Apollo Minerals (ASX:AON) has identified additional zones of unmined tungsten mineralisation at its Couflens Tungsten-Gold Project in France, expanding the targeting footprint around the historical Salau mine.
Historical data review defined the new Veronique-Upper Zone, which exhibits intercepts of up to 4.3m at 1.30% tungsten trioxide (WO3) from 9.55m. Multiple intervals of unsampled historical core display logged mineralisation, extending along strike of the Veronique Zone.
The company says the Veronique and Veronique-Upper Zone target areas will be the immediate focus for phase one drilling, with demonstrated trends for over 400m along strike and 600m along dip.
Managing Director Neil Inwood says the newly identified areas “demonstrate the significant exploration potential of the globally unique Couflens high-grade tungsten project”.
Selected new significant intercepts from the Eagle Zone include 10m at 0.44% WO3 from 19.01m; 6.6m at 0.87% WO3 from 44.21m; and 4.5m at 0.68% WO3 from 40.44m.
The review captured over 10,000 pages of archive information from the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research in Orléans, identifying a dataset of 950 diamond holes and 2,700 underground face samples.
Identified drill hole intersections associated with the unmined Veronique-Upper and Eagle zones were drilled from underground development positions still available to the company.
According to Apollo Minerals, planning is now underway for a phase one drill program to evaluate geochemical characteristics, expand mineralisation areas, twin existing historical drilling, and test mineralised widths to assist future 3D modelling and resource estimation.
Several workstreams are already progressing, including permitting, environmental studies, and safety protocols required to commence underground exploration operations.
The 42km2 Couflens exploration licence is located 130km south of Toulouse in the Ariège department, near the border with Spain.
Apollo Minerals is a mineral explorer and developer focused on discovering and developing base and precious metals, including zinc, lead, gold, copper, and tungsten, aiming to supply critical materials for global industries.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Apollo Minerals
