests (2%). Exploration was in progress during 1997 and was continued during 1998. It is located within West Arnhem Land.
Cameco announced on March 30, 1999, that they have allocated $4 million in funding for their exploration program in Arnhem Land (and WA).
In true secret nuclear industry style, they failed to mention the funding is to evaluate the new deposit they have found, apparently called "Snowdrop" (bizarre name for the tropics). No details are available on grade, size, or other information.
Alligator Rivers - Arnhem Land The Alligator Rivers region is listed as containing two different exploration leases. One by Cogema Australia (through subsidiary Afmeco) in Joint Venture with Kumagai Ltd and Black Range Minerals, and the East Alligator River prospect by Ocean Resources in JV with PNC and Genesis Resources.
Alligator Rivers - Cogema and Co.
The second prospect along the East Alligator River, known simply as the Alligator Rivers uranium exploration prospect. It is controlled Cogema Australia (50%, through acquired subsidiary Afmeco) in Joint Venture with Kumagai Ltd (25%) and Black Range Minerals (25%). The lease includes the Black Rock uranium prospect. Other leases involved may also be as known "West Arnhem Land".East Alligator River (EL3106) - Ocean and Co.
The East Alligator River exploration lease about 32 km directly north of Jabiluka. It is a relatively new propsect identified by originally by Genesis Resources, although they withdrew from the project and it is now being developed by Ocean Resources (66.7%) and PNC Exploration (33.3%). The exploration lease contains the Arrarra, Mamurri Hill and Inardjil uranium prospects, identified in the 1970's. By early 1998 no activity had been reported and negotiations with the Northern Land Council were continuing, although Ocean Resources were confident of starting in 1998.
Tin Camp Creek - Arnhem Land The Tin Camp Creek exploration lease is a relatively new propsect identified by Cameco (49%), Cogema (49%) and West Arnhem Corporation (2%). Exploration was in progress during 1997 and was continued during 1998. It is located within West Arnhem Land.
West Arnhem Land - Arnhem Land The West Arnhem Land exploration leases comprise several new exploration tenements, with varying ownership. Two tenements are owned by Black Range Minerals (15-50%), Cogema (15-50%) and Kumagai Australia (30-50%). Afmeco (Cogema-acquired subsidiary) farmed into exploration in the area in late 1991, the precise details of which remain confidential. Negotiations with the Northern Land Council are continuing, especially with regard to new tenements.
Beatrice South (ELA3114, ELA1466) - Arnhem Land The Beatrice South exploration leases comprise two new exploration tenements, with the first located 10 km east of Ranger, and the second 60 km due south of the first, both in western Arnhem Land. The tenements are owned by Black Range Minerals (33.3%), Afmeco (33.3%, Cogema-acquired subsidiary) and Resolute (33.3%). The prospects are part of the five JV prospects between Cogema and Black Range Minerals.
Cobourg - Arnhem Land The Cobourg exploration lease is located on the Cobourg Peninsula. The tenement is owned by Afmeco (46.25%, Cogema-acquired subsidiary) and Black Range Minerals (23.125%), Kumagai Australia (23.125%) and individual J Bryan Crawford (7.5%). Very little has been reported, as the companies have been concentrating on their prospects further south across Arnhem Land. The prospect is part of the five JV prospects between Cogema and Black Range Minerals.
Docherty Creek - Rum Jungle Region The Docherty Creek exploration lease is located about 150 south-south-west of Darwin, in the vicinity of the former Rum Jungle uranium mine. The tenement is owned by Black Range Minerals (95%) and Banakula Aboriginal Corporation (5%). Very little has been reported, as Black Range have been concentrating on their prospects further east across Arnhem Land. An aerial radiometric suvery was flown in August 1997, but it is not known if the intended follow-up drilling program took place in 1998.
Kukalak-Myra Falls - Arnhem Land The Kukalak-Myra Falls exploration lease is located about 60 east of Jabiluka, in the vicinity of the former Nabarlek uranium mine. The tenement is wholly owned by Black Range Minerals. Very little has been reported, as Black Range have been negotiating with the Northern Land Council. A drilling program was intended for the Devil's Elbow area in 1998.
Mount Permain - Arnhem Land The Mount Permain exploration lease is located about 70 km north of Jabiluka, in the vicinity of the former Nabarlek uranium mine. The tenement is owned by Afmeco (30%, Cogema-acquired subsidiary), Electrometals Mining Ltd (40%), Kumagai Australia (15%) and Black Range Minerals (15%). Very little has been reported, as access negotiations are ongoing with the Northern Land Council. The prospect is part of the five JV prospects between Cogema and Black Range Minerals.
Twin Rivers - Arnhem Land The Twin Rivers exploration lease is located about 40 km east of the former Nabarlek uranium mine. The tenement is owned by Afmeco (40%, Cogema-acquired subsidiary), Kumagai Australia (20%), Savage Resources (20%) and Black Range Minerals (20%). Access was granted on one of the tenements (EL 3347) in 1997. Stream geochemistry, mapping and a detailed helicopter-borne radiometric survey were carried out. The reults of this work were being assessed at the end of 1997 to determine the 1998 field programme.
Information from Quarterly Reports, Annual Reports, industry information and various media sources.
Some of these are available by email, if interested.
To convert from tonnes uranium (U) to tonnes uranium oxide (U3O8), multiply by 1.1793.
Last Updated - August 1, 1999.
Back to the Uranium Resources Page or Back to the SEA-US Front Page
Copyright © SEA-US 1998-2001