Forrestania Resources’ (ASX:FRS) rock chip sampling at the Koolyanobbing Project in Western Australia has confirmed iron grades and hematite prospectivity over 6km of strike of the southern target.
The company reports laboratory analysis using portable x-ray fluorescence analysers (pXRF) and XRF confirms anomalous iron grades, while XRD analysis confirms hematite-dominated iron formations over the highest priority targets.
Sample KRK00164 contained 57% hematite and 5% goethite, with a pXRF result of 47% iron.
Forrestania says the presence of hematite at the surface is consistent with the geological setting of the target type, and the company expects higher grades at depth.
This is because of the high quartz content in the samples, which the company says indicates potential zones of concentrated iron deposits below.
Further, transported colluvium or sand covers most of the Kooly Fe South drill targets, meaning rock chip sampling was only practical over a few targets and the outcropping iron formation units along strike from them.
Despite the majority of the southern target sitting under cover, Forrestania says initial rock chip sampling at the Netley project has produced 22 samples at grades of between 19% and 47%.
The company notes the rock chip results only partially represent the sub-surface targets, which are interpreted to represent hematite mineralisation. Further rock chips will be collected over the target locations.
A heritage survey is now underway, while all other regulatory approvals are granted for drilling to begin, once the heritage clearance is completed.
The Koolyanobbing Project lies on the Koolyanobbing Greenstone Belt, which forms part of the Southern Cross Greenstone Terrane in the central part of the Achaean Yilgarn Craton. The belt is 45km long and up to 10km wide.
Forrestania only just last week announced it had signed an option agreement to acquire privately held Netley Minerals, which holds a number of iron ore licences in the Yilgarn region of Western Australia.
The Koolyanobbing Iron Project is thought to have potential due to its proximity to Mineral Resources’ (ASX:MIN) Koolyanobbing operations.
The Kooly Fe South target comprises two banded iron formation trends, striking in a north-north-west direction over a 6km strike length.
Forrestania Resources is an explorer focused on lithium, gold, and nickel in Western Australia. The company also explores for lithium in the James Bay region of Quebec, Canada.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Forrestania Resources
