projects
Nabberu Iron Project:
Vector's Nabberu Iron Project is located in central Western Australia, approximately 150km north of Wiluna and 750km north east of Perth in the Nabberu Basin and consists of 4 exploration licences (E69/2061, E69/2062, E69/2064 and E69/2065) and 1 exploration licence application (E69/2063). The total area of the project is approximately 560 sq. km. and is held by Louise Minerals Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vector.
The Nabberu Basin is known to contain two distinctive iron formations. The first is a Banded Iron Formation which is similar to those seen in the Hamersley Basin, whilst the second, the Granular Iron Formation shows gross characteristics to the taconites seen in North American iron ore regions. Both units show localised evidence of iron enrichment with correspondingly low contents of impurities such as Phosphorus. The Nabberu Basin is of similar age and size to the Hamersley Basin and shares similar styles of mineralisation and chemistry of sedimentation.
Fairbairn Hills Project E69/2061
The project, E69/2061 is located approximately 970km northeast of Perth. The land surface is characterised by low relief and elevation rises from less than 550m to about 800m.
It is considered probable that a major part of the Frere Formation is represented in the Miss Fairbairne Hills area.
Reconnaissance mapping by AMAX Exploration (Australia) Inc (AMAX) in the early 1970's appears to be the earliest exploration for iron in the area.
Reconnaissance sampling initially targeted the Banded Iron Formation due to its similarities to the Hamersley Banded Iron Formation's, however; as high grade iron was also located in the Granular Iron Formation the work program was expanded to cover the Granular Iron Formation.
Composite rock chip samples were taken along traverses at a 1-2km spacing across both the Banded Iron Formation and Granular Iron Formation. Areas of hematite enrichment were discovered in the Granular Iron Formation in the Miss Fairbairn Hills. AMAX completed drilling on iron occurrences, mainly Granular Iron Formation, outside Vectors tenure. The drilling results were generally of low Fe tenor and contained elevated sulphur values.
Ivan Well Project E69/2062
The Ivan Well project's (E69/2062) nearest town is Wiluna, located approximately 750km north east of Perth. In general the topographic relief over the area is low with hills of 50m height above the extensive plain. The plains between the hills are predominated by recent alluvium.
Reconnaissance mapping by Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited Australia (BHP) in the early 1970's appears to be the earliest exploration for iron in the area. Reconnaissance sampling initially targeted the BIF due to its similarities to the Hamersley BIF's. The object of the exploration was to locate areas within the BIF that could host sizeable iron resources; however, as high grade iron was also located in the GIF the work programme was expanded to cover the GIF. Areas of hematite enrichment were discovered in GIF in the Mt Salvado prospect. The Mt Salvado prospect covers most of Vector's Ivan Well projects (E69/2062). BHP drilled fourteen holes (DH 15-28) for a total of 364m.
BHP's initial interest in Mt Salvado was due to visible signs of enrichment within the Granular Iron Formation and the prospect of southern lateral extension of zones of enrichment with an associated increase in grade. BHP concluded from the drilling data that shallow extensions did not occur and that grades decreased with depth. Surface grades of approximately 40% Fe pass over a few metres in depth to assay at approximately 25% Fe which they consider to be background for GIF Granular Iron Formation. The observed enrichment is likely to be the result of surficial laterization.