Aruma Resources (ASX:AAJ) has generated drill-ready targets within the Saltwater Project in Western Australia after receiving gallium assay results from ongoing soil and rock chip sampling.
As a result, two gallium in-soil anomalies were identified that are also considered geophysical anomalies.
The company reports high-grade gallium assay results were identified at the Talmine prospect, with results including 136.05 grams per tonne gallium oxide and 60.87g/t gallium oxide.
A total of 16 samples graded higher than 24g/t gallium oxide at the prospect.
Meanwhile, the Terceira prospect, which is a 300m strike by 60m wide gold anomaly, is considered coincident with a 700m strike by 120m wide arsenic and gallium anomaly.
Managing Director Grant Ferguson says the latest phase of sampling continues to deliver results which enhance the multi-commodity potential of the Saltwater Project.
“The identification of high-grade gallium, a high value-high demand critical mineral at the Talmine prospect will be followed up in our next phase of fieldwork, as we seek to develop a comprehensive geological model for the Saltwater Project,” Ferguson says.
“At the Terceira prospect, our systematic approach has delivered an exciting well-supported drill-ready target, which is highly encouraged given the early stage of our exploration at the Saltwater Project.
“The results of fieldwork have also provided strong support for our hypothesis for the potential for epithermal gold mineralisation and base metal mineralisation across the 67km length of the Saltwater Project area.”
Once stakeholder and heritage surveys are completed, the company will begin drill testing at the Terceira prospect.
Additional ongoing works include analysis of high-resolution satellite and hyperspectral data, further mapping and ground truthing, as well as structural analysis.
The company will also kick off reprocessing of previous geophysical data and further analysis of gold and base metals pathfinder elements and bedrock geology.
Aruma Resources is a junior mineral explorer focused on the discovery and development of a portfolio of projects in South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia.
Gallium is soft, silver-white metal commonly used in semiconductors, transistors, and very small electronic devices. It is also used in LEDs due to its ability to convert electricity into light.
With China dominating the gallium sector and controlling the majority of production, the commodity has been listed as a critical mineral by several countries.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Aruma Resources
