Iltani Resources (ASX:ILT) is advancing towards completion of its drilling campaign at the Antimony Reward Project in North Queensland.
So far, the junior explorer has completed reverse circulation drilling of 712m across eight holes on the Northern Vein (Vein System 1) and 582m across six holes in the Southern Vein (Vein System 2).
Managing Director Donald Garner says Iltani is making good progress at Antimony Reward, having completed drilling on the Northern Vein and dispatched 320 samples to the assay lab.
“The rig is currently drilling the Southern Vein. We expect to receive first results from this drilling in one to two weeks’ time,” he says.
“On completion of the Antimony Reward drilling later this week, the drill rig will move to our nearby Orient Silver-Indium project to commence the next phase of drilling for that project which continues to excite us.”
Iltani recently undertook mapping and sampling at Antimony Reward as part of drill design activities, with 19 samples taken from the two mapped vein systems.
Fourteen samples collected from Vein System 1 returned an average grade of 16.2% and a peak result of 46.5%, while five samples taken from Vein System 2 showed an average grade of 10.9% and a top result of 17.7%.
The current drilling program comprises 1,700m across 18 holes, testing a 450m strike extent of Vein System 1 and a 200m strike extent of Vein System 2.
Both Orient and Antimony Reward are part of the larger 330km2 Herberton Project that sits about 150km west of Cairns.
Mining activity commenced in the Herberton Region in 1880 following the discovery of tin. There are over 2,400 known historical mines and mineral occurrences — including tin, copper, zinc, lead, silver, antimony, and tungsten — in the area.
Antimony is a high demand metal, listed as a critical mineral by several countries because of its increasing use in solar panels and batteries.
After China — the world’s largest producer and exporter of antimony — imposed restrictions on exports of antimony ore, ingots, and oxide due to it being a critical mineral, the price reached all-time highs of over US$25,000 ($36,719).
“Price is being driven by increasing demand, from its more traditional uses in the defence sector and the use of antimony in photovoltaic glass (as a clarifying agent), which is expected to surpass its flame-retardant usage to become the major downstream use for the metal and will change the supply-demand balance in the antimony industry,” Garner told Mining.com.au previously.
Iltani is presenting at the Noosa Mining Conference being held at the Peppers Noosa Resort from 13-15 November. To register click here.
Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au
Images: Iltani Resources
