Kingfisher Mining (ASX:KFM) has begun exploration work targeting lithium-bearing pegmatites across several of its tenements in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.
The $15.4 million market capitalisation company is conducting exploration programs targeting ‘large-scale’ carbonatite targets along its 54km Chalba target corridor and its 30km long Lockier target corridor.
The programs will test ‘high priority’ carbonatite targets across Kingfisher’s belt-scale tenement holding, building upon the carbonatite discoveries, which confirmed the presence of ‘high-grade’ rare earth element (REE) mineralisation along the Chalba corridor.
Kingfisher says activities planned for the 2023 season include on-ground mapping and sampling targeting interpreted ‘Mt Weld style’ carbonatite plugs, alongside dyke mineralisation and alteration. Results from this program will be used for drill planning of the ‘high priority’ targets.
A reverse circulation (RC) drill program is also planned to test carbonatite targets at the Mick Well, Kingfisher, and Arthur River projects, which will begin in Q3 2023.
The company adds further airborne geophysics to incorporate the Mooloo and North Chalba projects to its early-stage target generation. Kingfisher says magnetics and radiometrics are effective for uncovering carbonatite mineralisation.
Commenting on the upcoming activities, Kingfisher Mining Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Farrell says: “Exploration work targeting lithium-bearing pegmatites is also underway across several of our tenements.
We will announce details of the target generation work in the Chalba and Chalba North areas which have mapped 33 suite pegmatites, the host of Delta Lithium’s (ASX:DLI) Yinnetharra Project in the coming weeks.”
“Exploration work targeting lithium-bearing pegmatites is also underway across several of our tenements”
This news follows after the company released results from its ongoing exploration targeting ‘large-scale’ carbonatite intrusions and ‘high-grade’ REE mineralisation.
Kingfisher reports the CH8 carbonatite target was uncovered from its airborne geophysical surveys with mapping and sampling confirming ferro carbonatite intrusions that are fertile for REE mineralisation, with rockchip sampling returning 0.14% Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO).
Mapping and sampling in the Mick Well area targeted the source carbonatite intrusions of the ‘high-grade’ MW2, MW7, and MW8 mineralisation, which produced 6 new REE discoveries around the CH1 intrusion centre.
New rockchip results recorded include MWGS2247 with 18.84% TREO with 3.34% Nd2O3 + Pr6O11; and MWGS1866 with 13.33% TREO with 2.06% Nd2O3 + Pr6O11.
Farrell adds: “Our focusing on advancing our large-scale carbonatite targets is bearing fruit, with the confirmation of new carbonatite intrusions at CH8 and CH11.
Significantly, these targets appear to be the surface exposure of deeper intrusion systems and are highly prospective for large-scale intrusive hosted rare earths mineralisation and our ongoing exploration will continue to further define the targets for our next drill program.”
Kingfisher Mining is a mineral exploration company. The company’s tenements cover 1,676km-square in the underexplored Ashburton and Gascoyne mineral fields.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Kingfisher Mining Ltd
