GreenTech Metals has knocked off the first 1743m of a planned 2200m reverse-circulation (RC) drilling program to test the Austin, Shelby and Ayshia targets at its Whundo copper-zinc project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
The first phase of the program was designed to test the company’s unexplored Austin and Shelby targets and for possible extensions of its Ayshia deposit – all of which are associated with fixed-loop electromagnetic (FLEM) geophysical anomalies. Management cranked up the program less than a month after a undertaking a high-level review in early May, including detailed geophysical modelling of FLEM data that confirmed potential for significant resource expansion at Whundo.
The program also assumed greater importance after GreenTech confirmed in mid-May that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Anax Metals, with a view to collaborating on a copper-focussed “Pilbara Base Metals Alliance.”
The MOU envisages treatment of GreenTech’s Whundo project ores at Anax’s Whim Creek processing plant. The plan is for the partnership to develop a base metals processing hub in the region, which is viewed by both parties as offering significant corporate, operational and financial upsides.
GreenTech Metals executive director Tom Reddicliffe said: “This (current drilling) program aims to methodically explore the deeper reaches of the Austin, Shelby and Ayshia VMS deposits which represent great potential to significantly expand the project resources based on the size of their associated geophysical signatures and the results of previous drilling.”
The current JORC-compliant combined indicated and inferred mineral resource for GreenTech’s Whundo and Ayshia deposits is 6.19 million tonnes at 1.12 per cent copper and 1.04 per cent zinc. The smaller Ayshia deposit sits about 1500m north-east of the Whundo mine and comprises a JORC-compliant inferred resource of 920,000 tonnes averaging 1.3 per cent copper, 2.3 per cent zinc, 0.1 per cent lead, 0.2 grams per tonne gold and 12g/t silver.
Most of the planned drilling metreage comprises step-back holes to intercept inferred down-dip projections of mineralised zones defined by previous drilling, or geophysical conductors – or combinations of both. Samples from the first 1743m of the drilling have already been sent for analysis, with results set to inform the final design of the second phase of drilling.
The second phase will maintain a focus on the Austin, Shelby and Ayshia targets and will also explore Yannery, which has been subject to small-scale artisanal mining via a handful of small shallow open pits and has been interpreted to have potential for depth extension.
While two of the holes – both of which sought to test the Shelby target – were terminated early due to unfavourable hole deviation, downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys were successfully completed on the remaining three holes, which attained target depth. Their data will also contribute to target refinement for the final phase of the program.
It seems this project will grow in stature as drilling advances and the question on every keen observer’s lips will almost certainly be “… by how much?”.
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By Doug Bright
