Awang Prospect
Southern Arc carried out exploratory work on the Awang prospect into February 2006. This work, which had started in 2004, entailed outcrop channel sampling, orientation soil sampling, mapping of vein extensions, and surveys. The CSAMT ground survey was initiated on the re-established grid. No field activities have been carried out on the Awang prospect recently.
Together, with the work in November into December 2005, which involved more outcrop channel sampling, orientation soil sampling and mapping of vein extensions to the north and south, grid surveys were carried out in preparation for a future scout drilling program of the vein system.
The CSMAT geophysical survey at this stage covered only priority areas (e.g. Bukit and Kubur Veins--see Awang Geology & Rock Assay Map), along with areas of poorly exposed vein mineralization on the north side of the prospect. A total of 27 km of grid lines were re-established with 100-m line spacings and survey points at 25 m.
The CSAMT ground survey was initiated at the end of January 2005 and completed by the end of March. However, a total of 24 line km covering the northern part of the prospect was surveyed.
A helicopter-borne magnetic survey was carried out by Southern Arc with the survey completed in mid-May 2005. A total 2,175 line-km were flown over Lombok (including the Awang vein system in the East Lombok property) by contractor EGI under supervision by an independent consultant geophysicist. Flight line spacing was 400 metres over the two areas on Lombok with certain areas detailed with 200-m in-fill lines. Lines were flown north-south with east-west tie lines at 2,000 m and 1,000m respectively.
Southern Arc's field programs on the East Lombok property to June 2005 comprised regional drainage sampling programs, which identified 21 mineralised anomalies. Subsequently, work was started on evaluating each anomaly, one by one. Field crews undertook detailed mapping, outcrop channel sampling, ridge and spur bedrock sampling and petrological studies, supplemented by carrying out costean as well as ground geophysical surveys, and the completion of the heli-mag geophysical survey.
Early follow-up work at the Awang prospect centred on the Sokat area, south of Awang Village. The work involved outcrop channel sampling, orientation soil sampling and mapping of vein extensions to the north and south.
Geological mapping and geochemical results within the East Lombok property confirmed the presence of anomalous gold, silver and base metals from low sulfidation epithermal and high sulfidation epithermal mineralized systems. Prospecting identified the presence of a possible alteration lithocap, which with peripheral base-metal quartz veins at Lentek and the presence of low sulfidation epithermal chalcedonic veining are all indicators of the potential for subsurface porphyry Cu-Au systems. Exploration by Newmont (Clode 2002) within the Lombok area noted that alteration lithocaps are commonly above mineralized intrusions or above known or untested porphyry Cu-Au systems.
On the Awang anomaly outcrop channel sampling, orientation soil sampling and mapping of vein extensions to the north and south was undertaken with 15.3 line km of tape and compass traversing completed realizing a total of 261 RC (rock chip) 6 CH (channel), 18 RF (rock float) and 13 SO (bedrock) samples.
Mapping of vein extensions to the south identified an additional ±500 metres of strike length before being covered by younger limestones and volcanics of the Ekas Formation. Vein textures and widths are similar to those previously mapped. Some possible basal alteration of the limestone units was noted and representative samples have been submitted for assay. Mapping to the north of the prospect area only outlined boulder/talus fields of silicified breccia quartz of similar nature to veins exposed in the Sokat area.
A soil orientation program on the Awang prospect was completed in July 2005. Auger sampling was undertaken at 25 m centres along a designated E-W grid line. A total of 13 samples was collected from bedrock and C soil horizons. Based on geochemical results soil auguring will be used in the northwest corner of the prospect area to assist in the delineation of veins and alteration.
Rock assays received to early August 2005 (n=276) returned gold values in general between 0.1 to 0.5 g/t, along with associated elevated silver values to a peak of 88g/t (see Awang Geology & Rock Assay Map). A series of values greater than 0.5 g/t Au have been reported from the Buket vein, located in the NW corner of the prospect. A few assay values greater than 1.0 g/t Au with more or less elevated Ag values were also reported from other major veins, however these are scattered with no clear relationship with either vein texture or mineralogy. A single grab sample of veining from the north of the Awang prospect reported a value of 1.93 g/t Au/53 g/t Ag.
Soil assay values from the orientation program reported a maximum value of 30 ppb Au, whilst other elements were of low tenor. Elevated gold values correspond with illite-rich alteration selvages peripheral to vein margins.
