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Star Minerals Limited (ASX: SMS, “the Company” or “Star Minerals”) is pleased to advise that it has completed an updated MRE reported in accordance with the JORC 2012 Code at the Tumblegum South gold project.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Updated JORC 2012 Tumblegum South Mineral Resource delivers total Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource of 616,000 tonnes @ 2.28 g/t Au for 45,000 Oz gold.
- Includes Indicated Mineral Resource of 337,000 tonnes @ 2.52 g/t Au for 27,000 Oz gold.
- Tumblegum South Mineral Resource is on granted mining lease M51/888
- Conversion of 60% of the Mineral Resource to Indicated category (up from 0% in Maiden Mineral Resource estimate1) reflects significant increase of confidence in the geological model.
- Contained ounces represents a 5.8% increase on previous Mineral Resource estimate1 (MRE).
- Star Minerals progressing toll treatment options of the Tumblegum Mineral Resource.
The new MRE represents a total increase in contained ounces of 5.8% along with conversion of 60% of the Mineral Resource to Indicated category. The MRE consists of:
- Total – 616,000 tonnes @ 2.28 g/t Au for 45,000 Oz Au
- Indicated – 337,000 tonnes @ 2.52 g/t Au for 27,000 Oz Au
- Inferred – 279,000 tonnes @ 1.99 g/t Au for 18,000 Oz Au
This shallow, high-grade Indicated category portion of the resource has tremendous upside to be investigated in ongoing feasibility studies.
Tumblegum South is located in the Polelle Group mafics, about 40km south of Meekatharra at the historic Gabanintha mining locale in Western Australia (Figure 1). The revised estimate has followed additional drill campaigns of reverse circulation drilling during 2021 and 2022, and diamond core drilling during 2022.
The additional data has strengthened the geological model and therefore confidence in the Mineral Resource estimation, resulting in an upgrade of 60% of the existing Mineral Resource to Indicated category.
Star Minerals’ CEO, Greg Almond comments:
“Star Minerals has progressed the Tumblegum South Project towards a high degree of confidence in the value of the deposit with this Mineral Resource update. Successful drilling programs through 2021 and 2022 have highlighted the high-grade nature of the deposit, with gold grades of a calibre that are very appealing for shallow, cost-effective open pit mining.”
Figure 1: Location of the Tumblegum South Project
Star Minerals has progressed the Tumblegum South gold project at a time when the gold price is strong. Additional work at the neighbouring Star of the East deposit (which the Company has an option to purchase) provides an additional complimentary project in the Gabanintha area, with the potential to provide further ounces to any future mining endeavour.
The deposit at Tumblegum South is modelled as three north-south oriented gold-bearing shears and multiple shear and crackle breccia domains in a transpressive east-west shear system. Importantly, the gold mineralisation is from surface, with the majority of the Indicated Mineral Resource portion in the top 100 metres.
Mineral Resource Statement
The Mineral Resource Statement for the Tumblegum South Mineral Resource estimate was prepared during May 2023 and is reported according to the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the ‘JORC Code’) 2012 edition.
A total of 10,832.9 m of drilling from 99 drill holes was available for the Mineral Resource estimate. Mineralisation interpretations and the Mineral Resource Estimate were informed by combined 8566.9m of RC and diamond drilling from 75 drillholes that intersect the Mineral Resource. Drill intercepts, comprised of RC and diamond core is 588.8 m of drilling intersecting the resource. At the time of interpretation, one diamond drill hole was complete but not assayed (TDH006), being drilled for metallurgy and comminution sample.
Of the drill metres underpinning the Mineral Resource, 53% were completed by Star Minerals Ltd (SMS) in 2021 and 2022 and 40% by Bryah Resources Ltd (BYH) from 2017 to 2020. Historical drilling includes seven holes (five of which intersect the resource; 7% of drill metres) completed in 2013 by Australian Vanadium Ltd (AVL; formerly Yellow Rock Resources). The depth from surface to the current vertical limit of the Mineral Resources is approximately 175 m (305 mRL).
In the opinion of Entech, the resource evaluation reported herein is a reasonable representation of the global gold Mineral Resources within the Tumblegum South deposit, based on sampling data from RC and diamond drilling available as of 3 March 2023. Mineral Resources are reported below topography, excluding mining voids and comprise transitional and fresh rock. The Mineral Resource Statement is presented in Table 1.
This Mineral Resource estimate includes Inferred Mineral Resources, which are unable to have economic considerations applied to them, and there is no certainty that further sampling will enable them to be converted to Measured or Indicated Mineral Resources.
