Albion Resources inks heritage protection agreement for Lennard Shelf zinc-lead project
Albion says the agreement was a key milestone and paves the way for diamond drilling to begin at its Lennard Shelf zinc-lead project.
Albion Resources (ASX: ALB) says it has formed a “strong” alliance with local Aboriginal representatives after signing key agreements that take its Lennard Shelf zinc-lead project another step forward.
Albion’s zinc-lead project is located about 30km southeast of Fitzroy Crossing in the southern Kimberley district of Western Australia.
At what it terms a “successful” meeting at Fitzroy Crossing, Albion announced it has formed a strong alliance with the Gooniyandi Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) and Gooniyandi traditional owners.
The parties signed off on a Native Title, heritage protection and mineral exploration agreement.
Albion described the deal as the “key milestone which now enables it to progress its diamond drilling program, subject to cultural clearance of the targeted exploration areas”.
Drilling targeting historic high-grade hit
Albion’s drilling program will focus on the Pillara East sub-project and its several “promising” prospects.
This area includes the site of a historical drill hole of 4.6m at 5% zinc and 30.5% lead from 54m.
In June, just two months after debuting on the ASX, Albion reported visible galena (the principal ore of lead) and hydrozincite (a white mineral containing zinc) were discovered 350m north of that historical drill hole.
In addition, the site visit team identified exposed mineralisation of more than 500m in length at the Prices Hill prospect.
Executive chairman Colin Locke said the signing of the agreement is a testament to the strong alliance that has quickly been formed between Albion and the Gooniyandi.
“Albion are now working closely with GAC to obtain cultural clearances and launch into the maiden drill campaign across our high-grade zinc-lead prospects Pillara East as soon as possible,” he added.
“We are really excited to get the drill bit turning.”
Lennard Shelf has hosted large historic mines
Drilling plans have been approved by the Western Australian Government and that work will begin after heritage agreements have been finalised and surveys conducted.
Albion has noted that previous explorers at Lennard Shelf have reported rock chips up to 40% zinc.
This area has also hosted significant historic mines, Pillara and Cadjebut.
Albion’s ground covers 393sq km and the company has so far defined trending structures which are interpreted to be the control of the zinc-lead mineralisation.