Tempest Minerals (ASX:TEM) expects to receive final assay results from its 4,005m circulation drilling program at the Remorse target in December 2024.
The company has completed the first phase of reverse circulation drilling at Remorse, which is within its flagship 100% owned Yalgoo Project. In total, 21 holes were drilled.
Samples have been boxscanned (pXRF) and submitted to the lab and final assay results are expected next month.
All samples collected have been analysed using a boxscan unit which includes a mounted portable x-ray fluorescence (pXRF). Although not as accurate as laboratory analysis, pXRF data when collected in a quality and consistent manner can also exhibit high accuracy and precision, the company says.
The pXRF data has been compared with assays received to date (>800 samples) and has an average variance of -4.2% and a median of -4.3%. The results indicate the accuracy is considered acceptable for current exploration reporting purposes (and potentially an overall slight underestimation by pXRF).
Remaining assay results are expected to correlate strongly with the pXRF results announced. As previously reported, the drill program design was focused on the strong base metal geochemical anomaly exhibited at the Remorse Target .
The planned holes were focused strongly on testing the ‘hanging wall’ stratigraphy at Remorse and were not initially focused on the newly identified iron layer. However, the program did result in the four most northerly drillholes intercepting the main magnetite layer and numerous holes intercepting adjacent magnetite-rich layers.
Tempest says the widely spaced drilling shows continuity and consistency over more than 2km and identical iron-rich stratigraphy outcrops can be traced over an extensive 5km zone correlating with the original Remorse target footprint.
Drilling has identified the presence of thick, ‘high-grade’, magnetite-hosted iron in initial assays, which has now been confirmed with multiple drillholes over several kilometres of strike length.
The previously reported iron intercept from the first hole drilled at Remorse was WARDH00160 of 32m @ 30.0% Fe from 96m (including 7m @ 37% Fe).
Preliminary field observations, based on reverse circulation drill-chip samples, indicate that the magnetite-rich rock is a medium-grained, equigranular, massive unit. Tempest notes that boxscan pXRF and lab results show that the unit has “good internal iron grade consistency”.
Medium-grained, consistent, magnetite iron ore is particularly attractive for mining and processing operations as these characteristics allow for easier and more cost-effective liberation during the beneficiation process, resulting in higher-grade concentrates
The Remorse target is part of Tempest’s broader Yalgoo Project which spans over 1,000km2 of prospective terrain for base metals, precious metals, and iron ore.
Images: Tempest
