Mount Elliot Prospect

The Mt Elliot prospect is situated some 2 kilometres from the Murray Valley Highway and less than six kilometres east of Corryong in north-eastern Victoria. The prospect comprises a number of shallow mines from the 1890s to early 1900s which produced an estimated 83,000 ounces of gold, despite low recoveries limited by the technology at the time.

Mining ceased because of the limitations to mining below the water table and the inability to economically recover gold from sulphide rich lode structures.

Dart’s three dimensional modelling of the Just in Time and Hope lines of lode indicates the continuation of significant zones of gold mineralisation both down dip and along strike below the old workings. The Just in Time line of lode together with splay and parallel gold lodes extends for over three kilometres. Accordingly, the Mt Elliot goldfield presents an accessible priority target to be tested by drilling.

In 2007, Dart undertook the first ever reported drilling at the historic Mt Elliot goldfield. The purpose of the extensive RC drilling program was to provide bedrock geochemistry and orientation information in an area where very little historical geological information was available. Drilling comprised approximately 245 metres in 7 RAB drill holes using an Atlas Copco 434 track mounted drill rig.

The results showed a low order gold signature up to some 6 metres in width between historic stoping along the Mt Elliot lodes. Drilling into the Hope line shows low grade mineralisation up to 2.5 metres in true width at the halo of the lode.

The results support the interpretation that the lode is continuous over many hundreds of metres but requires dilation to create economic grade mineralisation. The dilation zones are interpreted to have a southerly pitch as represented by the high grade shoots that were historically mined down to the water table.Based on the information gained, a deep RC drill program has been designed to target these dilation structures below previously mined areas.

The drill program is scheduled for 2008. 
 

Historic Production

Historical accounts of the Mt Elliott goldfield, from the 1880s to early 1900s ascribe some £250,000 to the gold value derived from the high grade lodes, which equates to about 83,000 ounces of gold production. Consistent with those accounts, Dart’s geologists have observed workings along the 3km Just in Time and Hope lines and historical accounts of the New Chum Mine which was mined to a depth of 125m and reported and average 10 ounces of gold per ton mined over a three year production period.

Mt Elliot targets

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Mt Elliot significant drill intercepts

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last updated June 2008