West Arunta
The West Arunta Project consist of a single granted exploration licence and three exploration licence applications encompassing ~200km2 of the highly prospective Central Australian Suture (CAS) zone in the West Arunta Province of Western Australia. The CAS represents a preserved subduction zone and has seen an increase in exploration activity with the recent discovery of the Grapple base metal prospect by the Lake Mackay JV (Independence Group (ASX: IGO) and Prodigy Gold (ASX:PRX)). The West Arunta Project is prospective for iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) style mineralisation as well as orogenic gold mineralisation.
West Arunta has been the subject of historic exploration by Ashburton Minerals Ltd (ASX:LPD) in the early to mid-2000’s which delineated multiple gold and copper targets. Drilling at the Pokali Prospect has identified wide zones of low-grade copper mineralisation which has IOCG characteristics.
Ashburton’s drilling returned best results of:
- PKC024 – 62m @ 0.39% Cu from 152m (incl. 14m @ 1.0% Cu from 168m)
- PKC027 – 42m @ 0.33% Cu from 196m (incl. 4m @ 1.36% Cu from 222m)
- PKC023 – 32m @ 0.46% Cu from 74m (incl. 6m @ 1.36% Cu from 100m)
- PKC007 – 46m @ 0.37% Cu from 24m
- PKC021 – 44m @ 0.30% Cu from 66m
- PKC008 – 18m @ 0.52% Cu from 76m
- PKC022 – 16m @ 0.45% Cu from 188m
Ashburton also conducted regional, wide spaced aircore drilling which has identified multiple gold anomalies which require follow up.
Activities to-date include the engagement of consultants Resource Potentials to source open-file geophysical, geological, surface geochemical and historical drilling data, and compile, re-process and interpret the data as part of a comprehensive review and targeting program.
Thirteen priority targets have been identified within the project area, including two high-priority IOCG style drill targets at the Pokali Prospect. The Company proposed a maiden 3,000m RC and diamond drilling program to test the two high-priority IOCG-style targets at Pokali, and subject to all necessary statutory approvals and heritage survey clearance, drilling at Pokali is scheduled to commence H2 CY2022.7/8
The review also identified prospective areas to the east of the granted project area and the Company subsequently applied for three new exploration licences, increasing its project landholding to approximately 200km2.
The Company was successful in its application for a grant of a maximum of $150,000 towards diamond drilling costs at West Arunta. The EIS Grant will co-fund two planned diamond drill holes at the Pokali Prospect, which will test two high-priority IOCG-style targets.
Rincon Resources has executed a Mineral Exploration and Land Access Deed of Agreement with the Tjamu Tjamu (Aboriginal Corporation) Registered Native Title Body Corporate. With the DOA now finalised the Company now awaits a Ministerial Entry Permit and the completion of Heritage surveys prior to the commencement of its planned drilling program.