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Gallium Mineralisation Discovered in Rock Chip Samples from the May Queen South Bauxite Project, Queensland
Highlights
- Significant levels of the semiconductor elements gallium (Ga) and germanium (Ge) identified within the May Queen South Bauxite resource.
- Significant elevated gallium results returned averaging 67.59 g/t Ga over 12 random samples with an assay high of 145.5 g/t Ga.
- The May Queen South Bauxite Project (EL 16260 and EPM 16261) has a JORC (2012) Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 54.9Mt at 37.5% total Al2O3 and 5.2% TiO2 and 7.9% Rx SiO2.
- The project is located <55km from existing rail infrastructure with connections to the Port of Bundaberg.
Market summary
Gallium prices have surged in recent years, primarily due to increased demand in the electronics and semiconductor industries (Graph 1). Uses of Ga include the manufacture of compound semiconductor wafers that are used in integrated circuits and optoelectronic devices including laser diodes, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photodetectors, and solar cells. Gallium's unique properties, such as its low melting point and ability to form useful compounds, makes it a critical element with applications spanning various industries, particularly in advanced technology and electronics.
The global gallium market is heavily dominated by China, with other countries playing much smaller roles. Currently China produces approximately 98% of the world's supply of raw gallium1.
Recent market disruptions including the entry of price inelastic demand 2 and Chinese export controls in August 2023 has seen a doubling of prices since 2021 when gallium was priced at $422.70 per kg, the current price represents a 115.12% increase3
Graph 1. Gallium price worldwide from January 2018 to January 2024 (Source: www.statista.com)
May Queen South Bauxite project
The May Queen South Bauxite project is located in central Queensland, within a short trucking distance of a rail system leading north to the Port of Bundaberg. It is also located within close proximity of the main Queensland Rail network heading south towards the Port of Brisbane.
Figure 1. Location of EPM 16260 and EPM 16261 shown together with theCompany’s adjacent May Queen gold tenements (EPM19419 and EPM27746)
The Project has a JORC 2012 Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 54.9Mt at 37.5% total Al2O3 and 5.2% TiO2 and 7.9% Rx SiO24 (refer to announcement dated 30 May 2023).
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This article includes content from Australasian Metals Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
8500N Paleochannel Drilling Commences
- ~3,000m Reverse Circulation (RC) drill program at the 8500N Paleochannel (8500N) has commenced targeting shallow high-grade mineralisation where legacy and recent drill intersections include:
- 2m @ 46.7 g/t Au from 13m incl. 1m @ 92.6g/t Au from 14m (SPRB0064)
- 3m @ 10.7g/t Au from 16m incl. 1m @ 29.0g/t Au from 16m (SPAC0204)
- 2m @ 22.4g/t Au from 15m incl. 1m @ 43.5g/t from 15m (SPAC0261)
- 1m @ 51.1g/t Au from 16m (SPAC0068)
- 4m @ 8.99g/t Au from 12m incl. 1m @ 34.7 g/t Au from 13m (SPAC0279)
- 13m @ 1.59g/t Au from 11m incl. 4m @ 3.49g/t Au from 11m (PCRC003)
- Staged infill RC drill program designed to improve geological confidence of the 8500N Paleochannel while testing along strike and mineralisation extending into the underlying saprolite zones.
- 8500N is located on granted mining tenements, with significant mine infrastructure and completed environmental Flora and Fauna baseline studies, reducing the mine approval timeline.
- 8500N Paleochannel represents a low-cost, low-risk production opportunity due to its shallow high-grade gold mineralisation (average 15m below surface) and free-digging qualities of the mineralised paleo gravels and overburden material.
The first stage of the drill program consists of ~100 RC holes (~3,000m) designed to improve the geological confidence of the shallow paleochannel, while testing for potential extension of mineralisation in the saprolite zone beneath the paleochannel, as identified during the initial drill program (ASX announcement 18 September 2024). Several drill traverses will also be undertaken to test for extension along strike to the south (Figure 1). The complete drill program is designed to be completed in several stages to ensure optimal drilling effectiveness.
8500N Paleochannel
The 8500N Paleochannel is located within a granted mining tenement, between the Company’s Wattle Dam Gold Mine and the underlying 8500N gold deposit (Figure 2). Paleochannels are remnants of ancient rivers or stream channels that have been buried by younger sediments. Paleochannels can contain concentrations of high-grade alluvial gold that accumulate over millions of years and are generally shallow and flat-lying with free-digging qualities (not requiring drill and blasting) of the mineralised paleo gravels and overburden material, which can provide significant economic advantages.
