GreenTech Metals has launched a 4000m stage two diamond core drilling program at its Whundo copper-zinc-silver project in WA’s West Pilbara region, hunting new targets to expand its copper-zinc resources.
The program aims to test electromagnetic (EM) conductors generated from previous surface fixed-loop and downhole geophysical surveys of previous drill holes to identify, and potentially build on its current resource.
The project’s present combined copper-zinc resource totals 6.19 million tonnes at a grade of 1.12 per cent copper and 1.04 per cent zinc.
The new diamond drilling campaign presents a significant opportunity for GreenTech to identify new zones with resource potential and to expand the existing resources at four mineralised shoots.
From south to north, the program’s four initial targets zones are Austin, Shelby, Yannery and Ayshia.
Ayshia is the only mineralised zone beyond the main Whundo pit area with a defined remaining resource of 0.9 million tonnes grading 1.3 per cent copper and 2.3 per cent zinc. It was previously exploited as a small open pit operation.
Each of the targets feature one or more EM conductor plates defined from prior work and all remain open at depth.
The company also believes the targets, in some cases, could have potential to extend further along strike. Confirmation with the drill bit and DHEM is the next step.
GreenTech Metals’ executive director Tom Reddicliffe said: “With a host of untested conductors associated with mineralised copper shoots identified at our Whundo VMS cluster project, we are excited to get the drill bit spinning. I am pleased to see this activity is underway in rapid time and while there will be a short break in the program during Christmas and New Year, our exploration activity will recommence in early January. ”
GreenTech says it plans to follow up each of the new diamond core holes with additional down hole surveys to identify extensions of any mineralisation within or beyond the holes.
Concurrently, a new high-powered fixed-loop geophysical survey is underway which GreenTech expects to complete within a few days. The survey could lead to the identification of new targets when results of interpretative work are available, expected early in the new year.
At 2km long, the Whundo cluster of volcanogenic massive sulphide-hosted copper-zinc shoots appears to present a compelling target zone which may contain more geological prizes yet to be revealed.
GreenTech seems to have the exploration recipe well in-hand, using fixed-loop surveys for initial drill targeting and then downhole surveys to probe beyond the completed drill holes to find the next targets.
The areas of greatest potential lie in possible west or north-west depth/down-dip extensions below the existing conductors, lateral extensions between and within the known target cluster and in a possible west-dipping north-eastward extension along strike beyond Ayshia, under the shallow 10m cover of Hardey sandstone.
The biggest prize could lie in the possibility of the known zones representing near-surface evidence of a bigger deposit at greater depth.
GreenTech is chasing a number of exciting possibilities with a coincidence of geological indicators suggesting it may be on track to unearth something significant. Patient geology and persistence could be the ingredients to success.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
By Doug Bright
