Tooma (EL6172)

The Tooma region is in southern New South Wales, close to the Victorian border and is linked by sealed and secondary roads to the Victorian town of Corryong.

Historically, the prospectivity of this Exploration Licence (EL) is related to historic alluvial gold production which is reported as 120,000 ounces of gold. There are four main alluvial targets within the EL: Tooma, Mannus, Tarcutta Creek and Burra Creek. Deep Lead targets beneath shallow overburden occur at Surface Hill.

Past drilling of the Tooma deposit showed that alluvial material containing approximately 0.2 g/m³ Au occurs with minor sapphire under shallow overburden. Mannus Creek and the Tarcutta deposit have similar alluvial’s, although the latter is smaller and possibly higher grade. Burra Creek is smaller again but could also be of a higher grade.

This Tenement lies close to an important section of the Gilmore Suture Zone where a major inflexion begins before it crosses into Victoria just east of the Tenement, where its continuation is known as the Indi Fault. 

Dart intends to undertake an extensive regional study of the tectonic and structural setting, using the Polygon Vortex Model to identify and evaluate prime structural locations for gold-base metals mineralisation. Regional assessment by hydro–geochemistry is planned. This will be supported by field checking to investigate the possibility of the Tooma EL to host RIRG porphyry systems to account for the alluvial deposits the source of which has never been explained. 

Dart also intends to evaluate tungsten targets at Quartzville and investigate the historic Pioneer gold vein.

First pass drilling of 9 RAB holes for a total of 47 metres was completed across the alluvial flats in 2007. The aim was to confirm the grades and depths to wash detail by Great Northern Mining Pty Ltd in the mid 1990’s, and to define the potential for high grad channels by carrying out a close spaced drill section across the flats. Assay results are awaited.

Tooma Location Map

click to enlarge

last updated March 2008