• Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size

Feb 2003 - Kanowna Lights

Kanowna Lights Limited (KLS) – Reviewing Mount Carrington in NSW

  • In November 2002, KLS acquired an option from Virotec (VTI) over the historic Mount Carrington epithermal polymetallic field (primarily gold and silver, with minor copper and zinc) in northern NSW. The requirements of the option are for KLS to raise about $1m to complete a feasibility study by 15 March 2004.
  • The feasibility study requires a mining operation capable of producing 200,000ozpa of gold equivalent for at least 5 years (there is already a resource of 280,000oz gold and 10.3moz silver), and if the option is exercised VTI is issued with 19.9% of KLS’ ordinary shares and an equivalent number of options.
  • Mount Carrington has been mined at various times since 1886 and parts have been joint ventured with most of the major companies at one stage or other. The last mining was a series of shallow open-cuts between 1989 and 1990 by Mt Carrington Mines (MCM) who closed their operations citing lower grades than expected and poor metallurgical recoveries, which appears to have mainly
  • resulted from a geological misinterpretation of probably steeply dipping veins.
  • A joint venture with CRA from 1990 to 1994 resulted in a completely different interpretation and a new stratigraphy with 75% more intrusives than those previously recognised. However, CRA did not have access to the entire field and after they withdrew, little work was undertaken as MCM passed through various guises before becoming Virotec focusing on cleaning acid mine drainage water.
  • Although the MCM open-cuts focused on the central area of the field, there were significant mines outside of the central area which appear to have been barely explored such as Lady Jersey which produced 25% of the field’s wealth from gold, and possibly Pioneer, White Rock etc. KLS intends to take a two pronged approach focusing on the old open-cuts and the other historic mining areas.
  • Written by: Keith Goode
  • Friday, 07 February 2003