This Project Summary was last updated 2010-05-09 19:56:37.
The Queen Victoria Rocks Project is located 30km south-west of Coolgardie, Western Australia. The project adjoins ground in joint venture with major nickel company Mincor Resources NL.
The project has historical nickel sulphide intercepts and gold potential.
Our Exploration Team completed a substantial amount of preparatory field work and permitting during Q2 2011 and is now ready to test gold, nickel, manganese and iron targets with RC and diamond drilling during Q3 and Q4. Direct exploration cash expenditure during the Q was $0.9M. The Exploration Manager has set out the work completed during Q2 2011 in his report that follows.
In August 2011 we’ll commence RC drill testing a number of deep nickel sulphides targets at the Forrestania Project. These have been generated after a detailed study of the projects geology, geochemistry and geophysical data sets. Shortly thereafter we’ll commence a comprehensive RC drill program aimed at identifying high grade gold and nickel sulphides at Lake Johnston. We’re particularly excited about the gold drilling because the targets are robust and the gold price is high. Any gold exploration success at Lake Johnston should result in an immediate re-rating of the share price. The opportunity to put together the Company’s first mineral resource is likely to come from an RC and diamond drill program planned for manganese at the Jigalong Project late in Q3 or early Q4. An exploration budget of $4.5M has been set aside for the balance of 2011.
During the Q it was announced that Hannans’ iron and manganese projects would be developed within a new company owned 100% by existing Hannans shareholders. The Record Date for determining entitlement to the ‘spin out’ has been amended, as required by ASX, to a date to be fixed after consideration of the matter by shareholders. All details will be contained in a Notice of Meeting to be lodged in August 2011.
HANNANS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
At the end of the Q the equity and convertible loan portfolio was worth approximately $28.7M and the cash at bank $0.7M. No material purchases or sales of listed or unlisted equities took place during the Q. The equity portfolio will be sold down as and when required to fund exploration and working capital.
Field reconnaissance activities at the Forrestania Project have identified BIF outcrop in a number of locations at the Beautiful Sunday West Prospect area (E77/1512). The extensive BIF outcrop has confirmed the presence of greenstone stratigraphy in the area and has also significantly increased the probability of identifying ultramafic lithologies in the area.
A gravity survey has also been completed over the Beautiful Sunday West Prospect; the survey has helped to confirm the presence of greenstone lithologies west of the Beautiful Sunday Deposit (owned by Western Areas NL).
Surface auger sampling has been completed over the western ultramafic within the Stormbreaker Prospect on tenements E77/1354, E77/1406, E77/1430, P77/3607, P77/3848 and P77/3849 for a total of 3,152 samples, assays results are pending.
Wide spaced auger sampling has also been completed at the Stormbreaker North area (M77/693), assays results have been received. The data has been processed and has confirmed that the central ultramafic unit continues north on to tenement M77/693.
Gold anomalism has been identified in historical RAB drilling north-west of the Forrestania Project-Skeleton Rocks Prospect, an Exploration License application (ELA77/1846) has been processed by the DMP.
Queen Victoria Rocks Project
RC percussion drilling commenced at the Benari Prospect within the Queen Victoria Rocks Project area. A total of 6 holes have been completed for 1,478 metres. The drilling to date has intersected amphibolites, komatiitic and granitic lithologies. Assays have been received for three holes with no significant assays to report.
Lake Johnston Project
Gravity surveys were completed over the Ernest and Hardcore prospect areas; the surveys have shown that the gold mineralisation at both prospects is associated with a steep gravity gradient. The gravity gradient is interpreted to represent a large scale structure.
A twelve hole reverse circulation (RC) drilling program has been completed for 2,446 metres at the Forrestania Project. Favourable ultramafic host rock lithologies have been confirmed from the drilling
Surface TEM traverses have been completed over the central ultramafic corridor at Forrestania. The survey has generated TEM anomaly coincident with an historic soil anomaly (PAC_007)
Ongoing RC percussion drilling at Forrestania expected to commence during the December quarter
Queen Victoria Rocks Project - Nickel
Hannans auger sampling has been processed resulting in two priority anomalies being generated over the western ultramafic contact position (EMT5 prospect area) at Forrestania
Three discrete moving loop electromagnetic (EM) anomalies have been identified from recently completed geophysical surveys at the Queen Victoria Rocks Project (Benari Prospect). The EM anomalies are coincident with helicopter borne VTEM anomalies and historical geochemical (nickel and copper) anomalies announced on 19 May 2010
Reverse circulation drill testing of nickel sulphide targets at the Benari Prospect is being planned for the coming Quarter
Summary of Activities
Hannans exploration activities are aimed at identifying an economic nickel sulphide deposit (internal target) in excess of 30Kt of contained nickel metal (i.e. stand alone operation) characterised by high tenor (i.e. the percentage of pentlandite relative to pyrrhotite)nickel sulphides. The target model is characterised by a small 'foot print' generally 200m to 300m in strike extent and 5m to 20m width but with a very elongated (+1km) linear down-dip extent. This makes exploration for such an ore body with surface EM methods technically challenging, particularly more so in a conductive environment.
Mr Huntly’s background includes Chief Exploration Geologist for Xstrata Nickel Australasia (October 2008 – December 2009), District Exploration Manager for Jubilee Mines NL (February 2004 – October 2008) and Exploration Project Manager for Goldfields of South Africa
Mr Huntly’s nickel experience will add significant value to Hannans’ nickel sulphide exploration projects at Forrestania, Lake Johnston and Queen Victoria Rocks
Hannans Reward will recommence nickel sulphide exploration at its 100% owned Queen Victoria Rocks project located 30 km west of Coolgardie in the Goldfields region of Western Australia.
