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Australasian Metals Limited (ASX: A8G, Australasian or the Company) is pleased to advise that the Company has entered into an Option Agreement with Verdant Minerals Limited regarding the Dingo Hole High Pure Quartz Project (EL31078) (Dingo Hole HPQ Project). The acquisition of the highly prospective project will provide Australasian with exposure to the rapidly growing High Pure Quartz (HPQ) sector.
Highlights
- Australasian has signed an option to acquire the Dingo Hole High-Purity Quartz project in the Northern Territory
- High Pure Quartz (HPQ) is defined relative to the IOTA® standard and is a key strategic raw material for global semiconductor and electronics industries
- HPQ resources that can be processed to meet the IOTA® standard are rare globally and growth in AI technologies is resulting in surging demand
Dingo Hole High Pure Quartz Project Highlights:
- Significant outcropping silica mineralisation across the project area with good road access
- Historical geochemical data indicate over 30 surface samples contain greater than 99.94% SiO2 with only minimal sample preparation prior to assay1
- 9 historical samples potentially meet IOTA standard with deleterious elements such as aluminium (Al) below 10 ppm and titanium (Ti) and lithium (Li) below 1 ppm
Dingo Hole High Pure Quartz Project
The Dingo Hole HPQ Project (EL31078) is located in the Georgina Basin, approximately 300km southeast of Tennant Creek (Figure 1). The project covers 35.16km2 and was subject to limited exploration by Rum Jungle Resources Limited (Rum Jungle, renamed to Verdant Minerals Limited) from 2012 to 2016.
Figure 1 Dingo Hole High Pure Quartz (HPQ) project location in Central Northern Territory
In 2015, Rum Jungle conducted a mapping and rock chip sampling program across the Dingo Hole project. 30 of the Dingo Hole samples tested were found to contain greater than 99.94% SiO2 with only minimal sample preparation prior to assay (the samples were pre-leached with 20% Hydrofluoric acid at 60˚ for 4 hours and subsequently washed in Milli-Q water). While this is highly encouraging, it is the low levels of deleterious elements such as aluminium, titanium and lithium contaminants that highlight the project’s world-class potential (Figure 2). Nine of 30 ICP-SMS samples from Rum Jungle’s program contained less than the IOTA® standard for deleterious elements aluminium (Al) at 16.2ppm (16,200ppb), nearly all were better than the 200ppb (0.2ppm) IOTA® level for lithium (Li) and all were well below the 1.2ppm (1,200ppb) level for titanium (Ti).
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A8G:AU
High Grade Gold Trenching Program and Reassessment of Shuttered Gold Mines – Central Queensland
- A follow-up trenching program has been planned at the Big Red Gold Project, Queensland.
- Previous trenching at Big Red returned high grade gold results including 9m @ 5.9g/t Au, with gold mineralisation remaining open along strike.
- Interpreted strike length over Big Red currently exceeds 450m with probable further concealed extensions beneath sandy loam surficial cover.
- The Company’s Gold projects are located in the Drummond Basin in central Queensland – an under- developed region with a long history of ongoing gold mining region with an endowment of over 8.5 million ounces.
- A reassessment of two shuttered open pit gold mines within QXRs ground has commenced as these mines were last operated when the gold price was less than A$500/oz.
- QXR has numerous gold and copper-gold targets which will be developed towards further drilling leading to potential production scenarios with updated permitting guidelines.
