Trek Metals (ASX:TKM) confirms a ‘significant’ shallow manganese discovery, following second batch assay results from a maiden drilling program at the Kuro prospect within its Christmas Creek Project in Western Australia.
To date, 28 of 50 phase one holes returned intercepts above 5% manganese (Mn), including 16 holes with intercepts above 20% Mn.
Standout results from the second batch include 7m @ 40.2% Mn from 7m, within a broader 14m @ 23.6% Mn from 6m.
Additional ‘high-grade’ intercepts are as follows:
- 8m @ 32.7% Mn from 3m
- 6m @ 39.0% Mn from 28m, within 8m @ 31.3% Mn from 28m
- 4m @ 38.6% Mn, within 8m @ 24.1% Mn from 2m
- 3m @ 42.7% Mn, within 8m @ 20.6% Mn from 23m
Trek notes all significant intercepts occur between surface and 37m downhole, with mineralisation deepening progressively toward the southeast.
CEO Derek Marshall says these results confirm Kuro as a significant shallow, ‘high-grade’ manganese discovery.
“These outstanding results [confirm] […] that the high grades we saw in the first batch of results are being repeated across the system,” Marshall says.
“What is particularly encouraging is that we are still at a very early stage in understanding the scale of this opportunity.”
According to Trek, the mineralisation demonstrates low iron and ‘very low’ phosphorus content. Intercepts averaging 20% Mn or better return 27.0% Mn @ 3.28% iron (Fe) for an 8.3:1 Mn-Fe ratio, improving to 14.4:1 in composites above 30% Mn.
The company has commenced a 2,500m phase two drilling program targeting key induced polarisation anomalies across a larger area.
“Phase two holes are targeting newly generated geophysical anomalies over a much larger area than the original phase one drilling,” Marshall adds.
“Our interpretation suggests that the host geology of the Kuro manganese mineralisation extends across a basin spanning a 30km strike length within Trek tenure, which is highly prospective for additional manganese discoveries.”
The company has just completed a high-resolution fixed-wing magnetic survey over the area. It has also recently concluded a detailed sub-audio magnetic survey over the Martin prospect, noting that the results will be integrated with existing datasets to aid drill targeting.
Meanwhile, remaining assay results from phase one drilling are expected in two to three weeks.
Trek acquired Christmas Creek via its 100% acquisition of Archer X in October 2023. The project comprises seven granted exploration licences and two applications located 140km southwest of Halls Creek in the Kimberley region of WA.
Trek Metals is a mineral explorer targeting critical battery metals, gold, and uranium, with a focus on frontier locations within tier-one mining jurisdictions in Australia.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Trek Metals
