Exploration Licences

The Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) (Mineral Industries) Regulations 2019

(MRSDMIR) requires an applicant for an exploration licence to make the following information

available on an internet site maintained by the applicant for at least 21 days after the latest date

on which the application was advertised:

1. Details of the proposed program of work;

2. Details of the applicant’s systems for managing impacts of the proposed work on the

community (including landowners and occupiers) and the environment; and

3. An outline of how the applicant intends to meet the licensee’s obligations under section

39A of the MRSDA to consult with the community (including landowners and occupiers). 

In November 2020, Oro Plata Pty Ltd (“Oro Plata”) submitted Exploration Licence Applications near Edenhope in Western Victoria for Exploration Licences EL007544 (Edenhope East) and EL007545 (Edenhope South).  The tenements are located approximately 28km East and 24km south respectively of the town of Edenhope. Oro Plata seeks the area for the exploration of mineral sands as the primary target.  Exploration Licences EL007544 (Edenhope East) and EL007545 (Edenhope South) were granted on 17 March, 2022.  Oro Plata sold its interest in EL007544 (Edenhope East) and EL007545 (Edenhope South) to www.acdcmetals.com.au in January 2023.  The tenements are in the process of being transfered.

In Dec 2021, Oro Plata Pty Ltd (“Oro Plata”) submitted Exploration Licence Applications near Edenhope in Western Victoria for Exploration Licences EL007685 and EL007687.  The tenements are located approximately immediately west and north of Birchip. Oro Plata seeks the area for the exploration of mineral sands as the primary target.  Exploration Licences EL007685 and EL007687 were granted 10 December 2021.

In July 2023, Oro Plata Pty Ltd (“Oro Plata”) submitted Exploration Licence Applications to the east and northeast of Edenhope in Western Victoria for Exploration Licences  EL007906, EL007907 and EL007908.  Oro Plata seeks the area for the exploration of mineral sands as the primary target.  

The Projects are located along the southern margin of the Murray Basin, a shallow, intra-cratonic basin of Cainozoic age. The basin covers a saucer-shaped area around 300,000 sq km  South Australia, south-western New South Wales and north-western Victoria. It is flanked by uplands of Proterozoic and Palaeozoic rocks. 

The Murray Basin contains a succession of freshwater, marine, coastal and continental sediments deposited in the basin by repeated incursions from the south west during the Tertiary Period. The latest marine transgression-regression event resulted in the deposition of the Late Miocene to Late Pliocene Loxton-Parilla Sand (LPS). These sediments were deposited in shallow marine, littoral and fluvial environments and are characterised by fine to coarse-grained, generally well-sorted sand with minor clay, silt and gravel. 

The LPS extends over large parts of the basin and is the host of many known Heavy Mineral (“HM”) deposits within the Murray Basin. These include many coarse-grained HM deposits, which formed in a strand-line environment through the interaction of longshore drift and storm activity (placer style). Along the southern paleo-shoreline of the basin, larger deposits of very fine-grained HM were formed in shallow marine environments (WIM style).
During Late Pliocene or Early Pleistocene times, the Murray Basin was closed off from the sea by the uplift of the Pinnaroo Block to the southwest. A major lake system, Lake Bungunnia then covered much of the western Murray Basin and led to the deposition of a thick sequence of clays (Blanchetown Clay). The onset of an arid climate about 500,000 years ago resulted in an extensive system of playa lakes and aeolian sand cover over the central and northern Murray Basin. Quaternary to Holocene river systems have further sculpted the landscape and helped create the current surface geomorphology. 

The HM deposits within the Murray Basin sediments originate from multiple sources. Large river systems, including the precursors to the current Murray, Darling and Lachlan rivers, transported sediments into the Murrayvian Sea. These sediments include rutile and zircon derived from Palaeozoic granites and Mesozoic sandstones. Additional HM deposits may have been derived from more localised fluvial systems draining Palaeozoic to early Tertiary mafic volcanic rocks. 

The principal exploration target is Mineral Sands; Rare Earth Elements; Rutile; Zircon; Ilmenite; Monazite; Xenotime and Leucoxene.

1. Details of the proposed program of work;  

Oro Plata proposes a staged program of exploration work to systematically and thoroughly explore the exploration licence area. The initial proposed work program for the tenement area includes a program of office-based work, with limited surface investigations. 

An intial draft program of work to be undertaken will consist of, but not be limited to the following: 

 
Year 1

Historical Research, including:

• Previous exploration surveys
• Construction of a detailed GIS database and interpretation of wide-spaced drilling, 
• 3D modelling of heavy mineral compositions and grades across the project
• Reprocessing aeromagnetics

Year 2

First pass aircore drilling to support earlier results, infill higher grade zones and regional drilling to extend HM mineralization north and south  along known strandlines.

Year 3

More advanced research and studies including:

• RC/Aircore drilling on new selected prospects
• Resource modelling
• Metallurgy testwork
• Processing partnerships sought

Any proposed exploration work program will be dependent upon the results obtained previously. Exploration results will dictate future activities.  Should results not be considered prospective, then it may be determined to limit further exploration, or conversely encouraging results may ‘fast track’ further exploration on a specific target area.  At the completion of the above work it is expected to allow Oro Plata to conduct a review of the prospectivity of the area, allowing the Company to rank and plan the future exploration programs.  