High Grade Gold in Trenches at Big Red Project
Gold trenching is planned to extend current high grade gold results in trenches at the Disney-Big Red Project (ASX announcement 1 Nov 2021). Two elongate gold anomalous zones were defined over 650m and may extend up to 1200m long. Best historic trench results from hard rock at the base of trenches at Big Red were:
- Trench 1 - 9m @ 5.9 g/t Au within a mineralised zone 35m wide. Large zone 80m @1.2 g/t Au
- Trench 2- 3m @ 2.2 g/t Au within a mineralised zone 13m wide. Large zone 28m @ 1.8 g/t Au
- Trench 4 - 2m @ 23 g/t Au with a mineralised zone 7m wide. Large zone 32m @ 1.7 g/t Au
These results produced a drill ready target, but that drill program was delayed twice due to weather and soft ground (ASX announcement 13 July 2021, 31 April 2022). Further trenching is planned to extend the current zone of high-grade gold mineralisation prior to a drilling program over a number of shallow targets. The Company believes the potential of Big Red may be similar to nearby Twin Hills deposit with 1.0Moz (23.1Mt@1.5g/t Au) incl 49m @5.2g/tAu and Lone Sister 0.48Moz (12.5Mt@1.2g/t Au) incl. 28m @45.2g/t Au (c.f. ASX:GBZ announcement 5 Dec 2022, 28 Apr 2023, 9 Jun 2023)
Reassessment of Open Pit Gold Mines
A reassessment of the potential of past open pit gold mines is underway. The two open cut mines, Belyando and Lucky Break, were closed when gold was less than A$500/oz. Drilling data by QXR and previous explorers shows potential exists for down dip extensions to known gold mineralised zones and parallel features, as well as extensions along strike.
QXR Managing Director, Stephen Promnitz, said: “QXR has excellent potential for a gold discovery at Big Red in Queensland, which will be followed-up in the planned trenching program and followed later by a drill program, previously delayed due to inclement weather. Nearby closed open pit gold mines were operating at much lower gold prices and show potential for future production as part of a reassessment of their potential.”
Next Steps
Trenching
A new program of trenching at Big Red Project (Disney) is an initial phase to extend two north-east trending elongate zones previously encountered in QXR trenches with high grade gold results occurring over a strike length of 650 metres. The zones may potentially be up to 1200m long based on past soil sampling and geophysics (magnetic low zones within magnetic highs). Mineralised widths included 9m @ 5.9 g/t Au in trenches (ASX announcement 1 Nov 2021, 16 Feb 2022). Quartz breccias show textures similar to gold producing zones elsewhere in the region.
Figure 1: Big Red (Red Dog) Project –Past trenches; quartz breccias; area of past trenches (yellow rectangle) and planned extensions (orange rectangle)
Drill targets
Revised drill targets will be generated from the trenching results, merged with geophysical data. These results produced a drill ready target, but that drill program was delayed twice due to weather and soft ground (ASX announcement 13 July 2021, 31 April 2022).
Resource models
Updated resource modelling for Belyando and Lucky Break have been commissioned. Both mines show potential exists for down dip extensions to known gold mineralised zones and parallel features, as well as extensions along strike.
Background
QXR holds nearly 100,000 hectares of leases in the Drummond Basin of central Queensland – an under- developed region with a long history of ongoing gold mining region with an endowment of over 8.5 million ounces (1). Gold mineralisation is largely related to intrusives into the region with the largest producer – Pajingo (ex-Newmont) having produced 3.4 Moz since 1986 and was instrumental in the creation of gold miner Evolution when they purchased the mine from Newmont (Newcrest).
The QXR leases show potential for epithermal gold and porphyry related copper gold deposits and include two historical open pit gold mines, Belyando and Lucky Break, that were last producing when the gold price was under A$500/oz. QXR holds 85,800 Ha of exploration leases on a 100% basis and 11,500 Ha (70%QXR) in a JV with private company, Zamia Resources.
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Further MOU Extension with Aleees and NT Government
Parties have now agreed a revised project development timeline below:
The MOU builds on the ongoing project development workstreams undertaken by Avenira, Aleees and the NT government. The extension is valid until 30 June 2025.
Avenira continues to pursue the LFP battery manufacturing project following the completion of a positive Scoping Study3, which demonstrated the strong economic and technical viability of the project.
