Pure Minerals reveals high-grade manganese results at Battery Hub project
Published on: Feb 9, 2018 | by finfeed
ASX small-cap, Pure Minerals (ASX:PM1), this morning updated the market with additional results from the first phase of drilling at its Battery Hub manganese project, situated in WA's renowned Gascoyne region.
Encouragingly, drilling indicates the presence of high-grade mineralisation exceeding 30 per cent manganese within zones of thick, continuous mineralisation.
These results relate to 13 reverse circulation (RC) drilling holes at the Steven Ridge and Isle prospects, situated at the eastern half of tenement E09/2217 and immediately west of the Pools prospect. Drill results at Pools, which pointed towards large Resource tonnage potential, were released to market at the end of January.
Most recent RC drilling results include:
BH0068: 3m at 31.79% manganese within 9m at 17.93% manganeseBH0079: 4m at 33.40% manganese within 12m at 18.42% manganesePM1 has confirmed that mineralisation extends a further 8.6 kilometres to the northwest of the Pools and Julia prospects, where manganese mineralisation was identified in drilling over an 8.3 kilometre strike length.
Drill hole collar map of the Isle and Steve Ridge prospects, including mapped geology and outcropping manganese mineralisation
Promisingly, all but one drill hole encountered manganese mineralisation. Mineralisation remains open down-dip, up-dip and along strike.
These holes represent the deepest holes to date, suggesting high grades extend below the zone weathering. Mineralisation was identified to a median maximum depth of 40 metres.
15 significant primary intercepts were observed from 12 mineralised holes, with a median thickness of manganese mineralisation of 20 metres. Seven of the intercepts included a medium grade core averaging 6.1 metres thickness with a weighted average grade of 15.32 per cent manganese.
Of course, as with all minerals exploration, success is not guaranteed - consider your own personal circumstances before investing, and seek professional financial advice.
First phase drilling program
The 79 hole, 2,880 metre RC drilling program was completed in early December last year, tested for shallow (less than 60 metres in depth) manganese mineralisation with bulk tonnage potential at the Julia, Pools, Isle and Steven Ridge prospects, all located within tenement E09/2217.
Another objective here was to confirm historic drilling for which no physical records remain. More than 1,500 samples were submitted to ALS Global laboratory in Wangara, WA, for assay testwork in December.
PM1 plans to begin preliminary metallurgical test work, designed to determine the potential for the various forms of mineralisation to be beneficiated or converted into a downstream product such as electrolytic manganese dioxide.
