American West Metals (ASX: AW1) reports that it has discovered a new mineralised zone at its West Desert Project in Utah, USA, following the intersection of ‘wide intervals’ of magnetite skarn mineralisation over 250m south-west of the project’s existing resource.
The results, gathered from exploration diamond drill hole WD22-19, represent a ‘significant’ extension of the known mineralisation at the project, and indicate broad intervals with elevated zinc, copper, and silver mineralisation.
Addressing the results, American West Managing Director Dave O’Neill said: “We are extremely excited by the results of the first exploration drill hole to be completed by AW1 at West Desert.
WD22-19 has discovered a thick sequence of magnetite skarn mineralisation over 250m south west of the known West Desert Deposit.
“We are extremely excited by the results of the first exploration drill hole to be completed by AW1 at West Desert”
The visual observations and portable XRF results indicate broad zones of zinc, copper, silver and molybdenum mineralisation, and confirms that our interpretations about the geophysical targets – including potential West Desert look-alikes – are correct.
This has huge implications for our exploration upside and potential to extend the known West Desert Deposit, with a number of large magnetic and gravity features in the pipeline for drill testing.
As exploration continues at the West Desert Project, investors can look forward to further news flow in the coming weeks and beyond as we continue to receive assay results from the completed drilling.”
Hole WD22-19 was tasked with testing a ‘strong’ magnetic anomaly which displayed the same geophysical signature as the West Desert Deposit.
Based on results, the company believes that known mineralisation is one element of a ‘very large’ porphyry-related mineral system.
The West Desert Project is located approximately 160km southwest of Salt Lake City, within the heart of the Sevier Orogenic Belt which hosts the world-class Bingham Canyon copper deposit and the Tintic Mining District.
The 100%-owned project comprises a total land area of 32km² and boasts a historical and foreign resource of over 59Mt, containing a higher-grade core of around 16.5Mt @ 6.3% Zn, 0.3% Cu and 33g/t In.
With the current diamond drill campaign ongoing, the company reports that it has sufficient data to move forward with metallurgical testwork and a maiden JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate for the project.
Images: American West Metals Limited
