Lightning Minerals (ASX:L1M) is planning a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) survey in November to help rank maiden drill targets at its Warby Tungsten Project in North Queensland.
The company has completed an expanded phase three soil sampling program at the wholly owned project, submitting 220 samples for analysis.
The program aimed to refine tungsten soil anomalies still open to the northeast, southwest, north, and west. Crews sampled at 25m spacing with a power auger along infill and extension lines about 125m apart.
The ALS laboratory in Townsville will analyse the samples, with no phase three assay results reported yet.
Sampling also identified further historical workings, with wolframite visible in hand specimens.
The company notes these are visual observations only and require laboratory assays. Lightning has also planned surface rock chip sampling and geological mapping at the new workings.
LiDAR survey to help rank drill targets
The LiDAR survey will produce a detailed digital elevation model of the terrain to map historical workings and help interpret the potential extent of the vein swarm.
Separately, 13 samples are with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) for petrological work to investigate the controls on tungsten mineralisation.
Warby’s phase three datasets are intended to converge on a ranked set of drill targets, with holes planned for the highest-order anomalies.
Managing Director Troy Brice says the expanded program has widened the company’s evidence base.
“Completing the expanded geochemical sampling program is another important step in advancing Warby towards drill target selection,” Brice adds.
Brice says the next task is integrating the assay results, LiDAR survey, and UNSW petrology to better understand the controls on mineralisation and rank targets for a maiden drilling program.
The Warby Project sits northeast of Georgetown, adjacent to the company’s Scardon tenement. It is also within reach of EQ Resources’ (ASX:EQR) active Mt Carbine tungsten plant.
Next steps include drainage sampling across the broader Lyndbrook Complex, including the 13km Angore Granite contact, before targets are ranked for trenching and maiden drilling.
Lightning Minerals is an Australian explorer advancing gold and copper systems in Queensland, alongside critical minerals assets across Australia.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Main image: Lightning Minerals
