Pure Resources (ASX:PR1) has identified an untested 4.5km garnet skarn strike extension during fieldwork at the Reedy Creek Garnet Project in Western Australia.
The extension to the southwest expands the garnet resource potential of the project from 1.1km up to 5.6km overall strike.
Detailed metallurgical testwork of garnet skarn material, using bulk samples from the previously delineated deposit, is well underway. The results are expected to be released shortly.
Pure Resources’ geologists have collected bulk samples from the high-purity marble host-rock which has been submitted to the laboratory for metallurgical testing.
The company is investigating the profitability of marble as a by-product of garnet production.
Executive Chairman Patric Glovac says the second site visit at Reedy Creek has delineated a four-fold increase to the outcropping garnet trend.
“The project represents a unique, high-quality, hard rock garnet project with abundant outcropping garnet grading up to 78% from surface,” Glovac says.
“Reedy Creek has the potential to be one of only three commercially viable hard rock garnet mines in the world. This is an important discovery for the company as it indicates there is potential to deliver significant resource growth at the project, with additional drilling.
“We are confident of rapidly progressing the project through feasibility and mining studies, with a view to becoming a long mine-life, Australian garnet producer and one of the few hard rock garnet producers globally.”
Pure Resources is currently completing detailed due diligence and compiling, reviewing, and interpreting all available data for the project.
Further mapping and sampling to prepare for drilling in the fourth quarter was also conducted during the second site visit. The samples collected have been sent for further characterisation and met testwork, aimed at delivering a maiden resource for the project via drilling.
The Reedy Creek Garnet Project represents an industrial garnet deposit, which lies 90km north of Halls Creek in Western Australia.
According to Geoscience Australia, garnets have been used since the bronze age as gemstones for jewellery and ornaments and as abrasives. Due to garnet being hard and resistant to weathering, the mineral can also be used as skid-resistant road aggregate, skid resistant paints, and for filler in concrete.
Pure Resources is a battery metal-focused company that is focused on exploring and developing nickel, copper, lithium, rare earths, and graphite projects.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Pure Resources
