AE Fuels (TSX-V:AEF) has staked lode mining claims covering the historic Sadler Mine, consolidating the two largest historic fluorspar producers at its Fluorite Ridge Project in New Mexico, US.
The acquisition brings the Sadler and Greenleaf mines under the company’s control at the 100%-owned project in Luna County.
Both mines under the company’s control create a district-scale brownfield exploration opportunity across 85 claims covering approximately 1,756 acres.
Discovered in 1909, Sadler operated intermittently through 1947. Historical development included two shafts, multiple underground levels, and stopes extending to a reported depth of 180 feet.
Selectively mined material from the upper workings was historically reported at approximately 90% calcium fluoride (CaF2). Meanwhile, material in the lower workings was visually estimated at approximately 50% to 70% CaF₂.
The mineralisation was reported in 1946 to remain open southwest and at depth.
CEO Gary Lewis says bringing the Sadler and Greenleaf mines together transforms Fluorite Ridge “from a collection of individual historic workings into a consolidated brownfield district”.
“Multiple former mines provide established starting points, while the wider land position gives us the opportunity to test the geological relationships between them and identify mineralisation that previous operators were neither equipped nor incentivised to pursue,” Lewis notes.
Historic reports describe a structurally controlled fissure-vein system at Sadler with multiple fault orientations, cross-structures, and brecciated zones.
Up to approximately 10 veins were reported, with the principal workings developed along the number one and number two veins.
The company has commenced an integrated exploration assessment combining light detection and ranging (LiDAR), aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric data, satellite imagery, high-resolution aerial photography, historic mine records, and geochemical results. The aim is to determine whether the known mines represent parts of a larger mineralised system.
AE Fuels has also begun initial mineralogical and processing development work using retained coarse assay rejects and other available sample material.
The preliminary program will evaluate crushing and grinding response, size-by-size characteristics, and initial separation or flotation performance.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: AE Fuels
