The Aukam property is comprised of Mining License (ML) 215 (5,002 ha, in respect of base and rare metals, industrial minerals, and precious metals); and Exclusive Prospecting Licence (EPL) 8746 (49,693 ha, in respect of base and rare metals, industrial minerals, and precious metals), which is pending an Environmental Clearance Certificate.
The Aukam graphite deposit has the characteristics of a vein-style graphite deposit. The graphite is predominantly concentrated in veins, with only minor disseminated graphite occurring in the host rock. It is believed that the graphite formed by precipitation from a CO2 – rich hydrothermal fluid channeled along the shear zone, and possibly related to an intrusion at depth.
The graphite in the Aukam area is hosted by altered Garub Sequence granite that is exposed in an erosional window in the Nama cover (Goldfields, 1987b). In the vicinity of the graphite occurrence, the granite is coarse grained, variably altered (see below) and generally shows a well-developed foliation with an easterly to south easterly trend and a south to southwest moderate to steep dip.
Schist and gneiss, both of which are quartz and biotite dominant, well foliated rocks, also occur in the vicinity of the graphite occurrence. The gneiss, which is distinctly banded, forms discrete positively weathered outcrops to the east and west of the main workings. Both lithologies appear to be intruded by the granite, primarily as narrow interfinge ........