URL: https://geoscience.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/cr152259
EPM11442 is located 20km southwest of Chillagoe and approximately 220km west-southwest of Cairns. The tenement currently comprises 10 sub blocks, is held by Mobila Pty Ltd and expires on 19 November 2024. EPM11442 holds good potential for the discovery of significant base metal and gold mineralization. The licence straddles the Palmerville Fault, a major NNW trending long lived structure which has focused the emplacement of numerous Permo-Carboniferous granitic intrusives and associated sub-volcanics. Here the Chillagoe Formation is intruded by the Carrs Granite with the development of skarn controlled high grade lead-zinc silver mineralization along the contact zones. Mining Lease 20604 is located within one portion of EPM11442 and is held by OzCrest, a company affiliated with Mobila. The mining lease includes the Muldiva group of workings incorporating the Paisley and Eclipse open cuts and underground workings. Both these mines were important historical producers between 1885 and 1926 and supported the first smelter in the Chillagoe area. The JORC (2012) Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources for the Muldiva Project are reported as: Paisley – Indicated and Inferred 390,400 tonnes @ 2.8% zinc, 0.8% lead and 142g/t silver (at a 1% lower zinc cut-off). Eclipse – Inferred 670,000 tonnes @ 5.9% zinc, 0.3% lead and 19g/t silver (at a 1% lower zinc cut-off). While exploration has focused on extensions to the deposits located within ML 20604, there is excellent potential for additional mineralisation within the two non-contiguous tenement blocks of EPM 11442. The Muldiva Project is currently dependent upon the viability of developing the Paisley-Eclipse polymetallic deposits within ML20604 and most financial/ technical resources have been focussed within that mining lease. Exploration within the surrounding exploration permits has been limited by this concentration of effort despite that fact that the permits include sound geological targets for exploration. OzCrest has been actively negotiating with other small potential developers in the region as it is possible that a combined partnership may provide sufficient material to establish a viable operation. The DNRM is aware of this situation which still remains the best solution, given the style of mineralisation as small tonnages but moderate to high grades. If this combined operation was developed, then OzCrest would be in a much better position to be able effectively explore EPM 11442 and the other tenements that comprise the Muldiva Project. Mobila Pty Ltd did not have the funding and resources for the planned exploration program. The holder therefore decided not to renew the exploration permit and it expired on 19 November 2024.