Dreadnought Resources (ASX:DRE) has intersected thick niobium via a reverse circulation drilling program at the Gifford Creek Carbonatite in Western Australia.
Out of 19 holes, four drillholes were designed to confirm results from previous wide-spaced first pass drilling at the Stinger zone. All four holes returned “significant” mineralisation, including the thickest and highest grade intercept to date.
The $56 million market capitalised company reports the results include 50m @ 0.9% niobium pentoxide, including 20m @ 1.3% niobium pentoxide; 38m @ 0.5% niobium pentoxide, including 6m @ 1.2% niobium pentoxide.
Managing Director Dean Tuck says the Gifford Creek Carbonatite, which is part of the Mangaroon Project, has produced some of Western Australia’s best niobium intercepts outside the Arunta Province.
“These results support our staged approach to assessing the Gifford Creek Carbonatite and highlight the significant potential at the Stinger Zone to host high-grade mineralisation.”
The latest drilling program aimed to confirm and extend enriched carbonatite at the Stinger and Rocky Road zones. Both zones are defined by niobium enrichment in saprolite and fresh carbonatite over areas of 2,000m by 350m and 1,000m by 200m.
After confirming the further thick mineralisation at Stinger, an additional nine reverse circulation holes were drilled for 1,508m. Drilling targeted fresh mineralisation, as well as extending oxide mineralisation.
Dreadnought says this program confirmed fresh mineralisation over 1km of strike. Assays are expected in October 2024.
Tuck adds that the company’s next steps at Stinger includes assessing oxide mineralisation and identifying the fresh rock source of the niobium.
“We continue to see the potential for Mangaroon to evolve as a multi-commodity critical metals hub within proximity to existing infrastructure,” he says.
The Gifford Creek Carbonatite and Yin Ironstones form one of the “largest” alkali-carbonatite complexes globally. To date, only 25% of the Gifford Creek Carbonatite has been tested with wide-spaced first pass drilling.
The Mangaroon Project covers 5,300km2 of the Mangaroon Zone in the Gascoyne Region of Western Australia. The project comprises the 45km long Money Intrusion, Mangaroon Gold Camp, Yin Ironstone, and Gifford Creek Carbonatite.
Dreadnought Resources is a Western Australian mineral explorer focused on uncovering metals needed for the future. The company has four diversified projects in Western Australia.
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Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Dreadnought Resources
