Neometals Limited has delivered a compelling exploration update from its Barrambie gold-silver-copper project near Sandstone in WA’s Mid West region. Newly received silver assays have materially strengthened the company’s case for a coherent primary copper-silver system at its historic Rinaldi copper prospect.
Rinaldi is a small historic copper mine and forms part of a string of old gold and copper workings running along the length of the company’s 48km-long tenure, enclosing a significant part of the Barrambie Greenstone Belt.
The silver results were received after the prioritised copper assays for Rinaldi. The results confirmed Neometals’ long-held belief that the old mine is likely related to a primary hydrothermal copper-silver system.
Significant drill intercepts included one reverse-circulation (RC) drillhole which delivered 7m at 1.72 per cent copper and 25.9 grams per tonne (g/t) silver from 82m, featuring 1m at 5.06 per cent copper and 88.2g/t silver.
A second hole gave up 5m at 1.26 per cent copper and 20.8g/t silver from 75m, including 1m at 2.43 per cent copper and 30.7g/t silver.
The strong positive correlation between silver and copper downhole indicates that silver is genetically linked to a primary copper sulphide mineralising system and is not simply a surface effect.
The results have enhanced Neometals’ understanding of the broader metal associations at Rinaldi and increased confidence in the continuity and metal tenor of the mineralised system. The new findings will support ongoing drilling to extend the primary mineralisation.
Neometals Limited managing director Chris Reed said: “Receipt of the silver assays materially strengthens our interpretation that Rinaldi has the potential to host a coherent primary copper sulphide system. Importantly, silver shows a strong correlation with copper in fresh rock and occurs with bornite and chalcopyrite, indicating that it is part of the primary mineralising event rather than a surface-related effect.”
The Rinaldi workings have a rich history of high-grade copper production, with historic output reported at an estimated 1407 tonnes at an average grade of 9.8 per cent copper.
Recent scout field mapping and rock-chip sampling around the old show have returned high-grade copper assays up to 24.4 per cent copper, accompanied by anomalous gold and silver, confirming the area’s prospectivity.
Neometals’ subsequent March drilling at Rinaldi put in five reverse-circulation (RC) holes for 495 metres. Results confirmed the presence of primary copper sulphide mineralisation beneath the old workings, where copper mineralisation is hosted in a 1 to 4 metre-wide laminated quartz vein within gabbro and schist rocks of the Barrambie Sill.
The Barrambie Sill is a major northwest-trending, layered mafic intrusive complex 80km northwest of Sandstone in WA’s Mid-West region. It is up to 1.7km wide and extends over a 25km strike, with the broader greenstone belt extending up to 60km.
The geological feature is significant for housing one of the world's highest-grade undeveloped vanadium and titanium resources. In addition to actively exploring the belt for its gold, copper and silver potential, Neometals also holds the mining leases for its Barrambie vanadium and titanium project.
The drilling at Rinaldi has revealed copper mineralisation in a thick, steeply dipping quartz-sulphide mineralised structure with a downhole width of up to 15m. The presence of copper-bearing sulphides is a positive sign and provides a strong lead for targeting extensions and higher-grade zones at depth and along strike.
More recently, Neometals also resumed gold exploration at Barrambie. It is the first time in over 20 years that the project area has been tested for the yellow metal, with work progressing to identify new target areas.
Adding heft to its precious metal ambitions, last month Neometals updated the gold resource at its Ironclad prospect - 20km northwest of Rinaldi - to a combined inferred and indicated 85,000 tonnes at 1.6g/t gold for 15,000 ounces gold.
With its latest silver and gold results adding a new dimension to the Rinaldi copper story, Neometals is poised to accelerate its exploration efforts at Barrambie.
An upcoming geophysical survey at Rinaldi and ongoing drill sample analyses are expected to reveal more secrets that could unlock Barrambie’s potential as an emerging primary copper-silver system.
As the company sharpens its focus on expanding and defining Rinaldi’s mineralised footprint, punters and industry watchers alike will be keeping a close eye on what could become another standout polymetallic project in WA’s Mid West.
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By Doug Bright