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This article includes content from Star Minerals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
SMS:AU
IND Establishes HPQ Exploration Target at Pippingarra Project
Highlights
- IND’s recent RC drilling program informs a Maiden High Purity Quartz (HPQ) Exploration Target at the Pippingarra Quarry Project.
- Drilling is planned for the exploration target area and to test several quartz occurrences mapped across the wider Mining Lease area.
- IND plans to commence work on a HPQ Mineral Resource Estimate in parallel with metallurgical testwork being conducted by potential offtake partners and third-party mineral processing laboratories.
- A 300kg Pippingarra quartz sample crushed from existing quarry stockpiles sent to China in late 2023 produced a >GG.GG4% SiO2 end product following standard HPQ processing1.
- A further 24 tonne bulk sample comprising crushed quartz rock has been shipped to China for processing, metallurgical test work, and assessment by potential offtake partners.
Figure 1: IND Pippingarra Quarry Project location and infrastructure.
In October 2023, IND announced the agreement of binding terms2 with North West Quarries Pty Ltd (NWQ) for an exclusive option to acquire an 80% interest in the non-construction material mineral rights.
Jeff Sweet, Managing Director of Industrial Minerals, commented:
“Following on from one of our potential offtake partners in China achieving a processed High Purity Ǫuartz product grading >SS.SS4% SiO2, we are extremely positive about the potential to supply Pippingarra quartz into high-end quartz markets.
“The Pippingarra Exploration Target is limited to an area where IND completed RC drilling in late 2023, to the east of the existing open pit. There are several quartz outcrops mapped across the broader Mining Lease area that will also be drilled with the intention to include these untested HPǪ target opportunities in the upcoming Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for Pippingarra.
“Our motivation to commence work towards a MRE is to leverage our unique position of having an active mining operation at the Pippingarra Ǫuarry. We believe this will give potential offtake partners the confidence to enter into offtake agreements with IND, knowing that we can rapidly advance to be mine ready and have a suitable mine life to support long term supply needs.”
Maiden High Purity Quartz Exploration Target
Table 1: Pippingarra HPQ Exploration Target range.
The potential quantity and grade of the Exploration Target is conceptual in nature, and there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource. The Exploration Target has been prepared and reported in accordance with the 2012 edition of the JORC Code.
The Exploration Target is based upon the Reverse Circulation (RC) Drilling program completed by IND in December 2023. Drilling was conducted on a 50m x 50m spacing. From this, holes INRC003 – INRC009 recorded thicknesses of white crystalline quartz over widths from 12m to 20m as reported in the Table 2 below.
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This article includes content from Industrial Minerals Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Positive Findings from Newmont Ti Benchmarking Study
Highlights
- Titanium industry expert TZMI completes titanium benchmarking study on the Salazar Critical Minerals Project
- Study identifies Newmont as a standout from its peers in terms of Ti and TREO in-situ grade
- Benchmarking study is highly encouraging and supports validating flowsheet for production of titanium minerals from Salazar
Salazar Critical Minerals Project Ti Benchmarking Study
Following successful characterisation testwork of Ti mineralisation at the Newmont Deposit area1, West Cobar Metals engaged international titanium expert TZ Minerals International Pty Ltd (TZMI) to complete a benchmarking study of the Newmont resource.
TZMI is a global, independent consulting and publishing company which specialises in all aspects of the mineral sands, titanium dioxide and coatings industries2.
The Newmont resource3 and characterisation data was used by TZMI to benchmark the Salazar project deposit against several existing operations and potential new projects under development using publicly available information and TZMI estimates. The outcomes of the benchmarking are shown in Figure 1.
The benchmarking study shows that the Ti contained within the Newmont deposit has promising potential for economic extraction and that the Newmont resource is positioned favourably amongst peer resources in respect of both Ti and rare earth element content.
Figure 1 : Salazar Project (Newmont deposit) benchmarking
The relative positioning of the Newmont Inferred Ti and rare earth element resource is very positive for West Cobar, with relatively high insitu TiO2 grades and TREO grades compared to its peers. The Ti levels of the resource (on a whole rock basis) compare very favourably to both developing and operating projects.
TZMI concluded that “In terms of final ilmenite product quality, the composition of the magnetic fraction (comprising predominantly ilmenite) shows some promise with TiO₂ levels as high as 48.5%. This suggests the ilmenite is likely present as primary ilmenite … the CaO, MgO, V₂O₅, Cr₂O₃ in the magnetic fraction all seem relatively low which is positive and likely to be within the accepted levels for ilmenite used in sulfate pigment production.”
