The acquired ELs (E47/4462 and E47/4463) are considered prospective for gold and base metals, including nickel, and are located ~75km southeast of the regional centre of Karratha and in a region comprising significant mineral discoveries (See map 1). QX will hold 50% of the ELs with the balance held by the introducer of the licenses, Pilbara Base Metals Pty Ltd.
Gold: The areas where the ELs are located are both considered prospective for orogenic style gold mineralisation hosted by basalts and related differentiated volcanic rocks that are known to occur in the area. This geological setting is also considered prospective for “Novo” style sediment hosted gold in the sediments and sandstones of the Hardey Formation.
Nickel: Of equal interest is the nickel and base metal potential of the area due to the many mafic intrusions that are evident both locally and regionally. Although some of these intrusions have been targeted for nickel in the past there has been no concerted program undertaken to locate nickel sulphides in these intrusions and particularly within the Cooya Pooya type Intrusion.
Map 1. Tenement location and regional setting
QX’s technical team which includes contracted geologists that have worked in this region of the Pilbara are now assessing the projects and a first pass ground reconnaissance exploration program including sampling is planned in the next month or so.
The Pilbara Projects are located ~75km southeast of the regional centre of Karratha. Access is east from Karratha on the Great Northern Highway, then either south along the Robe River Railway road or south on the Roebourne – Wittenoom road. Access within the project areas is predominantly on a network of station tracks.
| Tenement Id | Status | Area Blocks | Area Km2 |
| E47/4462 | granted | 8 | 25.63 |
| E47/4463 | granted | 1 | 3.20 |
Table 1: Details of Tenements
The Project tenements are broadly situated within the Hardey Formation of the Fortesque Subgroup which is part of the regional Mt Bruce Supergroup. Regionally the geological sequence consists of broadly flat lying units of the Fortescue Group and comprising from youngest to oldest, volcaniclastic sandstone and conglomerate of the Lyle Creek Member of the Hardey Formation, argillite, sandstone, conglomerate, basaltic flows and breccias of the Hardey Formation, fine to medium grained dolerite of the Cooya Pooya Dolerite and basaltic flows and breccia and basaltic volcaniclastic sandstone of the Mount Roe Basalt. Locally the tenements are within areas of the Coonya Pooya Dolerite which is a fine to medium grained mafic sill which locally can form as dykes within the host Hardey Formation.