Patanella Phosphate Prospect, Jervois Range, Jervois Station, Central Desert Region, Northern Territory, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Patanella Phosphate Prospect	Prospect
Jervois Range	Mountain Range
Jervois Station	- not defined -
Central Desert Region	Region
Northern Territory	Territory
Australia	Country

This is a largely unexplored prospect, and how much phosphate it contains is at the time of writing unknown. The prospect covers an area bordering the western side of the Jervois Range, north-west of the Jervois mining centre for copper/scheelite on the eastern side of the range.

The full extent of the prospect extends to areas in both Jervois Station and Lucy Creek Station although this portion is contained within Jervois Station.

The lease was first taken by Arafura Resources NL May 2005 to search for uranium. The property was then transferred to Nupower Resources when Arafura divested of some of its uranium exploration leases. Nupower became Central Australian Phosphate, which was then taken over by Rum Jungle Resources. There is no indication any of the companies did much in the way of exploration, with Rum Jungle Resources relinquishing the lease, after a helicopter flyover of the area. Verdant Minerals then took over the lease, with its website providing a refreshingly blunt assessment. It states the estimated phosphate resource on the website for Patanella is conceptual, and of an uncertain reliability.

The phosphate units are contained in the Georgina Basin sediments, particularly the Red Heart Dolostone of red brown mudstone, and siltstone. Of interest it states wavellite and minor turquoise is evident on the surface. Access is via station tracks from the north, and would be very difficult.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References