2. Details of the applicant’s systems for managing impacts of the proposed work on the community (including landowners and occupiers) and the environment.

Prior to the undertaking of further exploration work it may be expected that Oro Plata is required to prepare detailed Work Plans. Such Work Plans will consider the communities and environment in which exploration is proposed.  Prior to the approval of Work Plans, and dependant upon the area in which work is proposed, the Regulator may impose additional conditions required to be adhered to prior to the commencement of further ground intrusive exploration work.  Oro Plata welcomes objections, concerns, and comments from the community in relation to the application for the exploration licence and proposed work programs. Oro Plata places significant value on the environment and communities in which we seek to operate and value all comments from communities while Oro Plata is associated with exploration projects. Should members of the communities wish to discuss the current and proposed operations of Oro Plata, details can be forwarded to the Company personnel at details listed on the "Contact Us" section of this website.  

Systems to Manage impacts on the Community and Environment.

Oro Plata recognises that its exploration activities may have impacts upon the environment and communities in which we seek to operate, this may affect our social licence to operate in the Edenhope region of Victoria. Oro Plata is committed to operating in both an ethical and sustainable manner that minimises negative impacts on the communities, landowners, occupiers, and the environment.  Oro Plata will ensure that any proposed exploration program for the Edenhope project is consciously planned and managed to ensure that little to no lasting negative impact on the environment and communities in which we seek to operate.  To properly manage the impact of the proposed work on the community and environment, all activities will be carried out in accordance with the granted Exploration Licence Conditions and the Code of Practice for Mineral Exploration, including, but not limited to:  

• Ensure that all soil imported into the exploration licence area is free of disease and noxious weeds

• Minimise the spread of noxious weeds, pest animals and plant diseases whilst undertaking exploration activities  

• Adhere to any biosecurity protocols that have been adopted on the land being explored • Design, install and maintain erosion and sediment controls to prevent erosion of areas of  disturbed land and sedimentation of waterway 

• Take all reasonable measures to prevent contamination of the environment by the release of  fuels, lubricants, and chemicals 

• Ensure that Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage is not harmed  from the proposed works undertaken within the exploration licence area 

• Prior to undertaking any exploration activities, develop and implement a fire response and  readiness plan 

• Ensure all waste generated on site is disposed of at an appropriate waste management facility 

• Ensure that noise generated by exploration activities does not exceed limits established by  the Environment Protection Authority and the Local Council 

• Establish dust/emissions control measures to prevent adverse impacts as a result of the  release of dust, odour and/or emission of light 

• Ensure livestock disturbance, noise, access, and exclusion areas as well as rehabilitation issues  are addressed in the consent/compensation agreement to the satisfaction of the landowner/occupier  

• Where possible, use existing roads and tracks for vehicles and machinery. 

Exploration works will be planned to use the existing disturbed areas where practical.  Oro Plata will comply with the Environment Protection Act, 1970 and the State Environment Protection Policy: Waters of Victoria, 2003 and all other relevant legislation.  Oro Plata will ensure that all disturbed areas resulting from the Company exploration programs are rehabilitated as soon as practical after the completion of exploration works and monitored for degradation post completion of exploration.  

3. An outline of how the applicant intends to meet the licensee’s obligations under section 39A of the MRSDA to consult with the community (including landowners and occupiers). 

Oro Plata is required by Section 39A of the MRSDA to consult with the community throughout the period of the licence by: 

• Sharing with the community information about any activities authorised by the licence that may affect the community; and  

• Giving members of the community a reasonable opportunity to express their views about those activities.  

Oro Plata understands the community has the right to be informed and involved in decisions that will affect their area, lifestyles, and interests. Accordingly, Oro Plata is committed to  establishing a thorough understanding of the concerns and needs of the community, so that these may addressed to the highest degree possible. To do so, Oro Plata is committed to employing methods that allow for inclusive and accessible feedback mechanisms.  Oro Plata will consult with the community regarding proposed exploration activities. Oro Plata is committed to establishing and maintaining good working relationships with all community stakeholders and will consult with the communities regarding relevant issues, including land access and impact, infrastructure, water, special local land issues, vehicle movements, sensitive flora and fauna, Indigenous and non-Indigenous heritage issues. Community consultation will take place prior to any disruptive field operations taking place.  In conjunction with a Community Consultation and Engagement Plan, Oro Plata plans to conduct the following community consultation activities as a minimum:  

• Identify and consult with relevant community, government authorities and stakeholders 

• Identify the potential impacts of exploration activities on relevant stakeholders 

• Utilise face to face meetings and one on one conversations, to establish clear, open, and  ongoing channels of communication with all relevant stakeholders and ensure they are aware of any real and potential impacts (dependent upon COVID-19 restrictions)  

• Respond to stakeholder concerns in a timely, transparent, and effective manner 

• Establish a Community Engagement Register 

• Establish stakeholder feedback mechanisms and demonstrate how feedback contributes to  decision making 

• Respect the rights, cultural beliefs and concerns of all parties having an interest in the land  (and waters) within and surrounding the exploration project areas 

• Where applicable, engage local knowledge and relevant authorities in the design of the  exploration works  

• Prior to designing and implementing a variety of exploration techniques and methods, consult  and engage with land managers, owners and occupiers regarding the location, duration, and impact of the proposed exploration