Brockman Iron Project (E47/1629) (PLA 47/1314)
Overview
Jupiter will continue to proactively explore its leases in the Hamersley Basin to capitalise on positive assay results returned during the reporting period. The Company’s Brockman Iron Project (BIP) is surrounded by Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd and Fortescue Metal Group Ltd (FMG) leases.
Location
Brockman is located approximately 60km west of Tom Price in the Hamersley Basin. The western boundary of the BIP area adjoins Rio Tinto Limited’s (RIO) Brockman 3 projects. Also in the near vicinity is the FMG field camp. As a result of the area’s prospects, there are numerous access tracks and roads servicing the wider region.
History
Two main types of hematite iron ore are mined from the region. The first is hard, high-grade, low phosphorus ore called “Low P Brockman ores” as seen in the Mount Tom Price deposit. Their iron content usually exceeds 64%, with phosphorus around 0.05%. Because of their hardness, these blue-grey hematite ores are the premium lump-producing ores in the Pilbara Province.
The second high grade hematite ore is the Marra Mamba type, which has a hematite-goethite mineralogy and is softer than the Low P Brockman ores. This ore subsequently usually produces less lump unless there is a hard zone which improves the lump yield, as seen at the Marandoo iron ore mine. The iron content of most high-grade Marra Mamba ores are around 62%, phosphorus is usually less than 0.07% and silica and alumina are moderately low.
Geology
The Proterozoic Hamersley Group is comprised of sediments and associated volcanics occupying about 60,000km², with the sedimentary sequences totalling nearly 1,500 metres in thickness. Economically there are five main BIF units of interest: the Boolgeeda Iron Formation, the Weeli Wolli Formation, the Joffre Member, the Dales Gorge Member, and the Marra Mamba Iron Formation.
Each of the five BIF units are composed of alternating, cyclic, ferruginous units alternating with shale units. These are of varying thickness and number the units are relatively gently folded and faulted. At BIP, the BIF units sit on the Fortescue Volcanics which occupy the eastern side of the project area.
Exploration
During the reporting period, six preliminary rock chip samples were collected from Jupiter’s BIP (see table 1). Also noted in the field are some Channel Iron Deposits (CIDs). These occur over the eastern part of the tenement and are approximately 1km long. The CIDs are relatively small but are currently being reviewed by the Company as they could complement any future resource delineated.
Samples S10 to S14A (sampled only over a 200m zone) (figure 6 & 8) are located near (over 100m) to Jupiter’s western boundary. Samples S11 to S14 were a mix of hard blue hematite and hematite-goethite ore. S14A was classic blue-grey massive hard hematite (figure 7) and S10 represented the softer goethite capping.
Figure 6.
This photograph is taken on Jupiter’s eastern Brockman
boundary looking west. Samples S10-S14A were taken from the top of the escarpment.
Figure 7. Photograph of part of sample S14, which assayed 62.88% Fe and 0.044% P.
Figure 8.
Licence map of sample sites S10-S14A, showing proximity to RIO’s Brockman 3 iron ore deposits.
Outlook
Jupiter is well placed to progress this project during the next financial year. A Permit of Work (POW) was completed during the reporting period and has been submitted to now allow the Company to embark on an RC drill hole program.
Any future drill program will aid in determining the grade of the iron mineralisation, the lateral and depth extent and the number of ferruginous bands contained within stratigraphical control BIF horizon.