Maximus’ 8500N is situated within the Lefroy Paleodrainage System, a significant ancient drainage network in the Eastern Goldfields region that contains several well-known paleochannel gold deposits such as Neptune, Africa, and Mandilla. The mined Neptune and Africa paleochannel deposits, part of Gold Fields Limited (JSE:GFI) St Ives Gold Camp, had a reported mineralised thickness of 1-3 metres recovering ~87,000 oz at 3.32 g/t Au. Similarly, Astral Resources’ NL (ASX:AAR) Mandilla paleochannel, which is situated ~2 km east of 8500N (Figure 2), was mined between 2006-2007, producing approximately 23,000 oz at 7.5 g/t Au from a ~600-metre long paleochannel with a mineralised thickness of 1-4 metres. The proximity of the 8500N Paleochannel to these established deposits, highlights the prospectivity of the region, as paleochannels within the Lefroy Paleodrainage System have consistently proven to be productive sources of gold.
The shallow 8500N mineralisation is located between 5 and 20m below the surface, gradually dipping to the south along two separate interpreted trends, with a strike length of approximately 450m. Legacy drilling across the flat- lying paleochannel has shown known mineralisation thickness ranges from 1 to 4m, with several key markers of the paleo gravels to assist in effective mining.
Currently, no JORC-compliant gold resources are defined for the 8500N paleochannel. However, recent drilling has revealed gold mineralisation extending beyond the limits of legacy drilling, indicating strong potential for significant expansion of the previously defined mineralised zone (ASX announcement 18 September 2024).
Figure 1 – Maximus’ 8500N Paleochannel mineralisation wireframes with the phase 1 (Black) and planned phase 2 (Grey) drill collars.
A third party has held the 8500N Paleochannel area under a Special Prospecting License (SPL) (Figure 2), which has restricted Maximus from assessing the potential of the 8500N gold resource and 8500N paleochannel. No exploration work, excluding a small scout drill program, has taken place in the 8500N area since 2014. On the surrender of the SPL (ASX announcement 5 September 2024), Maximus can now progress unencumbered to re- evaluate the mineral resources of both the Paleochannel and 8500N deposit.
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This article includes content from Maximus Resources Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Highly Anomolous Samples Confirm Drill Ready Targets
HIGHLIGHTS
- Highly anomalous values have been returned across the majority of areas sampled. Significantly, neodymium, praseodymium (magnetic rare earth elements) as well as niobium and titanium, are well above background values.
- Importantly, geological analysis of the surface samples, including all the previous work undertaken at Wabli Creek, has confirmed that niobium and REE mineralisation has been determined to occur within the alkaline granite and its contact with associated N/S trending pegmatites/dykes.
- A total of 74 surface samples have been returned from the Company’s latest detailed mapping and sampling program and provides the final step toward defining priority drill targets.
- Mapping and surface sampling focused on granite/dyke contact zones and identified large anomalous zones of total rare earth oxides (TREO) with values up to 7060 ppm from surface samples (Figure 1 & 2, Table 4).
Surface samples were taken specifically to refine the Company’s understanding of granite/dyke contact zones identified by geochemical and geophysical analysis previously completed. As mineralisation has been established in the Pelops zone, the purpose of this exercise was to confirm anomalous mineralisation exists in additional zones, prior to the definition of priority drill targets.
Approximately 7 km2 of the 15 km2 E 09/2377 tenement has now been geologically mapped.
FIGURE 1: Niobium current & historical, Wabli Creek (ASX Announcements 18 March, 28 May, 12 June, 7 August, 2024)
FIGURE 2: TREO current & historical, Wabli Creek (ASX Announcements 18 March, 28 May, 12 June, 7 August, 2024)
Reach CEO, Jeremy Bower stated,
“These latest surface sample results have certainly enhanced our confidence at Wabli Creek. The key for the exploration team has been to understand and try and replicate the Pelops Prospect, where rock chip samples from bedrock have returned assays up to 17.65% Nb2O5.
Our exploration team led by Nick Revell and Principal Geologist, David Tsiokos, now have a strong understanding regarding the genesis of mineralisation which has enabled them to confirm drill ready targets. The confirmation of anomalous mineralisation in other zones in addition to Pelops is the final confirmation we needed to de-risk the next stage of exploration.
Not only is there the potential for niobium and titanium but also significant levels of magnetic REE particularly neodymium and praseodymium. Of major importance is the thesis that the central alkaline granite is host to much of the rare earth mineralisation, in addition to its contact with the N-S trending dykes. This provides a much larger target area which is very exciting”
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This article includes content from Reach Resources, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
