The June quarter was a productive period for BBX Minerals (ASX: BBX) as it progressed its assaying program at the Três Estados project in Brazil.
Seven drill holes were assayed during the period with significant mineralised intervals reported in multiple holes.
Full-scale assaying of 82 holes from 2017 and 2021 campaigns began following the development of an analytical methodology to retrieve gold and PGM (platinum group metals) in a single method.
Among the best intercepts revealed to-date were 2m at 16.23 grams per tonne 5E (five element) PGM – equating to 10.82g/t platinum, 4.43g/t palladium and 0.98g/t gold from 37m; 31m at 2.07g/t 5E PGM – 1.87g/t platinum, 0.16g/t iridium, 0.02g/t rhodium and 0.02g/t gold from surface; and 6m at 4.79g/t 5E PGM – 4.29g/t platinum, 0.08g/t palladium, 0.37g/t gold, 0.04g/t iridium and 0.02g/t rhodium from 12m.
It is expected that assaying will be substantially completed during the December quarter.
Routine assaying
Chief executive officer Andre J Douchane said BBX had accomplished a lot during the three months to June.
“The assaying of drill holes has become routine and the laboratory in Catalão is working efficiently,” he said.
“We will soon begin to work on a JORC resource at Três Estados where we see the potential for a near-surface PGM deposit.”
Laboratory enhancements
BBX has made a string of enhancements to its laboratory to expedite assaying and enable the regular announcements of results.
Developments during the quarter included the purchase of two additional gas furnaces used for nickel button production, operating non-stop on weekdays; the installation of a new fume extraction system; refurbishment of the lab’s existing fume hood and installation of a new hood for increased sample handling capacity; and enhancements to the sample storage facility.
The company installed and commissioned a new atomic absorption spectrometer purchased in the March quarter.
The unit is operated independently by a contractor at a nearby facility and used exclusively for BBX’s assaying program.
BBX has also recruited and trained two new lab employees in an effort to increase assaying capacity.
