Location and Access
Bottle Creek is located approximately 200 kilometres NNW of Kalgoorlie, west of lake Ballard . Access is by the goldfields highway, then north-west along a well formed gravel road for 120 kilometres.
Description
Drilling
• Systematically drilled to depth of 80 metres vertical.
• RAB 32,093 metres in 776 holes.
• RC 43,492 metres in 839 holes.
• DDH 5,751 metres in 78 holes.
• Data contained in clean Access database.
• Source data available for database validation.
Processing
• Historic metallurgical test work available for lode ore.
• Historic metallurgical test work available for lateritic ore
• Good source of process water nearby.
Resources
• 128.5 Kt@ 1.04 g/t Au for 4,100 oz. of laterite at surface.
• Total measured, indicated, & inferred 1.95 Mt @ 1.95 g/t Au for 122,500 oz. (includes laterite).
• Resources estimation method, IDW; reconciled with mine production.
• Mineral potential 15.6 Mt @1.68 g/t Au for 840,700 oz.
• Potential for high grade underground deposit under EMU (15,050 to 15,350 mN) and under Southwark.
Mineable Reserves
• Hand drawn pits tested against the resource model suggest ~45,500 oz. available for mining now.
Geology
Local geology consists of a linear sequence of basalts, amphibolites, and felsic schists intruded by quartz porphyry. The mineralisation is hosted in pyritic carbonaceous shales that form gossanous outcrops. Course gold occurs in these gossans. There is a high silver / gold ratio which does vary but is approximately 10 : 1 ; bonanza silver grades were encountered in Boag pit (eg. 20m @ 180 g/t).
History
Although there is evidence of early prospectors traversing the area, (horse shoes and cart tracks), there are no historical workings present on the prospect. The deposit was discovered by EZ (Electrolytic Zinc Company of Australaisa) in 1983 as a result of geochemical exploration.
A joint ventured with Geopeko was formed in 1985 and a resource of 1.4 million tonnes at 4.0 g/t gold was delineated. Production commenced in June 1988 and after a troubled life, ceased in November 1989. Production figures differ the mill reports 808,247 t @ 2.81 g/t Au 23.37 g/t Ag from two pits. Whereas mining reports 1,112,000 tonnes @ 2. 64 g/t Au. The mining figure includes the treatment of low-grade stockpiles and some or from EMU). Total gold production (from mill figures) of 73,000 ounces for a recovery of 89.9%.