Under the September 2022 announcement, a tripartite non-binding MOU was signed whereby Avenira, Aleees and the NT Government would work towards the development of a LFP battery cathode manufacturing facility, with the NT Government assisting and advising where appropriate in relation to necessary infrastructure including water, energy, power, telecommunications, road, port and rail access and service requirements.
This agreement has been extended to 30 June 2025 to allow the NT Government to continue to provide Aleees and Avenira with support through to the completion of the next stage studies.
Commenting on the extension of the MOU, Avenira’s Charman and Chief Executive Officer, Brett Clark, said:
“The MOU extension demonstrates the continuing support of the Northern Territory Government and Aleees with this significant LFP cathode project in Darwin.”
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Substantial High-Grade Lithium Achieved Following Completion of Drill Hole 1 at Rio Grande Sur
HIGHLIGHTS
- Drillhole 1 (DDH-1) at the Maria Magdelena tenement of the Rio Grande Sur Project, has completed with substantial high grade intercepts of lithium brine discovered at depths as low as 557m.
- High-grade assays include the following intervals:
- 629mg/L (“milligrams per liter of Lithium”) from an interval of 512.75m to 518m
- 620mg/L from an interval of 115.5m to 117.5m
- 611mg/L from an interval of 258.25m to 260.25m
- 608mg/L from an interval of 495.25m to 497.25m
- 607mg/L from an interval of 369.25m to 371.25m
- Importantly, these grades over 600mg/L which were all discovered at depth are beneath the currently calculated mineral resource estimate and are expected to add to its size and grade.
- With completion of DDH-1, the crew is in the process of relocating to Sal Rio II to commence Drillhole 2 (DDH-2).
- The Stage 1 Drill Program is targeting resource growth to the existing inferred JORC resource of 251.3kt LCE @ 351mg/L1.
In relation to the progress of DDH-1 at the RGS Project, Pursuit Managing Director & CEO, Aaron Revelle, said:
“The results from DDH-1 are substantial as we demonstrate the world class potential of the Rio Grande Sur Project. With completion of DDH-1, we are continuing the important advancements we have made in our understanding of the RGS Project mineralisation, with the results continuing to demonstrate the potential large scale of the project. With outstanding high grade brine intercepts of ~600mg/L at depths of 115.5m and those grades continuing to ~520m, the project is exceeding our expectations.
“We continue to progress with permitting for the drilling program in the north of the Rio Grande Sur Project, which we intend to include in our Stage 1 program works as we target a substantial mineral resource upgrade. This is in addition to works at our Lithium Carbonate Pilot Plant which remains on track to produce our first Lithium Carbonate in the coming months, with Pursuit advancing off-take discussions with multiple requests for product samples from potential off-take partners.”
High-Grade, Deep Depth Lithium Brine Assay Results
DDH-1 of the Stage 1 drilling program completed on site at the Rio Grande Sur Project in mid-June 2024 having reached a depth of 560m.
Throughout the drilling of hole 1, the on-site geologists and drilling team have been extremely encouraged by the geological units encountered across the depths of the hole. Of particular interest, at a depth of approximately 100-130m, a highly porous sandy unit was encountered with Lithium brine grades substantially above expectation, based on historical drilling results. This zone has been earmarked as the potential location of a pumping well due to its heightened porosity and average grade of 620mg/L. As drilling continued to depth, DDH-1 continued to deliver exceptional grades averaging above 600mg/L and the presence of good quality, porous and permeable sands.
Table 1 – Lithium Assays, Interval Data and Drillhole Collar
Intercepts from DDH-1 have shown highly favourable geology in line with, and exceeding expectations from historical drilling (to depths of 50m) carried out on the Rio Grande Salar. Lithium brine sample grades from the sampling of the hole are averaging above 600mg/L against the average grade of 351mg/L used to develop the current Mineral Resource Estimate (“MRE”). Additionally, the mineralisation extended to a depth of ~560m also well below the depth used to develop the MRE1.
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This article includes content from Pursuit Minerals, 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.
