Galena opens new front near Abra lead play
Galena Mining is off to a flying start with its diamond drilling program at the Woodlands prospect in the Gascoyne region of W.A, with two diamond drill holes intersecting copper and lead sulphide mineralisation over wide intercepts.
The new drill holes are several hundred metres from historical lead-copper-silver drilling intersections at Woodlands and could potentially grow the mineralised footprint quite substantially.
The company describes the intercepts as polymetallic and potentially zoned, which alludes to the separation of different mineralisation into their own “zones” pointing to the possibility of a broader mineralised, multi-commodity ore system.
Galena will complete downhole electromagnetic surveys for the completed holes testing for off-hole conductors, which will help drive the design of the next phase of drilling.
The Woodlands geological complex is located about 200km north of Meekatharra and 50km west of Galena’s flagship Abra lead-silver deposit, in the Gascoyne.
The drill holes successfully targeted deep electrical conductors identified last year during heliborne electromagnetic geophysical surveys of the region.
Galena Mining CEO Ed Turner said: “We are pleased that the initial drilling of the Woodlands targets has significantly enhanced and extended the known mineralised footprints at the two tested prospects.”
“Downhole electromagnetic surveys will follow shortly and help refine the targets for further drill testing and improve our chances of intersecting higher tenor mineralisation within these prospects.”
Drill holes were completed at the Leader 18 and 46-40 prospects respectively and whilst drill assays are still pending, interesting looking base metal mineralisation was geologically logged in both holes.
At Leader 18, approximately 60 metres of disseminated copper mineralisation as chalcopyrite was intersected from about 260m down-hole.
At the 46-40 prospect, the company reported more extensive and intense intersections of lead mineralisation.
Core samples for assaying have been cut and dispatched, with results from both holes expected early in July.
Galena said that the styles of mineralisation intersected in both drill holes strongly resemble the Abra mineralisation to the east.
That world-class ore system has a global mineral resource of 36.6 million tonnes grading 7.3% lead and 18g/t silver.
The company will no doubt be encouraged by the exploration program at Woodlands and the work boosts the prospectivity of Galena’s tenement package in the wider Gascoyne region.
Elsewhere, technical works connected to the PFS for the company’s giant Abra lead project are well underway and on-track for completion during September.