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This article includes content from West Cobar Metals Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
High Grade Copper Rock Chips to 18% on New Targets at Ti-Tree
- Two new prospects, Tiberius and Claudius, have returned high-grade copper and significant silver assays in rock chips from recent field work
- High grade assays up to 17.8% Cu and 282g/t Ag have been discovered on the Tiberius zone, currently 3m wide and extending for over 200m along strike.
- Claudius, 11km south of Tiberius, comprised of several parallel zones over a 100m by 300m area, returned grades up to 6.6% Cu and 86g/t Ag.
- The discovery of these prospects, 30km northwest from Copper Ridge which contain historic workings not marked on GSWA maps, highlights the significant prospectivity of the Gascoyne region.
- Further field work is being planned to determine the extent of these new discoveries.
Andrew Ford, GM Exploration
“These results highlight the potential of this underexplored area to host as yet undiscovered mineralisation. Less than 5% of the 3,600 sq km area of the Ti-Tree Project has had any previous exploration, and to discover unrecorded historic mining areas is very exciting. These results are a credit the Augustus geological team.”
Figure 1 Location of the Tiberius and Claudius prospects
Tiberius
Reconnaissance field work conducted on the Ti Tree Project’s northwestern tenement has discovered high grade copper and silver mineralisation (Figure 3) in two areas. Tiberius, the northern target comprises a quartz-sulphide vein system up to 3m wide and outcrops for over 200m (Figure 5).
A shallow shaft has been dug on the vein system (Figure 2). Another vein set was identified 600m along strike east-northeast of the main vein increasing the potential size of the target. The high grade veins contain both oxidized copper, high silver grades, lead sulphide and anomalous gold (Table 1).
Claudius
The Claudius prospect is located 10km to the southwest of Tiberius, comprised of quartz veined brecciated and silicified granite with mineralised veins mapped over a 100m x 300m area. The main area of outcropping mineralisation has been trenched by prospectors and rock chip sampling returned strong copper mineralisation in an iron rich siliceous vein. Silver was consistently elevated (up to 86g/t) with associated gold anomalism to 0.68g/t (Table 1, Figures 4 and 6).
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This article includes content from Augustus Minerals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
From the Bronze Age to the Green Revolution: Mining's Timeless Role in Shaping Humanity's Future
During his presentation at the annual Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada convention, mining industry figure Mark Cutifani recounted the role the mining sector has had in humanity's past and will play in its burgeoning future.
“I'm focused on how we might catalyze new conversations around mining and its contribution to society,” he told listeners at the annual event, which took place in early March. “It is through our great pioneers and innovators that we continue to transform our work, and its value to society in so many different dimensions”
In simple terms, everything we use and make is derived from materials like metals and minerals, noted Cutifani.
Minerals used in electric cars compared to conventional cars.
Chart via the International Energy Agency.
In his view, while technical discussions about improving industry practices are essential, it's also crucial to help people understand the significance of the mining industry in the functioning of society as a whole.
For example, the average smartphone uses 13 metals and minerals, while electric vehicles require seven, including copper, lithium, nickel, manganese, cobalt, graphite, zinc and rare earths.
Mining's key role in the world's future
Cutifani went on to highlight how metals and minerals contribute to the health of our waterways and oceans.
“The provision of clean water is an absolute necessity to sustain life as we know it. We need minerals to purify, pump, use and recycle water. (We are) an industry that uses about 3 percent of the world's water to support everything else that happens on the planet. We are overwhelmingly a positive for global water balances,” he said.
In addition to water, the mining of phosphate and potash is imperative to global food supply, according to Cutifani, because without the valuable fertilizers they produce, “we could only feed half the planet.”
Even though there may be debates about eliminating certain products like fertilizers, he said it's essential to understand the broader implications and consequences of such decisions on global food security.
Beyond food security, metals and the alloys they produce have allowed us to curb urban sprawl through skyscrapers and high-rise residential towers that require steel and concrete, both of which are produced using mined and quarried materials. While we often hear of the vast amounts of metals needed for the energy transition, Cutifani noted that the energy transition debate tends to overlook other critical global issues like water, food security and shelter.
In his view, addressing global challenges will require the consideration of all fundamental human needs. It's essential to broaden the conversation and recognize the interconnectedness of various societal issues.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.