Apollo Minerals Limited (ASX: AON) has announced an encouraging update on the surface exploration program undertaken at its Kroussou zinc-lead project in western Gabon, Africa.
The company reported that the program of geological mapping, rock chip, and soil sampling was carried out across three target Prospects within the Kroussou Project, including the high priority Niamabimbou Prospect.
AON said that the rock chip samples collected from the Niamabimbou Prospect identified widespread high-grade zinc-lead mineralisation with grades up to 20.16% combined Zn-Pb.
Some of the best results from the sampling program at the Niamabimbou Prospect include 20.16% combined Zn-Pb; 15.20% combined Zn-Pb; 10.71% combined Zn-Pb; 8.15% combined Zn-Pb; 7.98% combined Zn-Pb; 7.84% combined Zn-Pb; and 7.14% combined Zn-Pb.
The company said that soil sampling grids were completed at the Niamabimbou, Dignali, and Ofoubou Prospects, with the results pending. The company also reported positive initial metallurgical test work.
Apollo announced that the proposed work plan for the Kroussou Project includes mobilising drill rigs to site in the coming months.
Kroussou project
The Kroussou Project is a large scale, near surface zinc-lead project with exploration to date validating province-scale base metals potential. The Project is located in western Gabon in the Ngounié Province, and extends across nearly 1,000km2 of highly prospective ground for base metals exploration.
Apollo Minerals is earning into an 80% interest in the Project via an earn-in agreement focused on exploration for zinc and lead resources.
18 prospects
Previous exploration work has resulted in the identification of 150 zinc-lead mineral occurrences over a +70km strike length of prospective geology within the project area.
The mineral occurrences are associated with 18 channels (prospects), each representing an exploration target with the potential to host significant shallow, zinc-lead mineralisation.
They are Salaganga North, Yombi, Migambi, Ndoungou, Ofoubou, Niamabimbou, Doubye, Nganui, Dignali, Bouamba South, Dikaki, Kayanga, Bokamba, Doukwe, Silongo, Oubangue, Mabounda, and M’Boule.
Among them, Niamabimbou is a high priority Prospect with ~8km strike length of prospective geology.
Surface exploration program
Apollo announced that two phases of geological mapping, rock chip, and soil sampling were completed late in 2019.
The mapping and sampling programs were designed to identify new targets for base metals mineralisation for future drilling campaigns, and to further interpret regional geology within sedimentary channels.
The company reported that sampling occurred at the Niamabimbou, Ofoubou, and Dignali Prospects. AON said that a selection of 75 mineralised rock samples was sent to the Intertek laboratory in Libreville for sample preparation before being sent to the Intertek Genalysis laboratory in Perth for assaying.
AON reported that the mapping has identified multiple new zones of mineralised outcrops extending over wide areas, each representing an exploration target with the potential to host significant shallow, zinc-lead mineralisation.
4 prospects out of 18 drill tested
The company said that only four of the 18 prospects have been drill tested to date, with all four channels intersecting zinc-lead mineralisation at very shallow depths
AON noted that there are multiple opportunities for discovery with all 18 prospects remaining open and under-explored, with broader, deeper parts of the basin to the west completely untested.
Widespread high-grade Zn-Pb mineralisation at Niamabimbou
At Niamabimbou, a total of 556 points of observation were mapped, 92 outcrops were sampled, and 75 rock chip samples sent for analysis.
The company announced that four areas with a dominance of conglomerate and/or microconglomerate outcrops were interpreted as a shallow underlying basement, Wr1, Wr2, Wr3, and Wr4.
Mineralised outcrops were identified on the rim of these weirs and represent priority drilling targets, particularly in the zones Wr2 and Wr3.
High-grade results from Niamabimbou
The company reported that rock samples JBR131 and JBR136 located on the northwest rim of the Niamabimbou channel returned 7.84% and 10.71% combined Zn-Pb.
The eastern rim of the channel returned high values with 7.98% combined Zn-Pb in JBR201, with the richest outcrops located on the external rim of Wr2; 15.20% and 20.16% combined Zn-Pb in JBR244 and JBR246 respectively.
The company announced that a new target was discovered at Niamabimbou-DS (NB-DS) approximately along strike of Wr2 mapped in the central channel of Niamabimbou (assays pending). AON noted that this may indicate the presence of an east-west oriented horst type feature in this area.
High priority drilling targets were also identified at Niamabimbou NE (NB-NE) where a zone of mineralised outcrops extends 400m by 150m, with potential extending down-dip and laterally to the south and west. This includes JBR049 and JBR069 which returned 7.14% and 8.15% combined Zn-Pb respectively.
Results pending from Dignali and Ofoubou
AON said that the programs of geological mapping, rock chip and soil sampling were also carried out at the Dignali and Ofoubou Prospects.
At the Dignali Prospect a total of 72 points of observation were mapped and six mineralised outcrops sampled. A new 100m by 100m soil grid was sampled in the south-east tributary of Dignali embayment.
Soil sampling at the Ofoubou prospect was carried out on a 100m by 200m grid covering the southern side of the channel. A total of 116 soil samples collected.
The company said that the results from the soil sampling grids at the Dignali and Ofoubou Prospects are anticipated in late February.
Apollo Minerals reported that the exploration to date continues to validate the province-scale base metals potential of the Project.
Positive initial metallurgical test work
The company said that the positive initial metallurgical test work has confirmed high recoveries and produced separate, high grade and high-quality zinc and lead concentrates with very low deleterious / penalty elements.
Next steps
The company announced that future plans include infill and extensional drilling at the Dikaki Prospect.
AON said that it is also planning additional surface exploration programs comprising soil surveying, geological mapping, rock chip sampling to further assess identified prospects and to generate new targets within the broader project area.
The company said that further drill testing of multiple exploration targets across the project area would be following after ranking and prioritisation.
Apollo announced that drilling programs are being designed to focus on defining sufficient shallow (open-pittable), high grade zinc-lead mineralisation to justify commencement of feasibility studies.
The company said that the drill rigs will be mobilised to site in the coming months. Apollo said that it is also planning additional metallurgical test work over all prospective targets to assess recovery characteristics, concentrate quality, and variability.