Mount Bevan Project – Western Australia

(Hawthorn Resources 100%)

The Mount Bevan Project (EL 29/510) is located approximately 100 km west of the Leonora township in the central Yilgarn region of Western Australia.

The tenement covers the northern portions of the Mt Ida Greenstone belt and is situated in close proximity to a number of historic and current Au mines in the Copperfield – Timoni and Bottle Creek area.

Recent and significant Ni-Cu-Platinum Group Element exploration has been carried out to the immediate north and along the eastern boundary of the licence, with a joint venture between BHP Billiton (ASX code: BHP) and Western Areas NL (ASX code: WSA) recently announcing (ASX release 11/03/2008) the discovery of high grade Ni and Cu from their “Cathedral” prospect within an adjoining licence. Exploration for similar styles of mineralisation has commenced within the tenement.

Geology mapping and sampling, following a tenement wide aeromagnetic survey, confirmed the presence of three substantial BIF horizons within the tenement extending in a north-northwest direction for a strike distance of more than 25 km. Several out and sub-cropping pods of haematite mineralisation of up to 20 metres width and several hundreds metres of strike length were identified in accessible areas throughout the southern portion of the licence.

 

The haematite mineralisation identified occurs in a number of forms including massive blue haematite, laminated haematised BIF and platy haematite, whilst broad zones of kanga scree and laterite are known. Outcropping haematite pods are often separated by scree or relatively thin alluvium which may act to mask underlying potential haematitic units.

 

The mineralisation observed appears to be of a similar nature to that reported by Jupiter Mines Limited (ASX Code: JMS) at its Mt Mason prospect to the immediate south of Hawthorn’s tenement E29/510. Jupiter has reported a small declared resource of 2.2 Mt @ 60.6% Fe. (ASX Quarterly Report 30/09/2007) at Mt Mason and that the mineralisation identified remains open to the north i.e possibly into the Hawthorn Resources licence E29/510.  

 

An initial ground gravity survey and RC drilling program commenced in the southern portions of the tenement during July 2008 following completion of ethnographic and archaeological surveys.

 

Further aggressive exploration is planned for the remainder of 2008 and 2009.

 

             Drill rigs at Mt Bevan project

                 (Click image to enlarge)