Battery Minerals (ASX:BAT) reports Induced Polarisation (IP) geophysics has started at Coxs Find to define priority gold-sulphide-style drill targets beneath zone of strong rockchip gold anomalism, up to 430g/t Au at the Stavely-Stawell Copper-Gold Project in western Victoria.
Given the sulphide association and likely bedrock source of the high-grade surface gold at Coxs Find, an IP survey has been designed to map the distribution of sulphides and define priority drill targets.
The survey will also cover the Frankfurt area, where strong AC gold anomalism (8m @ 0.79g/t Au from 27m to EOH) is associated with a fertile multielement signature and defines an open over 160m wide target zone.
The Coxs Find gold target is defined by multiple ‘high-grade’ rockchip results, up to 430g/t Au associated with sericite-silica-pyrite altered siltstone
The Coxs Find gold target is defined by multiple ‘high-grade’ rockchip results, up to 430g/t Au associated with sericite-silica-pyrite altered siltstone.
The mineralisation has been characterised using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and laser ablation ICPMS mineral chemistry (La-ICPMS), which indicates an association between gold and bedrock sulphides (galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite).
The northern extent of the Coxs Find Trend has been termed the Frankfurt target, and is characterised by strong multipoint AC gold anomalism (8m @ 0.79g/t Au from 27m to EOH) associated with ‘fertile’ multielement signature defining an open over 160m wide target zone.
Aircore drilling forms a key part of Battery Minerals’ exploration strategy, designed to define surface anomalism and enable effective ranking of targets for follow-up bedrock drill testing.
The drilling activity covered multiple targets considered prospective for orogenic gold and copper-gold mineralisation within the Stawell Gold Corridor and Dryden Belt.
Reported results are from the final 251 holes for 8,755m within a combined program of 629 holes for 24,436m (214 / 9,971.3m in 2021, 415 holes / 14,465m in 2022).
The AC drilling activity has defined several key bedrock target areas, including:
- Strong primary gold anomalism at Coxs Find, defined by surface float samples up to 430g/t Au.
- Open over 160m wide gold zone at Frankfurt including 8m @ 0.79g/t Au from 27m to EOH, including 1m @ 4.94g/t Au, associated with a fertile multielement geochemical signature.
- Open over 2,000m long gold anomaly (>0.1g/t Au) at the Nine Mile Prospect, broadly coincident with the regionally prospective Moyston Fault and approximately 5km along strike from the historic Moyston Gold Mine (77koz at 22g/t Au).
- Open over 800m long gold anomaly (>0.2g/t Au) at the Frying Pan Prospect.
- Broad gold anomalism in the Rutters Track district, defining multiple targets associated with the White Rabbit Diorite.
The drilling program planned for the Azura Copper-Nickel Project comprises a nominal 6 diamond holes for 1,170m and has been designed to test priority EM and geochemical targets.
Several contingency drill sites will also be prepared to allow for flexibility in the drilling schedule based on ongoing results.
Heritage clearance has been completed with additional environmental permitting requested by the regulator prior to the Company being permitted to commence drilling activity.
Target areas include:
- Olympio Target (gold-copper), characterised by a discrete zone of conductivity (650m long at 100m depth) coincident with a concealed, likely structural thickened portion of the Azura copper trend target stratigraphy.
- Azura East Target (copper), defined by a discrete conductive VTEM anomaly, partly concealed and along strike from the prospective Azura copper trend stratigraphy.
- Azura North Target (copper), located within the prospective Azura copper trend, defined by an approximately 120m wide zone of anomalous copper at surface with rockchip samples up to 9.7% Cu.
- Russel’s Gossan Target (copper), defined by a widespread zone of strong surface copper anomalism, including up to 29.9% in rock chips.
- Trem Jones Target (nickel-copper), area is considered prospective for magnetic nickel-copper mineralisation, characterised by a zone of conductivity (>1,00m long at 100m depth) along strike from nickel-copper occurrences within a rock sequence which hosts the nearby Savannah Ni-Ci-Co Mine.
Battery Minerals is an ASX-listed public company focused on the exploration and development of high value mineral resources in Australia.
In addition, the company retains exposure to the graphite market via a transaction to sell its Mozambique graphite assets to Tirupati Graphite (pending government approval, the only remaining condition precedent).
The Stavely-Stawell Project comprises a single exploration licence (EL6871) covering a 65km strike of the Stawell Gold Corridor and northern extents of the Stavely-Dryden Belt in western Victoria.
This large project is considered highly prospective for orogenic gold, as evidenced by the nearby multimillion ounce Stawell Gold Mine (Stawell Gold Mines) and VMS/porphyry copper-gold mineralisation, given the emerging discoveries within the Stavely Volcanics along strike southwards.
On August 17, Battery Minerals announced that it has entered into agreements, together with its subsidiary Rovuma Resources to sell its Montepuez and Balama Central graphite projects, through the sale of all the shares in its subsidiary Suni Resources SA to the London Stock Exchange listed company Tirupati Graphite.
The pending sale provides the company with exposure to the booming graphite market whilst focusing on its Australian copper-gold exploration and corporate strategy.
Images: Battery Metals Ltd