QVR Nickel Project, one of three prospective, well located nickel sulphide projects in the Hannans portfolio
Ground based electromagnetic (EM) survey to commence shortly at 100% owned QVR project
EM survey designed to follow up airborne EM (VTEM) anomalies generated by Hannans during 2008
2008 EM anomalies coincident with geochemical anomalies generated by previous explorers during 2005
Subject to outcome of ground EM survey and field verification of historical sampling, drill testing of nickel targets will commence
Government approvals process delays RC drilling (originally scheduled to commence mid March 2010)
All required approvals now received, drill pads and access pads cleared, drilling scheduled to commence early May
Final processing & interpretation of helicopter borne VTEM survey produces additional electromagnetic (EM) anomalies at Stormbreaker*, Skeleton Rocks and Lucy Rocks Prospects
Review of historical ground geophysical surveys identifies 5 new EM anomalies located within Stormbreaker Prospect Ground EM surveying of these 5 new EM anomalies produces 8 new RC drill targets
Multiple tenement applications made
Field reconnaissance of newly applied for tenements confirms the presence of prospective ultramafic stratigraphy
Anomalous rock chip returns values including: 1055ppm Ni, 529ppm Cu, 1360ppm Cr and 35ppb Pt
Lake Johnston Project
Review of historical ground geophysical surveys identifies 3 new EM anomalies
Follow-up ground geophysical surveys to be completed during May
Queen Victoria Rocks Project
Hannans/Vale joint venture comes to an end
Hannans retains 100% of project and will review data before planning next phase of exploration
Jigalong Project
370 surface samples collected
Sunday Project
Results pending from three diamond drill holes completed by joint venture partner
High grade gold mineralisation intersected in reverse circulation (RC) drilling: 4m @ 16.68 g/t, from 108m-112m (MSRCH021)
Visible alteration with anomalous gold intersected in all drilled RC holes
Drilling program managed and funded by Triton Gold Ltd (Triton)
The combination of Hannans’ historical activities and Triton’s recent activities confirm the significant high grade gold potential of the Sunday Project
Triton entitled to earn up to a 72% interest in gold rights only by funding the next $500,000 of exploration expenditure
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Vale), the second largest diversified metals and mining company in the world, agrees to explore the QVR nickel sulphide project
Subject to Vale meeting key milestones, Hannans to retain a 25% free carried interest through to completion of a bankable feasibility study
A helicopter borne VTEM survey was planned over the QVR magnetic features during the
1st Quarter. Of particular interest is the magnetic feature to the north of the Spargos
Ultramafic. It will be flown in conjunction with a major nickel miner, who is in joint venture
with tenement holders on the tenure immediately to the west of Hannans ground.
A review of Hannans’ historical exploration results during the 1st Quarter has identified
that lithogeochemical studies at the Spargos and Valliant gold prospects may assist drill
targeting and identification of a source to the previously identified auger and gold
anomalous alteration systems identified in the aircore drilling.
A helicopter borne electromagnetic survey (VTEM) has been planned for this Quarter over the QVR magnetic features.
Plans will be made to conduct lithogeochemical studies at the Spargos and Valliant gold prospects that may assist drill targeting and identification of a source to the previously identified
RC drill results for nickel have been returned and further geophysical surveys have been
planned. Additional aircore programmes for gold have been proposed.
New IP anomalies to be drilled at Queen Victoria Rocks
Five discrete untested targets have been identified in a recently completed Induced Polarisation
(IP) survey at the Queen Victoria Rocks (QVR) project and will be drill tested in March.
Four New EM Conductors Identified at QVR Nickel Project
Four new ground geophysical (EM) anomalies have been identified at the Queen Victoria Rock
(QVR) Project located 45 km south-west of Coolgardie, Western Australia. These conductors
may indicate the presence of sulphides at depth. Induced polarization (IP) surveys are
scheduled for January 2007 to better define the conductors prior to drill testing. Drill samples will
be assayed for nickel. QVR is 100% owned by Hannans Reward Ltd
A further two significant gold-in-auger soil anomalies have been identified at the Queen Victoria
Rock (“QVR”) Project located 45 km south-west of Coolgardie, Western Australia. Aircore drilling
is being planned to test these anomalies during January and February 2007. QVR is 100%
owned by Hannans Reward Ltd
Queen Victoria Rock (QVR) Nickel Sulphide Prospect –
Exploration during the quarter confirmed strong background nickel
sulphide content in the ultramafic package (results released to the
ASX on 12 August 2004). A follow-up seven hole diamond drilling
and geophysics program commenced on 24 September 2004 and
concluded on 23 October 2004. Results from this program are
pending.
Approvals granted for drill testing at Queen Victoria Rock nickel prospect (near Coolgardie, Western Australia) – all government approvals have now been obtained enabling drill testing to commence. The initial diamond drill hole and down-hole geophysics is anticipated to commence within the fortnight.
Progress at Queen Victoria Rock – the moving loop and fixed loop electromagnetic (EM) survey completed at the QVR nickel sulphide prospect (near Coolgardie, Western Australia) has identified three anomalous (abnormal or deviating from general) responses that are interpreted to have bedrock sources (drill targets).
Four prospecting licences at Queen Victoria Rocks located 50 kms south of Coolgardie were granted on 4 December 2003. The area, known as the Spargos Prospect, has returned intercepts for previous explorers including 1.52m @ 4.55% Ni, 9.15m @ 2.13% Ni and 4.57 m @ 1.30% Ni.