Iltani Resources (ASX:ILT) reports that sampling within the Deadman Creek area of its Orient project in Queensland has returned encouraging silver and indium results.
The critical minerals and base metals explorer collected 26 rock chip samples from the Deadman Creek Stockwork target that returned assays of up to 8.6 grams per tonne (g/t) silver, 33.1g/t indium, 0.61% lead and 0.22% zinc.
There is no evidence of historic workings in the Deadman Creek area, with all samples taken from outcrops.
The initial reconnaissance outcrop sampling program in the northern Deadman Creek area targeted a previously mapped area of extensive stockwork mineralisation and brecciation.
Managing Director Donald Garner says the results confirm the presence of stockwork silver-lead-zinc-indium mineralisation over an area of at least 400m by 500m based on results so far.
“To deliver peak assay results of 8.6g/t silver, 33.1g/t indium, 0.61% lead and 0.22% zinc from outcrop sampling is a great result and these are a good indicator of the potential of the Deadman Creek System,” he says.
“It should be noted that these samples were taken from in-situ material from alteration zones within the ignimbritic rhyolite host rocks, containing a variable density of oxidised sulphide veinlets.”
Garner says there were no significant outcrops of gossanous alteration or mine waste dumps that would significantly enhance the metal results, with silver and indium values most likely diminished due to the effects of weathering.
“The team will extend the sampling to cover the southern area of Deadman Creek, and then we will plan drilling to test the Deadman Creek stockwork zone,” he says.
Historical exploration at Deadman Creek comprised soil and rock geochemistry, geological mapping and the drilling of eight percussion holes, for a total of 680m drilled, from October to December 1982.
This was undertaken by Getty Oil Development Company, which noted the similarity between the Deadman Creek geology and mineralisation and the Bolivian style tin porphyry systems.
This prompted the company to focus on the prospect’s tin potential.
Within the historic drill holes, up to 8% pyrite was observed wherever the highest tin assays were obtained.
Minor sphalerite and galena commonly occurred in drill cuttings, corresponding with highly anomalous tin values marginal to intervals assaying 500 parts per million tin.
Iltani says the logged presence of sulphide mineralisation – pyrite, sphalerite and galena – in the drill hole cuttings is “very positive”, particularly the association with tin mineralisation, and likely indicative of stockwork-style mineralisation.
The next phase of sampling focusing on the southern Deadman Creek area will extend towards the Orient East Prospect and is scheduled to begin in August.
Drilling will then be undertaken at Orient West to deliver a resource estimate, and Orient East to outline an exploration target.
Meanwhile, Wulguru Technical Services will begin preliminary flora and fauna studies at Orient to enable Iltani to better understand the baseline study requirements required for a mining lease application.
Wulguru will also undertake a drone lidar survey to provide an accurate digital terrain model required for future resource assessment work.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: Iltani Resources
