AuKing Mining (ASX:AKN) has confirmed a broad, near surface copper-zinc sulphide deposit at Emull, within its flagship Koongie Park Copper-Zinc Project in Western Australia’s Halls Creek region.
The company’s 1,094m reverse circulation (RC) program consisting of 8 holes at Emull found mineralisation was mostly in the primary zone as sulphides (chalcopyrite and sphalerite) and remains open at depth and along strike – leaving open the potential for a large bulk tonnage open pit mining operation.
AuKing notes that significant magnetic anomalies exist to the north-west and to the south-west of the main mineralised zone, which remain to be tested for a similar style of mineralisation.
Based on the results from the initial drilling at Emull, it is proposed that a further significant RC drilling program be undertaken later this year both at the main Emull project area and to the north-west.
Work is also underway on preparation of a maiden resource estimate for Emull.
AuKing reports that the discovery represented a “pivotal” change in the company’s potential mining development strategy at Koongie Park, which hosts a JORC compliant mineral resources of 8.9Mt.
“Strong potential now exists for a shallow, bulk tonnage, open pit operation to be established”
Commenting on the results, AuKing Chief Executive Officer Paul Williams said: “Strong potential now exists for a shallow, bulk tonnage, open pit operation to be established at Emull.
Mineralisation at Emull is open along strike and down dip and appears to be strongly correlated with a magnetic high where two additional magnetic anomalies are repeated to the south-west of the known mineralisation.
Even more encouragingly, along a 1.5km strike of defined mineralisation, the magnetic high continues to the north-west and is essentially untested by historic drilling. Repeat structures of 1.7km and 2km respectively are also possibly present to the south-west of the existing Emull deposit.”
The Emull deposit falls within the Central zone of the Lamboo Complex. This Complex lies at the core of the Halls Creek Orogen as a Palaeoproterozoic (1920-1780Ma) composite, linear belt consisting of variably deformed and metamorphosed sedimentary, volcanic and intrusive rocks.
AuKing notes that the Lamboo Complex and onlapping Palaeoproterozoic sedimentary basins were deformed in the course of the 1835-1805 Ma Halls Creek Orogeny.
The genesis of mineralisation at Emull is still to be confirmed, although previous models recognise the prospect as a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit partially assimilated during intrusion of the Emull gabbro.
AuKing Mining’s flagship Koongie Park Copper-Zinc Project in Western Australia’s Halls Creek Region hosts an estimated JORC resource of 8.9 million tonnes and is neighboured by several significant mining and development operations including Nicholson’s Gold Mine, Panton PGM Project, and Savannah Nickel Mine.
AuKing has secured a 75% ownership of the Koongie Park Project, acquiring this interest under the terms of the Joint Venture with Astral Resources (ASX:AAR).
Since its discovery Koongie Park has been the subject of over 300 RC and diamond drill holes consisting of more than 60,000m of drilling in total. The predominant focus of drilling has been at the Sandiego and Onedin deposits, the latter of which offers the potential to establish an open pit mine.
Images: AuKing Mining Limited
