Octava Minerals (ASX:OCT) is poised to begin exploration on antimony targets at the Yallalong prospect in Western Australia in the fourth quarter of this year after submitting a program of works.
Managing Director Bevan Wakelam says following the completion of a base metal reconnaissance drilling program earlier this year, the company has re-examined project data to determine the next steps at Yallalong.
“It was noted that historic drilling for antimony had been carried out at the project and with ingot prices increasing from $8,000 per tonne to now over US$24,500 per tonne, there is definitely unfinished business for antimony at Yallalong,” Wakelam says.
In 2015-16, historic drilling at the Discovery Antimony prospect returned “high-grade” intersections, including 3m @ 6.83% antimony from 21m and 1m @ 13.6% antimony from 22m.
The mineralisation at the Discovery prospect is open in several directions with prior drilling only focusing on the shallow oxide material.
Wakelam says Discovery has recorded some of the “highest antimony grade drill intercepts in Australia”.
“Prior drilling undertaken was targeting the shallower oxide zone and we are very keen to do some deeper holes to test for possible larger sulphide bodies. There are also a number of undrilled antimony targets, where high-grade surface samples have been recorded.”
Further, previous soil and rock chip programs identified a 10km north-south striking mineralised antimony corridor, including quartz vein sample YA123, which assayed up to 60.1% antimony, 0.28% lead, 0.14% copper, and 31 parts per billion gold.
An additional three antimony prospects were identified, dubbed Central, North, and No.4. All three have had no drilling and are high-priority targets.
According to the US Geological Service, China, Russia, and Tajikistan supply 80% of the world’s antimony. From that 80%, China’s supply alone represents nearly 50% and 80% of the global antimony processing.
In its metallic form, antimony is silvery, hard, and brittle. It is commonly used in the electronics industry to make semiconductor devices.
Antimony is also alloyed with lead or other metals to improve its hardness and strength. A lead-antimony alloy is commonly used in batteries.
The Yallalong Project comprises two granted exploration licences covering 63.4km2, and lies 220km to the northeast of Geraldton in Western Australia.
Octava Minerals is a Western Australian-based green energy metals explorer and developer.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Octava Minerals
