Lightning Minerals plans further Mailman Hill gold exploration after encouraging sampling
Lightning Minerals Ltd (ASX:L1M) has received encouraging results from a recent auger sampling program at its 100%-owned Mailman Hill Gold Project 30 kilometres east of Leonora near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and is planning the next phase of work.
The Labwest UFF+ analysis technique results highlight three broad clustered areas of interest for follow-up exploration, with multiple results above 15 parts per billion (ppb) gold and peak gold anomalism of 141 ppb.
Near Crawford Project
First-pass sampling aimed to identify drill targets which may be an extension to Cavalier Resources’ Crawford Gold Project which hosts 3.75 million tonnes at 1.0 g/t for 118,000 inferred + indicated ounces and initial ore reserve of 1 million tonnes at 0.91 g/t for 29,000 ounces.
Mailman Hill is a project that was part of the company’s IPO on the ASX in November 2022 and Lightning is excited about the gold potential the Mailman Hill asset may present in the future.
While the company is still focused on its lithium projects, Mailman Hill provides some positive results in a strong market for gold and precious metals.
“Provide impetus”
Lightning Minerals managing director Alex Biggs said, “First-pass results from Mailman Hill are encouraging and provide impetus for further follow up and allows the company to capitalise on an asset that was part of our IPO.
"We are still principally focused on the critical minerals and lithium markets, supported by our recent acquisition of the Caraíbas, Sidrônio and Esperança projects in Brazil’s Lithium Valley but see value at Mailman Hill.
"We will now look at the next stage of works and aim to expand on the principle areas of interest that have been identified during this campaign.”
L1M’s auger sampling program tested 9 kilometres of the prospective lithology within the Keith-Kilkenny Tectonic Zone immediately southeast of the Crawford Gold Project.
There have been 719 auger samples collected at average depths of 1.5 metres beneath alluvial cover.
Samples were collected into kraft field sampling bags sent to LabWest Minerals Analysis of Perth for analysis using the CSIRO-developed Labwest UltraFine+™ (UFF+) analysis technique.
This technique was developed to test for low-level pathfinder element anomalism through the cover sequences and the application of this technique is considered appropriate for the Mailman Hill Project.
The peak UFF+ gold value of 141ppb gold was returned from saprolite above Felsic Volcaniclastics of the Minerie Formation and L1M plans to investigate this area, ‘Target area 2’, as a priority.
High-resolution and targeted infill auger programs may be considered to improve the clarity of results for any aircore drill target generation and for follow-up exploration works.
The company will now review geochemical results including analysis of pathfinder elements to elucidate any subtle trends to aid in a drill targeting exercise.
Small, targeted and cost-effective infill auger programs may be considered prior to a decision on aircore drill testing.
While primarily focusing on work at its lithium projects in Minas Gerais, Brazil, the company is also reviewing and developing its next phase of work for its Dundas project in Western Australia where multiple lithium in soil anomalies exist for follow-up.
Source: https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/