McLaren Minerals (ASX:MML) is updating its geological model and mineral resource estimate after Eastern Shoreline drilling intersected heavy mineral sands east of its namesake deposit in Western Australia.
The results cover 20 exploratory aircore drill holes, with 156 1m samples returning a length-weighted mean of 2.68% heavy minerals (HM), with no cut-off applied.
Key results include 21m @ 3.38% HM in MAC610, including 5m @ 7.07% HM from 16–21m; and 18m @ 5.05% HM in MAC764, including 5m @ 8.98% HM from 10–15m. McLaren reports peak 1m grades of 13.26% HM in MAC610 and 13.14% HM in MAC764.
According to the company, the distribution of marine sediments and basement morphology supports the presence of an additional palaeoshoreline east of the deposit, as well as a potential south-westward extension that remains “insufficiently tested”.
McLaren notes that continuity between mineralised intervals has not yet been established, and reported lengths represent downhole widths rather than true thicknesses.
Regardless, considering that this is an exploration program, Managing Director Simon Finnis says the results reflect a “good outcome”.
“We intersected several nice intersections […] the two best holes are 6km apart, and the fence of holes in the middle also has good mineralisation, so there is plenty of scope to explore further,” Finnis says.
“Clearly with the scale of McLaren there is no real need to chase more tonnes, but it [is] nice to show there is even more potential than we thought.”
The McLaren Titanium Project hosts a 529-million-tonne mineral resource estimate.
The company is undertaking metallurgical test work and technical studies to support the definition of an ore reserve and the completion of a Bankable Feasibility Study.
McLaren Minerals is an Australian explorer advancing its McLaren Project in Western Australia’s Eucla Basin.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Main image: McLaren Minerals
